Ideally, we would like one single key ingredient to work with our skin, addressing all(or at least, most)of our skin issues but we know that’s practically impossible.
Hence why we add a few ingredients to address various skin concerns and to help us achieve the skin goal that we want After all, each of us has different skin problems with varying skin types.
The key is to not mix ingredients haphazardly otherwise you’ll either cancel out the benefits of a certain ingredient, reducing the efficiency, or worse aggravate your current skin issues.
So, which are the ingredients that we’re not allowed to mix for our skin?
Vitamin C
The powerhouse antioxidant vitamin is definitely the must-have for any skincare routine. The vitamin is versatile to support skin repair, boost collagen production for a youthful look, evens out skin tone, and bring out the natural glow from within.
That said, if you have the ingredient as part of your anti-aging routine, chances are you have retinol as well, and these two don’t mix. At all.
Applying at different times is possible of course (recommended to have retinol as nighttime routine to avoid skin photosensitivity issue), just don’t do it at the same time as it will cause your skin irritation and dryness upon application.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is commonly used for whitening products so it’ll work with another brightener such as vitamin C, right? Not quite.
Also known as vitamin B3, the good thing about niacinamide is the ingredient work well on its own and complements well with a lot of ingredients with no adverse effects, except the said vitamin itself.
Applying both ingredients at the same time will only cancel the benefits out from each other and pretty much, no use for your skin. Your best bet is to use them separately in both day and nighttime routines for your skin to reap the benefits of both vitamins effectively.
AHA or BHA Acids
The newest trend in exfoliation is set to become the main ingredient for the routine. Adding AHAs and BHAs to your skincare routine can do wonders as it gives your skin a mild yet effective exfoliation suitable for daily routine.
That said, don’t mix with a few ingredients at the same time, starting with vitamin C
While the antioxidant is essential and potent in any skincare routine, using vitamin C-based products right after the acids can dry your skin further than needed.
Another ingredient to avoid is benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient used to combat acne – using both at the same time will neutralize the efficacy of each other, on top of making your skin more irritated.
Sunscreen
While it’s technically not an ingredient, sunscreen still deserves an honorable mention as it’s a must-have. Product to end our skincare routine.
The product is applied after the rest of your skincare steps are done, spacing out a few minutes in between. It’s because if you apply the product directly while the previous one (usual moisturizer) is still not fully absorbed into the skin, the ingredients within the latter will dilute the components in the sunscreen, reducing the efficacy of the formulation itself (the same also goes if you use essence, serum, or hydrating toners).
