Once 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 typically it could possibly really feel such as you’re speculated to be utilizing each serum and energetic ingredient underneath the solar for that elusive “finest pores and skin ever.” It’s no shock, then, that individuals surprise 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 seem to be an important thought. In any case, there are such a lot of high-performance skincare substances on the market lately, 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 received’t provide the finest outcomes—you ought to be rotating separately as an alternative. Hold scrolling to study why layering and mixing aren’t the way in which to go, tips on how to rotate your serums, and which substances you need to by no means combine.
First, What Is a Serum?
A serum is a concentrated skincare product with energetic substances. They’re sometimes light-weight and water or lotion primarily based as a result of this permits 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 issues and create tangible change. Be it zits, 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’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 energetic skincare substances accessible that it looks as if utilizing multiple would maximize outcomes. However What truly occurs while 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 is going to most likely additionally go away a bit of 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 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 substances, your pores and skin can solely soak up a lot. Consider it as a sponge; sooner or later, a sponge has absorbed all it could possibly and water will simply pour over it. This occurs together with your pores and skin as effectively. Belief me, by utilizing the whole lot directly, you’ll simply find yourself throwing your cash down the drain.
One other concern is that many serums embrace very energetic substances. Once you apply too many sturdy substances 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 making an attempt to do together with your serums.
If you happen to’re intent on layering, I don’t counsel greater than two serums—one with an energetic ingredient like retinol or exfoliating acids, and one which’s purely a hydrating serum. These are likely to play properly with others and might add a bit of additional 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 the whole lot collectively to create on super-serum? Hate to burst your bubble, nevertheless it doesn’t work this fashion both.
Even when the substances in two totally 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. Chances are you’ll be making them chemically much less environment friendly, by disrupting their meant 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 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 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 by utilizing quite a lot of energetic substances, so right here’s the easiest way 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 provides you with the perfect outcomes, however you wouldn’t wish to do all of your exercises on the identical day or it could result in fatigue. The identical goes for serums. By specializing in separately as an alternative of layering your serums, you’ll get the utmost profit with none interference for a well-rounded method.
Btw, should you’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 development has introduced larger 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.
If you happen to don’t already know, skincycling is a information to rotating serums in your nighttime routine. A serum schedule, if you’ll. It’s an important blueprint to observe, however know that skincycling can look totally 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 substances that help 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 bit of and determining what works finest for you. Or, should you’re confused, I all the time advocate searching for the recommendation of a skincare skilled. Our virtual consultation program makes this accessible to everybody.
Tips on how to Rotate Your Serums
Pores and skin is exclusive (that is your complete 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 the direction of—should you’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 explanation I counsel 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 might be being pushed out by the retinol. This may 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 sort 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 were revealed by the combo of retinol and exfoliation. It additionally provides your pores and skin a relaxation from actives in order that it could possibly relaxation and restore.
And once more, that is only a normal information! Every serum schedule ought to be tailor-made to your distinctive pores and skin.
Search for a Serum With A number of Helpful Elements
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 counsel 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 embrace substances like glycerin, allantoin, and aloe to appease and hydrate, offsetting any probably irritating results from the acids. Or, you possibly can search for a retinol serum that features anti-aging peptides to reinforce the general firming impact of the system, in addition to hydrating substances to make it straightforward to tolerate.
This fashion, you realize the whole lot 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 Elements Ought to You NOT Mix?
Some substances play very effectively with others whereas different substances very very like to be the star of the present.
Vitamin C (unstable kinds like Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic Acid) + Retinol = not really helpful. They’ve totally 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 danger of irritation. (However I do advocate utilizing vitamin C within the morning and AHAs at evening. Take a look at the proper morning routine.)
Retinol + Benzoyl Peroxide = not really helpful. Benzoyl peroxide oxidizes simply. Retinol does as effectively, and it might make them each much less efficient.
Retinol + Retinol = not really helpful to double dose. If you happen to’re utilizing a well-formulated retinol serum, it ought to interact your retinol receptors to do their job. Once 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 substances 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 the easiest way to maximise outcomes to 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, do not forget that layering too many serums or mixing them can dilute their efficacy. Mixing substances at residence will not be like mixing substances in a lab! (This is similar motive I’m not a fan of DIY skincare recipes!)
As an alternative, rotate your serums and attempt to use only one every evening. This may enable the serum to work as successfully as potential with out interference so that you just 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.
Celeb Esthetician & Skincare Knowledgeable
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 resolution — merchandise which might be formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and look 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.”