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

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 strain to have an in depth skincare routine is actual, and generally it might really feel such as you’re purported to be utilizing each serum and energetic ingredient below the solar for that elusive “finest pores and skin ever.” It’s no shock, then, that folks 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 varied serums collectively earlier than making use of them. At first, it’d seem to be an excellent thought. In spite of everything, there are such a lot of high-performance skincare substances on the market as of late, why not add a few of them collectively to provide your pores and skin as many advantages as potential?

Fortunately, although, the reply to all that is refreshingly easy. Mixing and layering your serums gained’t provide the finest outcomes—you ought to be rotating one after the other as a substitute. Hold scrolling to study why layering and mixing aren’t the way in which to go, methods to rotate your serums, and which substances it’s best to by no means combine.

First, What Is a Serum?

A serum is a concentrated skincare product with energetic substances. They’re sometimes light-weight and water or lotion based mostly as a result of this enables them to penetrate deeper into the pores and skin the place they’ll create essentially the most change. The place a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer are the constructing blocks of a stable 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 at all times 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 energetic skincare substances out there that it looks as if utilizing multiple 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 would in all probability additionally depart slightly residue behind on the pores and skin’s floor. This implies the second serum has a little bit of an impediment and won’t be capable of penetrate as successfully. The extra serums you add, the extra diluted they change into. 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 soak up a lot. Consider it as a sponge; sooner or later, a sponge has absorbed all it might and water will simply pour over it. This occurs along with your pores and skin as effectively. Belief me, by utilizing all the pieces directly, you’ll simply find yourself throwing your cash down the drain. 

One other concern is that many serums embody very energetic substances. While you apply too many robust substances to your pores and skin directly, you run the danger of irritation. That may solely trigger harm and undo all the great you had been attempting to do along with your serums. 

In the event you’re intent on layering, I don’t counsel greater than two serums—one with an energetic 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 on the lookout for.

What About Mixing Serums?

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

Even when the substances in two completely different serums can technically be mixed, you continue to run into the problem 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 might not have the identical penetration enhancers. Chances are you’ll 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 advocate mixing water-based merchandise with oil or emollient-based merchandise. I do know some folks 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 finest to use a serum, let it dry down or get cheesy for a couple 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 just’ll get the best profit by utilizing a wide range of energetic 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 the perfect 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 a substitute 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 pondering to your self, “This sounds an terrible lot like skincycling,” you’re completely proper! The idea of rotating your serums in a particular order isn’t new, however the viral #skincycling pattern has introduced larger 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. 

In the event you don’t already know, skincycling is a information to rotating serums in your nighttime routine. A serum schedule, if you’ll. It’s an excellent blueprint to comply with, however know that skincycling can look completely different for everybody. For instance, not everybody makes use of a retinol serum, and that’s okay! It’s necessary to make use of the substances that assist your skin type and your skin goals. Those that do use retinol might not be capable of tolerate the identical frequency of use. It’s all about experimenting slightly and determining what works finest for you. Or, should you’re confused, I at all times advocate in search of the recommendation of a skincare skilled. Our virtual consultation program makes this accessible to everybody. 

Learn how to Rotate Your Serums

Pores and skin is exclusive (that is the whole philosophy my model relies on), so not everybody can comply with 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 method up slowly. 

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

Night time three is an exfoliating acid serum. The explanation I counsel that is that it takes about 48 hours for retinol to extend cell turnover from inside and push the outdated pores and skin cells to the floor. The exfoliating acid serum will assist shed these dry, expired cells which are being pushed out by the retinol. It will assist handle the floor dryness generally related to retinol use. Once more, the kind of exfoliating acid serum you utilize will rely in your pores and skin sort and particular person wants. To search out out which sort you want, you may 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 might relaxation and restore.

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

Search for a Serum With A number of Helpful Substances

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

This manner, you understand all the pieces has been correctly formulated to work in tandem and can be capable of correctly make its method into your pores and skin.

Which Serum Substances 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 kinds like Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic Acid) + Retinol = not really useful. They’ve completely different pHs that may battle with each other.

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

Vitamin C (steady kinds like Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) + AHAs = can safely be used collectively with out the danger of irritation. (However I do advocate utilizing vitamin C within the morning and AHAs at night time. Try the right morning routine.)

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

Retinol + Retinol = not really useful to double dose. In the event you’re utilizing a well-formulated retinol serum, it ought to interact 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 optimistic impact on our pores and skin, it may be tempting to make use of them unexpectedly. However, this isn’t one of the best ways to maximise outcomes to your pores and skin (or your pockets). First, be conscious that your pores and skin can solely soak 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 house isn’t like mixing substances in a lab! (This is similar purpose I’m not a fan of DIY skincare recipes!) 

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

Celeb Esthetician & Skincare Knowledgeable
As an esthetician skilled in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare knowledgeable has created a real-world answer — merchandise which are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and appear its finest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world data and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “essentially the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”