Have you ever had the urge to treat your skincare routine like a scientific experiment by mixing ingredients? Well, you’re not alone! However, it might be difficult to understand how different ingredients and chemicals work with each other effectively when stacking serums or combining acids. But don’t let that stop you from experimenting! We’re here to guide you about top skincare ingredients like vitamin C serum, retinols, etc., you should and shouldn’t mix.
Continue reading to know more.
Ingredients You Can Mix
Vitamin C Serum and Sunscreen
You may be wondering why vitamin C serum and sunscreen go together. Well, they go better together because vitamin C maintains skin health by reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots, as well as brightening and erasing hyperpigmentation and shielding the skin from free radical damage. Similarly, by protecting the skin from UVA and UVB rays, sunscreen helps avoid sunburn, skin cancer, and early aging. And that’s why vitamin C serum and sunscreen go well together. They enhance one another's effectiveness and cooperate to prevent sun damage and significantly brighten skin.
Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid
Lactic acid will be great for brightening because it increases cell turnover. On the other hand, salicylic acid works by entering the follicle to clear clogged pores. For people with acne-prone skin, this pair may be ideal for treating acne at every stage, from active breakouts to residual hyperpigmentation. However, remember that since they're both exfoliants, be sure to stay hydrated every day to prevent irritation of your skin barrier.
Peptides And Niacinamide
Niacinamide and peptide are the perfect combination because they brighten skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, increase moisture, smooth fine wrinkles, and treat acne. In fact, niacinamide, often known as vitamin B3, is becoming a more and more popular ingredient in skincare products. Although each kind of peptide has a distinct function, they are all typically effective at reducing wrinkles. This combination is perfect for people who have too many skincare goals!
When to use: Niacinamide and peptides can be used in the morning or at night, but we suggest using them in leave-on products such as moisturizers, serums, face oils, and certain masks.
Manuka Honey with Sodium Hyaluronate
While you may be familiar with hyaluronic acid (HA), let us introduce you to sodium hyaluronate, HA's diligent derivative that hydrates deeper layers of skin due to its reduced molecular weight. Although sodium hyaluronate is excellent by itself, Manuka honey enhances its effectiveness. Together, the two form a humectant-emollient combination. Manuka honey, an emollient, helps the skin retain moisture while sodium hyaluronate, a humectant, moisturizes the skin by drawing moisture in. Therefore, consider combining these two ingredients in your skincare routine to get the perfect complexion.
When to Use: Use it during your morning or evening skincare routine.
Proceed with Caution When Mixing These
Retinol and Physical Exfoliaters
Although physical exfoliants are sometimes criticized for being harsh on the skin, some formulations can be quite mild and complement other exfoliants, such as retinol. Therefore, using physical exfoliants with retinol may be a risky move. But one of the gentlest physical exfoliation methods that can be used to clean the skin without causing discomfort is jojoba beads. But remember to apply very light and gentle pressure as if your skin were a balloon that you don't want to burst.
Vitamin C and Retinol
A lot of ingredient combination no-no lists include vitamin C serum; however, we advise being cautious! Although this combination can be quite effective in treating hyperpigmentation and fine wrinkles, it is very strong, so always pay attention to your skin. We suggest combining these elements in the following ways:
- Use vitamin C serum in the morning and retinol in the evening.
- Using the components on various days.
- Using a vitamin C wash-off solution, such as a mask or cleanser.
AHAs/BHAs with Retinol
This combination may help you maintain oil production and a clear complexion if you have combination, oily, or acne-prone skin. But once again, we recommend exercising caution:
- Never use the products on the same night, but rather at night.
- Use your exfoliants 1-2 nights a week and retinol 1-3 nights a week to spread out your use throughout the week.
- The likelihood of irritation can be reduced by using a wash-off exfoliating solution.
- Use moisturizers, serums, and hydrating toners to stay hydrated.
- Above all, you must use sunscreen every day!