The Ingredients You Should Never Combine in Your Daily Skincare Routine

So tell me, where do we find such popular and desirable skin care products? As a rule, these are pages of favorite bloggers in social networks, where girls and boys share their impressions of using a certain product. Also advertisements of well-known brands or stores with cosmetic products. Only in some cases we turn to cosmetologists (professionals) in order to choose the appropriate care (but this is not the case here).

Daily skin care routine requires a lot of care and attention. Sometimes it is difficult to figure out on your own which products are suitable for us; what exactly to use in order to achieve the desired effect. Agree, the face cream label is difficult to read (especially when the knowledge of chemistry is reduced to high school), and we tend to pay attention only to individual components that may be good (or not so good) for our skin. However, they should be treated with special care, because not everything can be combined and individual products in combination with others can only do harm. Let's try to shed some light on this issue.

Retinol + Vitamin C

We all know about the almost miraculous effect of retinol and vitamin C. They help to lighten the skin color, fight acne and its consequences, even out the tone... but, they work properly only in isolation. 

• It is better to apply vitamin C in the morning, because it works better under the influence of daylight. 
• Retinol is recommended to be used in the evening, as its beneficial properties decrease when exposed to light.

 And in general, if you apply serums with retinol and vitamin C to the skin, you will not be able to get rid of the feeling of a sticky layer on the skin, irritation and dryness may occur - agree, it is not very pleasant.

Hydroquinone + Alpha acids (AHA)

Alpha acids or AHA - we have heard about them, but let's understand their effect on the skin. These are fruit acids that contribute to the exfoliation of dead skin and its rejuvenation, moisturizing, and brightening. Hydroquinone has approximately the same properties - it dries and whitens the upper layer of the skin. Accordingly, in combination, these two products will simply dry it out and cause irritation. It is better to divide them into morning and evening care, then these two products will bring you the necessary benefit and the desired effect.

Retinol + Alpha-acids (AHA)

Retinol is almost indispensable in the fight against acne, as are Alpha acids (lactic, glycolic, citric). Both ingredients have a drying effect, which relieves inflammation and rashes. However, you should not use them together if you do not want to get burns and irritation. Apply them on different days. For example, you can apply serums or creams with acids twice a week, and on other days - your favorite retinol. This way you will achieve the best result.

Retinol + Benzoyl peroxide

Two more components that effectively fight the manifestations of acne, and two more components, the combination of which will nullify all efforts. The fact is that benzoyl peroxide neutralizes the effect of retinol and vice versa. Accordingly, the effectiveness of both decreases and skin irritation occurs. In general, retinol is best paired with moisturizers like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide. Benzoyl can be applied together with clindamycin - it can be purchased in pharmacies with a prescription from a doctor - so you will achieve the most noticeable results.

Products with the same or similar composition or those that have the same effect on the skin

In general, this does not make any sense. For example, do you apply hyaluronic acid, followed by a hyaluronic acid cream (question: for what?), or two products with retinol or ANA acids. This will not enhance their effect, but will only lead to imbalance and destruction of the skin barrier. As a result, we get irritation, uncharacteristic dryness or, on the contrary, oiliness, rashes.

Of course, if your skin reacts normally to such care and you are satisfied with the result, then the it’s obviously getting everything it needs or you are a chosen one and such care should not be stopped. Unfortunately, in most cases you can only be disappointed and start your care from scratch. Remember, you don't need to follow trends. Use what works for you or, even better, consult with a cosmetologist before purchasing a particular product.