Skin Care

Skincare Ingredients You Should and Shouldn’t Mix

Are you new to the skincare world? Or do you want to learn more about the products that you use? While these ingredients can impact your skin, some of them cannot be mixed together.

With this in mind, here’s a guide to navigating the skincare industry. We will also help you identify whether the ingredients in your cleanser, moisturizer, or creams work well together.

Never Mix These Skincare Ingredients

After knowing your skin type and condition, the next thing you should learn is the appropriate formulation. Here are some active ingredients you should not mix to

Retinol with Vitamin C or AHA/BHA

Retinol is incorporated into a product to reduce the visibility of fine lines, dark spots, and acne. However, it can cause dryness due to the increased skin cell turnover. Also, when your skin adjusts with the retinoid process, it may lead to red and flakey skin. Thus, combining it with AHA or BHA may only increase the irritation.

Conversely, Vitamin C is used to repair and rebuild the skin. That’s why they are both used separately within the day. Retinol works best during nighttime, while Vitamin C is best to use in the daytime.

Vitamin C with AHA/BHA

Vitamin C has exfoliating properties, that’s why mixing it with AHA or BHA may cause redness and irritation. These ingredients are acidic and can destabilize your pH level. But you can use these products separately during the day.

Benzoyl Peroxide with Retinol

If you have an acne-skin type, using benzoyl peroxide can help. However, it is also a drying ingredient. Mixing it with retinol may cancel their effects on the skin. This means that their combination has little to no impact on the skin.

Oil-Based and Water-Based Products

As everyone knows, oil and water cannot be mixed together. Plus, using an oil-based product may block other products from penetrating the skin. But if you want them to incorporate into your routine, you must use water-based products first.

Best Skincare Ingredient Combination

While there are ingredients you need to avoid mixing, there are products that work the best when they are combined.

Skincare Ingredient Dictionary: Every Term You Need to Know

AHA/BHA and Moisturizing Ingredients

To decrease redness and irritation due to AHA and BHA, use moisturizers with ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients are nourishing and hydrating to the skin.

Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid

This combination is popular in the skincare world. Hyaluronic acid is in charge of the upper skin’s hydration, while retinol focuses on penetrating the inner skin layer. Moreover, hyaluronic acid helps in dealing with the side effects of retinol.

Face Serums and Treatment

There are various face serums and treatments to cater to your skin condition. Using them together can be beneficial to your skin. However, you need to take note of the proper layering. Since serums have hydrating properties, they may lessen the effects of the treatment.

Skincare is meant to address your skin issues and promote a healthy look. Keep in mind the ingredients you should never mix to avoid further skin irritation. Also, there are good skincare combinations to help optimize the effects of the products on your face.