Whenever 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 will possibly really feel such as you’re imagined to be utilizing each serum and lively ingredient beneath the solar for that elusive “greatest pores and skin ever.” It’s no shock, then, that folks 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 personal bespoke routine by mixing numerous serums collectively earlier than making use of them. At first, it’d appear to be an excellent concept. In any case, there are such a lot of high-performance skincare elements on the market lately, why not add a few of them collectively to offer your pores and skin as many advantages as attainable?
Fortunately, although, the reply to all that is refreshingly easy. Mixing and layering your serums received’t provide the greatest outcomes—you ought to be rotating one by one as an alternative. Hold scrolling to be taught why layering and mixing aren’t the best way to go, methods to rotate your serums, and which elements it’s best to by no means combine.
First, What Is a Serum?
A serum is a concentrated skincare product with lively elements. 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 will create essentially 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 considerations and create tangible change. Be it pimples, dehydration, discoloration, or indicators of getting older—there’s a serum for that.
A serum ought to all the time be utilized after you’ve cleansed and utilized toner, then adopted up with moisturizer.
Learn what is a serum, and do I really need one?
Ought to You Layer Serums?
As I stated earlier, there are such a lot of amazing active skincare ingredients obtainable that it looks as if utilizing multiple would maximize outcomes. However What really occurs once you layer serums on prime of each other?
Let’s say you begin by making use of a niacinamide serum then layer a vitamin C serum on prime of that. The primary serum goes to penetrate the pores and skin because it’s meant to, however it’ll most likely additionally depart somewhat 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 to penetrate as successfully. The extra serums you add, the extra diluted they develop 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 soak up a lot. Consider it as a sponge; sooner or later, a sponge has absorbed all it will possibly and water will simply pour over it. This occurs along with your pores and skin as effectively. Belief me, through the use of the whole lot directly, you’ll simply find yourself throwing your cash down the drain.
One other concern is that many serums embrace very lively elements. Whenever you apply too many robust elements to your pores and skin directly, you run the danger of irritation. That may solely trigger injury and undo all the nice you have been attempting to do along with your serums.
For those who’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 likely to play properly with others and may add somewhat 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 the whole lot collectively to create on super-serum? Hate to burst your bubble, but it surely doesn’t work this fashion 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 components 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 meant 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 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 just a few seconds, then apply a skinny layer of moisturizer on prime.
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 simplest 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 gives 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, in the event 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.
For those who 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 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 vital to make use of the elements that assist your skin type and your skin goals. Those that do use retinol might not be capable to tolerate the identical frequency of use. It’s all about experimenting somewhat and determining what works greatest for you. Or, in the event you’re confused, I all the time suggest searching for the recommendation of a skincare skilled. Our virtual consultation program makes this accessible to everybody.
Rotate Your Serums
Pores and skin is exclusive (that is your entire philosophy my model is predicated on), so not everybody can observe 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 direction of—in the event you’re beginning retinol for the primary time you’ll need to work your way 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 explanation I recommend that is that it takes about 48 hours for retinol to extend cell turnover from inside and push the previous pores and skin cells to the floor. The exfoliating acid serum will assist shed these dry, expired cells which can be 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 employ will rely in your pores and skin kind and particular person wants. To seek 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 recent new cells which have been revealed by the combo of retinol and exfoliation. It additionally offers your pores and skin a relaxation from actives in order that it will 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 Useful Substances
One other sneaky solution 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 recommend in search of is a well-rounded serum that may finally profit your pores and skin in additional methods than one. For instance, these exfoliating acid serums embrace elements like glycerin, allantoin, and aloe to assuage and hydrate, offsetting any doubtlessly irritating results from the acids. Or, you might search for a retinol serum that features anti-aging peptides to reinforce the general firming impact of the components, in addition to hydrating elements to make it straightforward to tolerate.
This fashion, you recognize the whole lot has been correctly formulated to work in tandem and can be capable to correctly make its approach into your pores and skin.
Which Serum Substances Ought to You NOT Mix?
Some elements play very effectively with others whereas different elements very very like to be the star of the present.
Vitamin C (unstable varieties like Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic Acid) + Retinol = not beneficial. They’ve completely different pHs that may battle with each other.
Vitamin C (unstable varieties 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 varieties 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 suggest utilizing vitamin C within the morning and AHAs at evening. Take a look at the perfect morning routine.)
Retinol + Benzoyl Peroxide = not beneficial. Benzoyl peroxide oxidizes simply. Retinol does as effectively, and it may make them each much less efficient.
Retinol + Retinol = not beneficial to double dose. For those who’re utilizing a well-formulated retinol serum, it ought to have interaction 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 constructive impact on our pores and skin, it may be tempting to make use of them . However, this isn’t one of the simplest ways to maximise outcomes in 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, keep in mind that layering too many serums or mixing them can dilute their efficacy. Mixing elements at house will not be like mixing elements in a lab! (This is similar purpose I’m not a fan of DIY skincare recipes!)
As a substitute, rotate your serums and attempt to use only one every evening. It will permit the serum to work as successfully as attainable 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 considerations and making a schedule that works for you.
Celeb Esthetician & Skincare Professional
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 can be formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and appear 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.”
