Is It Okay to Combine and Layer Totally different Skincare Serums?

By 6 months ago

While you open TikTok or Instagram, it looks as if each “Get Prepared With Me” video options somebody slathering on layer after layer of fancy skincare serums. The stress to have an intensive skincare routine is actual, and typically it may really feel such as you’re speculated to be utilizing each serum and lively ingredient beneath the solar for that elusive “greatest pores and skin ever.” It’s no shock, then, that individuals surprise if they need to be layering serums. What number of do you have to be utilizing? What sorts are you able to combine collectively? There are even “recipes” on-line for creating your personal bespoke routine by mixing numerous serums collectively earlier than making use of them. At first, it’d look like an important thought. In spite of everything, there are such a lot of high-performance skincare substances on the market lately, why not add a few of them collectively to present your pores and skin as many advantages as attainable?

Fortunately, although, the reply to all that is refreshingly easy. Mixing and layering your serums received’t provide the greatest outcomes—you need to be rotating one after the other as an alternative. Preserve scrolling to study why layering and mixing aren’t the best way to go, methods to rotate your serums, and which substances you must by no means combine.

First, What Is a Serum?

A serum is a concentrated skincare product with lively substances. They’re usually light-weight and water or lotion primarily based as a result of this permits them to penetrate deeper into the pores and skin the place they will create essentially the most change. The place a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer are the constructing blocks of a strong routine, you attain for a serum to focus on particular issues and create tangible change. Be it pimples, dehydration, discoloration, or indicators of getting old—there’s a serum for that. 

A serum ought to all the time be utilized after you’ve cleansed and utilized toner, then adopted up with moisturizer.

Learn what’s a serum, and do I actually need one?

Ought to You Layer Serums?

As I stated earlier, there are such a lot of wonderful lively skincare substances accessible that it looks as if utilizing a couple of would maximize outcomes. However What really occurs once you layer serums on high of each other? 

Let’s say you begin by making use of a niacinamide serum then layer a vitamin C serum on high of that. The primary serum goes to penetrate the pores and skin because it’s meant to, however it should in all probability additionally go away slightly residue behind on the pores and skin’s floor. This implies the second serum has a little bit of an impediment and may not have the ability to penetrate as successfully. The extra serums you add, the extra diluted they grow to be. To return to our instance, this might imply the vitamin C serum you apply is now half as efficient because it’s meant to be.

Whereas it’s tempting to load up on a number of merchandise and substances, your pores and skin can solely take up a lot. Consider it as a sponge; in some unspecified time in the future, a sponge has absorbed all it may and water will simply pour over it. This occurs together with your pores and skin as effectively. Belief me, through the use of all the things directly, you’ll simply find yourself throwing your cash down the drain. 

One other concern is that many serums embrace very lively substances. While you apply too many robust substances to your pores and skin directly, you run the chance of irritation. That can solely trigger injury and undo all the great you have been attempting to do together with your serums. 

For those who’re intent on layering, I don’t counsel greater than two serums—one with an lively ingredient like retinol or exfoliating acids, and one which’s purely a hydrating serum. These are inclined to play properly with others and might add slightly additional layer of moisture if that’s what you’re searching for.

What About Mixing Serums?

So layering is all good, however what about mixing all the things collectively to create on super-serum? Hate to burst your bubble, nevertheless it doesn’t work this manner both. 

Even when the substances in two totally different serums can technically be mixed, you continue to run into the difficulty of dilution. Once more, you’d be losing your cash by not getting full advantages from the product. 

Let me additionally make this level. Not all serums are equal. Chemically talking, one formulation could also be designed to penetrate through a sure mechanism. One other product could not have the identical penetration enhancers. You might be making them chemically much less environment friendly, by disrupting their meant processes. Principally, it’s such as you’re complicated the serums by mixing them collectively.

Lastly, I by no means suggest mixing water-based merchandise with oil or emollient-based merchandise. I do know some individuals like to combine their serums into moisturizer, and I’m not a fan since this could actually mess with the efficacy of a serum. It’s greatest to use a serum, let it dry down or get cheesy for a number of seconds, then apply a skinny layer of moisturizer on high. 

How Can You Get All of the Advantages With out Layering Serums?

It’s true that you simply’ll get the best profit through the use of a wide range of lively substances, so right here’s one of the best ways to include a number of serums into your routine.

As an alternative of Layering Your Serums, Rotate Them 

Consider your serums like a exercise routine—selection will provide you with one of the best outcomes, however you wouldn’t need to do all of your exercises on the identical day or it could result in fatigue. The identical goes for serums. By specializing in one after the other as an alternative of layering your serums, you’ll get the utmost profit with none interference for a well-rounded method.

