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

Whenever you open TikTok or Instagram, it looks like 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 typically it may possibly really feel such as you’re alleged to be utilizing each serum and lively ingredient below the solar for that elusive “greatest pores and skin ever.” It’s no shock, then, that folks surprise if they need to be layering serums. What number of must you be utilizing? What varieties 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 look like an important concept. In any case, there are such a lot of high-performance skincare elements on the market as of late, why not add a few of them collectively to provide your pores and skin as many advantages as doable?

Fortunately, although, the reply to all that is refreshingly easy. Mixing and layering your serums received’t provide the greatest outcomes—try to be rotating one by one as an alternative. Hold scrolling to be taught why layering and mixing aren’t the way in which to go, the best way to rotate your serums, and which elements you need to by no means combine.

First, What Is a Serum?

A serum is a concentrated skincare product with lively elements. They’re usually light-weight and water or lotion primarily based as a result of this enables them to penetrate deeper into the pores and skin the place they’ll create probably 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 zits, dehydration, discoloration, or indicators of getting older—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 superb lively skincare elements obtainable that it looks like 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 can in all probability additionally go away just a little residue behind on the pores and skin’s floor. This implies the second serum has a little bit of an impediment and may not 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 elements, your pores and skin can solely take in a lot. Consider it as a sponge; in some unspecified time in the future, a sponge has absorbed all it may possibly and water will simply pour over it. This occurs together with your pores and skin as properly. Belief me, through the use of every little thing directly, you’ll simply find yourself throwing your cash down the drain. 

One other concern is that many serums embody very lively elements. Whenever you apply too many sturdy elements to your pores and skin directly, you run the chance of irritation. That can solely trigger injury and undo all the great you had been making an attempt to do together with your serums. 

In the event you’re intent on layering, I don’t recommend 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 just a little additional layer of moisture if that’s what you’re in search of.

What About Mixing Serums?

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

Even when the elements 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. You could be making them chemically much less environment friendly, by disrupting their supposed 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 may actually mess with the efficacy of a serum. It’s greatest to use a serum, let it dry down or get cheesy for just a few 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 through the use of quite a lot of lively elements, 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 offers you the most effective outcomes, however you wouldn’t wish 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 by one as an alternative of layering your serums, you’ll get the utmost profit with none interference for a well-rounded strategy.

Btw, when 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 development 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 important blueprint to observe, 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 elements that help 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 just a little and determining what works greatest for you. Or, when you’re confused, I at all times suggest looking for the recommendation of a skincare skilled. Our virtual consultation program makes this accessible to everybody. 

The best way to Rotate Your Serums

Pores and skin is exclusive (that is your complete philosophy my model relies on), so not everybody can observe the very same schedule. That stated, that is the overall information I developed as a blueprint. Keep in mind, that is one thing to construct in the direction of—when you’re beginning retinol for the primary time you’ll wish 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 rationale I recommend 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. This can 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 kind and particular person wants. To search out out which sort you want, you’ll be able to 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 possibly relaxation and restore.

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

Search for a Serum With A number of Helpful Substances

One other sneaky method 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 recommend in search of is a well-rounded serum that can finally profit your pores and skin in additional methods than one. For instance, these exfoliating acid serums embody elements like glycerin, allantoin, and aloe to assuage and hydrate, offsetting any probably irritating results from the acids. Or, you can search for a retinol serum that features anti-aging peptides to reinforce the general firming impact of the formulation, in addition to hydrating elements to make it simple to tolerate.

This manner, every little thing 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 elements play very properly with others whereas different elements very very like 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 chance of irritation. (However I do suggest utilizing vitamin C within the morning and AHAs at evening. Try the right morning routine.)

Retinol + Benzoyl Peroxide = not really useful. Benzoyl peroxide oxidizes simply. Retinol does as properly, and it might 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. Whenever 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 elements that may have a optimistic impact on our pores and skin, it may be tempting to make use of them all of sudden. 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 take in a lot at one time. Second, keep in mind that layering too many serums or mixing them can dilute their efficacy. Mixing elements at dwelling just isn’t like mixing elements in a lab! (This is similar motive I’m not a fan of DIY skincare recipes!) 

As an alternative, rotate your serums and attempt to use only one every evening. This can permit the serum to work as successfully as doable with out interference so that you just 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.

Superstar 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 appear and feel its greatest. 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 “probably the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”