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 stress to have an in depth skincare routine is actual, and typically it might probably really feel such as you’re imagined to be utilizing each serum and lively ingredient underneath the solar for that elusive “finest 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 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 appear to be an amazing concept. In any case, there are such a lot of high-performance skincare components on the market lately, why not add a few of them collectively to present your pores and skin as many advantages as potential?
Fortunately, although, the reply to all that is refreshingly easy. Mixing and layering your serums received’t provide the finest outcomes—you ought to be rotating one after the other as a substitute. Maintain scrolling to be taught why layering and mixing aren’t the way in which to go, methods to rotate your serums, and which components you need to by no means combine.
First, What Is a Serum?
A serum is a concentrated skincare product with lively components. 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 considerations and create tangible change. Be it pimples, dehydration, discoloration, or indicators of getting old—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 really want one?
Ought to You Layer Serums?
As I stated earlier, there are such a lot of wonderful lively skincare components accessible that it looks as if utilizing multiple would maximize outcomes. However What truly occurs if 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 should most likely additionally depart a little 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 have the ability to 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 components, your pores and skin can solely take in a lot. Consider it as a sponge; sooner or later, a sponge has absorbed all it might probably and water will simply pour over it. This occurs together with your pores and skin as properly. Belief me, through the use of every thing without delay, you’ll simply find yourself throwing your cash down the drain.
One other concern is that many serums embrace very lively components. Whenever you apply too many sturdy components to your pores and skin without delay, you run the danger of irritation. That may solely trigger harm and undo all the great you have been making an attempt to do together with your serums.
In case 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 a little bit additional layer of moisture if that’s what you’re searching 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, however it 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 system could also be designed to penetrate by way of 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. Principally, 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 individuals like to combine their serums into moisturizer, and I’m not a fan since this could actually mess with the efficacy of a serum. It’s finest to use a serum, let it dry down or get cheesy for a number of 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 simply’ll get the best profit through the use of quite a lot of lively components, so right here’s one of the simplest 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 might result in fatigue. The identical goes for serums. By specializing in one after the other as a substitute of layering your serums, you’ll get the utmost profit with none interference for a well-rounded strategy.
Btw, for those who’re studying this and pondering 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 better consciousness to this idea. Because it’s one thing many people estheticians have been preaching to our purchasers 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 amazing 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 essential to make use of the components that assist your skin type and your skin goals. Those that do use retinol might not have the ability to tolerate the identical frequency of use. It’s all about experimenting a little bit and determining what works finest for you. Or, for those who’re confused, I at all times advocate 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 the complete philosophy my model is predicated on), so not everybody can observe the very same schedule. That stated, that is the final information I developed as a blueprint. Keep in mind, that is one thing to construct in direction of—for those who’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 utilize will rely in your pores and skin sort and particular person wants. To search out out which kind you want, you may take this Skin Type Quiz.
On the finish of the week, a hydrating serum plumps and nourishes these recent new cells which were revealed by the combo of retinol and exfoliation. It additionally offers your pores and skin a relaxation from actives in order that it might probably 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 Useful 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 multiple useful ingredient. What I recommend searching for is a well-rounded serum that can in the end profit your pores and skin in additional methods than one. For instance, these exfoliating acid serums embrace components 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 system, in addition to hydrating components to make it straightforward to tolerate.
This fashion, every thing has been correctly formulated to work in tandem and can have the ability to correctly make its method into your pores and skin.
Which Serum Substances Ought to You NOT Mix?
Some components play very properly 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 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 sorts. 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 danger of irritation. (However I do advocate utilizing vitamin C within the morning and AHAs at night time. Try the right morning routine.)
Retinol + Benzoyl Peroxide = not really useful. Benzoyl peroxide oxidizes simply. Retinol does as properly, and it may make them each much less efficient.
Retinol + Retinol = not really useful to double dose. In case 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 components that may have a optimistic impact on our pores and skin, it may be tempting to make use of them suddenly. However, this isn’t one of the simplest 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 components at residence isn’t like mixing components in a lab! (This is identical purpose I’m not a fan of DIY skincare recipes!)
As an alternative, rotate your serums and attempt to use only one every night time. This can 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 considerations and making a schedule that works for you.
Superstar 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 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 finest. 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.”