The Do's and Don'ts of Mixing Skincare Ingredients
We are truly passionate about skin health and skin care and understand the science behind it. We have heard your concerns of how confusing Ingredients can be, what to use when and what could cause irritation if mixing brands.
In facials recently, we have also seen clients experiencing skin irritation (redness, blisters, dryness) when they have introduced new products into their routine.
Quite often these reactions occur due to incompatible ingredients reacting with one another or using the wrong products for your skin type or concern. This can be easily avoided by knowing what you can and cant mix together and the time to leave between product application.
As Kelly Dobos a cosmetic chemist explains. “When a brand formulates a range of products, they develop them with a similar approach, avoiding incompatible ingredients or conditions and building up efficacy,” “They also test the products together to ensure all of those criteria have been met.” If you have super sensitive skin sometimes it best to stick with one range for this reason.
Below are some amazing education tips to help you on your skin care journey. If you are in doubt at all, please reach out to us, we are very happy to help recommend the compatable products to treat your skin concerns. Or you may like to book in for a facial for us to conduct a skin consultation to help you on your skin care journey. The below tips are for mixing seperate products and ranges and dont apply for well formulate products that have a combination of ingredients built into one product.
Retinol
Also known as vitamin A, what makes retinol so great is that it promotes skin cell turnover, which can help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture, dark spots, and acne.
Its important to use your retinol at night, and to wear SPF through out the day time as retinol and retinoids can make the skin more sensitive to the sun.
Do Mix: Retinol with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides as well as SPF.
Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C protects the skin from oxidative free radical damage it helps to brightens the skin and lighten dark spots. Its best applied in the morning.
Do Mix: Vitamin C with antioxidants and SPF.
Don't Mix: Vitamin C with retinol.
Don't Mix: Niacinamide and vitamin C.
Don't Mix: Leave 12 hrs between using your AHA/ BHA Exfoliant and wearing your Vitamin C serum ( use it the night before)
AHA/BHA Acids
Using a product that combines multiple low-level AHA and BHA acids can be an extremely effective way to exfoliate and unclog pores. Its important to Tone and Moisturise after use to restore moisture and prevent irritation.
Do Mix: AHA/BHA acids with moisturizing ingredients and SPF
Don't Mix: AHA/BHA acids with retinol, alternate the day of application
Niacinamide
Otherwise known as vitamin B3, this antioxidant is an anti-inflammatory that can brighten skin and even out discoloration.]
Do Mix: Niacinamide with (almost) every ingredient in your skincare routine.
Don't Mix: Niacinamide and vitamin C. Leave 12 hours between ( best to use vitamin c in the morning and Niacin-amide at night)
AHA/BHA Acids Using a product that combines multiple low-level AHA and BHA acids can be an extremely effective way to exfoliate and unclog pores. Its important to Tone and Moisturise after use to restore moisture and prevent irritation.