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 stress to have an intensive skincare routine is actual, and typically it will possibly really feel such as you’re speculated to be utilizing each serum and energetic ingredient beneath the solar for that elusive “greatest pores and skin ever.” It’s no shock, then, that individuals marvel 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 individual bespoke routine by mixing varied serums collectively earlier than making use of them. At first, it’d look like an awesome thought. In spite of everything, there are such a lot of high-performance skincare components on the market today, why not add a few of them collectively to offer 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 greatest outcomes—you ought to be rotating one by one as an alternative. Maintain scrolling to be taught why layering and mixing aren’t the way in which to go, tips on how to rotate your serums, and which components it’s best to by no means combine.
First, What Is a Serum?
A serum is a concentrated skincare product with energetic components. They’re sometimes light-weight and water or lotion based mostly as a result of this permits 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 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 wonderful energetic skincare components out there that it looks as if utilizing a couple of would maximize outcomes. However What really occurs whenever 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’ll in all probability additionally go away a bit 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 turn out to be. 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 components, 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 will possibly and water will simply pour over it. This occurs along with your pores and skin as nicely. Belief me, by utilizing every thing directly, you’ll simply find yourself throwing your cash down the drain.
One other concern is that many serums embody very energetic components. While you apply too many robust components to your pores and skin directly, you run the chance of irritation. That may solely trigger injury and undo all the nice you have been making an attempt to do along with your serums.
In case you’re intent on layering, I don’t recommend 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 may add a bit further 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 every thing collectively to create on super-serum? Hate to burst your bubble, but it surely doesn’t work this fashion both.
Even when the components 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 method could also be designed to penetrate through a sure mechanism. One other product might not have the identical penetration enhancers. It’s possible you’ll be making them chemically much less environment friendly, by disrupting their supposed processes. Mainly, 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 will actually mess with the efficacy of a serum. It’s greatest 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 simply’ll get the best profit by utilizing quite a lot of energetic components, so right here’s one of the best ways to include a number of serums into your routine.
As a substitute of Layering Your Serums, Rotate Them
Consider your serums like a exercise routine—selection offers you the most effective outcomes, however you wouldn’t need to do all of your exercises on the identical day or it might 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, should 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 particular order isn’t new, however the viral #skincycling pattern has introduced higher 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 case 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 awesome 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 components 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 a bit and determining what works greatest for you. Or, should you’re confused, I at all times advocate looking for the recommendation of a skincare skilled. Our virtual consultation program makes this accessible to everybody.
Easy methods to Rotate Your Serums
Pores and skin is exclusive (that is your entire philosophy my model is predicated on), so not everybody can comply with the very same schedule. That stated, that is the overall information I developed as a blueprint. Bear 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 means up slowly.
For nights one and two, use a retinol serum just like the Advanced Resurfacing Serum.
Evening 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. It will 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 sort and particular person wants. To search out out which kind 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 contemporary 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 will possibly 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 Components
One other sneaky technique to get a number of advantages with out utilizing a number of merchandise is to discover a serum that has a couple of useful ingredient. What I recommend on the lookout for 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 components like glycerin, allantoin, and aloe to appease and hydrate, offsetting any doubtlessly irritating results from the acids. Or, you would search for a retinol serum that features anti-aging peptides to boost the general firming impact of the method, in addition to hydrating components to make it straightforward to tolerate.
This manner, you recognize every thing has been correctly formulated to work in tandem and can be capable of correctly make its means into your pores and skin.
Which Serum Components Ought to You NOT Mix?
Some components play very nicely with others whereas different components very very similar to to be the star of the present.
Vitamin C (unstable kinds like Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic Acid) + Retinol = not advisable. 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 (secure 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 advocate utilizing vitamin C within the morning and AHAs at night time. Try the proper morning routine.)
Retinol + Benzoyl Peroxide = not advisable. Benzoyl peroxide oxidizes simply. Retinol does as nicely, and it might make them each much less efficient.
Retinol + Retinol = not advisable to double dose. In case you’re utilizing a well-formulated retinol serum, it ought to have interaction 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 components that may have a constructive impact on our pores and skin, it may be tempting to make use of them abruptly. However, this isn’t one of the best ways to maximise outcomes in 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 components at residence isn’t like mixing components in a lab! (This is identical cause I’m not a fan of DIY skincare recipes!)
As a substitute, rotate your serums and attempt to use only one every night time. It will enable the serum to work as successfully as potential with out interference so that you simply 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.
Movie star Esthetician & Skincare Professional
As an esthetician educated 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 skilled 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 information and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “essentially the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”