When you’re building a skincare routine which is bespoke for your personal skin needs, it’s tempting to layer on as many products as you can because you feel they’ll be beneficial. However, there are certain ingredients that you should avoid using together, even if they seem like they’re both good for you. Here’s a rundown of some of the ingredients that you shouldn’t be combining in your daily routine:
Retinols and Salicylic Acid
You might think that hitting your skin with these two ingredients will leave your face smooth, but they’re two pretty powerful things which could leave you with extreme dryness. Retinols are usually used in ageing products like Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair while salicylic acid is know for its exfoliating properties and should be used with care – Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Lotion is a prime example, as they recommend you use a sunscreen at all times.
Vitamin C and Acids
Vitamin C is really good at brightening the skin, such as within Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serum, which combines ultra stable Vitamin C complex with a bio-technologiy to deliver the natural power of Vitamin C where it’s needed most. However, if you mix this with products containing stronger acids, this can alter the pH of the vitamin C and basically render it useless.
AHAs and Retinols
Using retinol and AHAs together is another recipe for redness and irritation. Both increase photosensitivity in the skin – this means that your skin is much more likely to burn, even if it’s not sunny outside. If you’re using any kind of retinol or skin brightening AHA, like Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Booster, make sure you’re wearing a daily SPF 50 such as Decleor Ultra Protective Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF50 Face, and use them in the evening to further lessen the risk of UV damage.
Oil-Based and Water-Based
Everyone knows that oil and water don’t mix, and with the exception of micellar waters and oils, that’s generally true when it comes to skincare. It’s okay to use oil-based and water-based products on your skin, but you have to think about the order – if you use oil first it will create a barrier that water-based products won’t penetrate, making them useless.
Last updated on 14/10/2019.