- By Calypso Cavallo
- June 23, 2022
- Skincare
Skincare is everywhere. There are tons of products and ingredients, and more and more people are wondering if all skincare ingredients are safe to use together. Which are the skincare ingredients not to mix? Calypso Cavallo tells you everything you need to know!
Which skincare ingredients not to mix?
As there are so many skincare products, people use several active ingredients together without knowing if mixing them is safe. Skincare ingredients can do wonders if used properly but are harmful if mixed. Mixing different skincare products with incompatible active ingredients increase the risk of allergic reaction and irritation because it makes the formulas unstable.
The best way to avoid hazardous mixes is to check skincare products for the following ingredients and not use them simultaneously. Using a pre-made skincare routine from the same brand is also a good idea to avoid harmful skincare ingredients combinations.
Which are the skincare ingredients not to mix?
- Alpha Hydroxy Acid should not be mixed with Retinol
Retinol or retinoid are vitamins A derivatives. Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) increases collagen production. Both ingredients are suitable for their anti-aging action. However, they irritate if used together because both have an exfoliating effect on the outer layer of the skin. The best way is to use them alternatively to avoid an unwanted effect.
Products containing both are generally safe as the manufacturer clinically tested them to ensure they did not cause any harm to the user’s skin.
- Benzoyl Peroxide and Retinoid/retinol
Retinol is efficient against aging signs, as well as against acne. It is a widespread skincare ingredient, liked for its exfoliating action. However, Retinol has a weakness. Benzoyl Peroxide may inhibit its action, making the product effectless. Better not mix them unless they are both in the same product and have been tested and proved efficient and safe.
- Vitamin C and Retinoid/retinol
This retinol ingredient is a loner; we should not mix it with vitamin C either! This time, the issue is each ingredient’s pH needs to be fully effective. Vitamin C likes an acidic environment, while Retinol is more efficient in an alkaline pH. They are not harmful if used together, but their action won’t be optimal.
Moreover, it is better to use vitamin C in a day product, such as day cream, as it helps fight free radicals. At the same time, Retinol is safer at night because it increases the skin’s sensibility to sunlight and pollution.
- Salicylic Acid and Retinoid/retinol
Another ingredient that does not go well with our retinol guy! This combination is not advised, but many people suffering from adult acne tend to use a salicylic acid-containing skin care product, such as acne medication, and an anti-aging one containing Retinol. However, both ingredients tend to dry the skin, so they should not be used together. Drying out the skin irritates it and produces more sebum, causing more breakouts. Moreover, aging signs, such as fine lines, are more visible for dry skin.
Dermatologists advise using the salicylic acid-containing product in the morning and the retinol-containing one at night.
- Vitamine C and soap-based cleanser
Among the skincare ingredients not to mix are vitamin C and soap. As mentioned before, it is better to use vitamin C in the morning, as it protects the skin against exterior aggressions. However, washing your face with a soap-containing cleanser before applying the vitamin C is not brilliant. Once again, it is a matter of pH: soap has a high pH while vitamin C works better on a low pH. So, washing your face with a soap-containing product before applying vitamin C decrease its potency. Better swap it for a salicylic or glycolic-based face cleanser.
Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-beauty/skin-care-ingredient-combinations-that-dont-mix/