Btw, should you’re studying this and considering to your self, “This sounds an terrible lot like skincycling,” you’re completely proper! The idea of rotating your serums in a selected order isn’t new, however the viral #skincycling pattern has introduced higher consciousness to this idea. Because it’s one thing many people estheticians have been preaching to our shoppers for years, I couldn’t be happier that it’s gaining traction. 

For those who don’t already know, skincycling is a information to rotating serums in your nighttime routine. A serum schedule, if you’ll. It’s an important blueprint to observe, however know that skincycling can look totally different for everybody. For instance, not everybody makes use of a retinol serum, and that’s okay! It’s essential to make use of the substances that assist your skin type and your skin goals. Those that do use retinol could not have the ability to tolerate the identical frequency of use. It’s all about experimenting slightly and determining what works greatest for you. Or, should you’re confused, I all the time suggest looking for the recommendation of a skincare skilled. Our virtual consultation program makes this accessible to everybody. 

The way to Rotate Your Serums

Pores and skin is exclusive (that is the complete philosophy my model relies on), so not everybody can observe the very same schedule. That stated, that is the final information I developed as a blueprint. Keep in mind, that is one thing to construct in the direction of—should you’re beginning retinol for the primary time you’ll need to work your means up slowly. 

For nights one and two, use a retinol serum just like the Advanced Resurfacing Serum.

Evening three is an exfoliating acid serum. The rationale I counsel that is that it takes about 48 hours for retinol to extend cell turnover from inside and push the previous pores and skin cells to the floor. The exfoliating acid serum will assist shed these dry, expired cells which can be being pushed out by the retinol. It will assist handle the floor dryness typically related to retinol use. Once more, the kind of exfoliating acid serum you employ will rely in your pores and skin sort and particular person wants. To seek out out which kind you want, you possibly can take this Skin Type Quiz. 

On the finish of the week, a hydrating serum plumps and nourishes these recent new cells which have been revealed by the combo of retinol and exfoliation. It additionally provides your pores and skin a relaxation from actives in order that it may relaxation and restore.

And once more, that is only a normal information! Every serum schedule ought to be tailor-made to your distinctive pores and skin.

Search for a Serum With A number of Useful Components

One other sneaky technique to get a number of advantages with out utilizing a number of merchandise is to discover a serum that has a couple of helpful ingredient. What I counsel searching for is a well-rounded serum that may in the end profit your pores and skin in additional methods than one. For instance, these exfoliating acid serums embrace substances like glycerin, allantoin, and aloe to assuage and hydrate, offsetting any probably irritating results from the acids. Or, you could possibly search for a retinol serum that features anti-aging peptides to reinforce the general firming impact of the formulation, in addition to hydrating substances to make it simple to tolerate.

This fashion, you already know all the things has been correctly formulated to work in tandem and can have the ability to correctly make its means into your pores and skin.

Which Serum Components Ought to You NOT Mix?

Some substances play very effectively with others whereas different substances very very similar to to be the star of the present. 

Vitamin C (unstable types like Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic Acid) + Retinol = not advisable. They’ve totally different pHs that may battle with each other.

Vitamin C (unstable types like Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic acid) + AHAs = can be utilized collectively however could trigger irritation for delicate pores and skin sorts. Proceed with warning. 

Vitamin C (steady types like Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) + AHAs = can safely be used collectively with out the chance of irritation. (However I do suggest utilizing vitamin C within the morning and AHAs at evening. Take a look at the right morning routine.)

Retinol + Benzoyl Peroxide = not advisable. Benzoyl peroxide oxidizes simply. Retinol does as effectively, and it may make them each much less efficient.

Retinol + Retinol = not advisable to double dose. For those who’re utilizing a well-formulated retinol serum, it ought to have interaction your retinol receptors to do their job. While you layer on one other retinol serum, in an effort to extend the outcomes, you’ll wind up with pointless and undesirable irritation.

The Backside Line

With a plethora of serums and substances that may have a constructive impact on our pores and skin, it may be tempting to make use of them . However, this isn’t one of the best ways to maximise outcomes on your pores and skin (or your pockets). First, be aware that your pores and skin can solely take up a lot at one time. Second, do not forget that layering too many serums or mixing them can dilute their efficacy. Mixing substances at residence will not be like mixing substances in a lab! (This is identical motive I’m not a fan of DIY skincare recipes!) 

As an alternative, rotate your serums and attempt to use only one every evening. It will permit the serum to work as successfully as attainable with out interference so that you simply get the utmost profit. It’s all about discovering the serums that focus on your particular pores and skin issues and making a schedule that works for you.

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