Cosmetic ingredients that you should never mix
After being bombarded daily with new cosmetic ingredients that we need to integrate into our skincare routine, we end up buying and trying them out. But let’s be honest, many times we buy products without knowing exactly what effects they will have on our skin. Or, even more important, how to incorporate them correctly into our routine so as not to have a negative effect.
One of the most important points when following a facial care routine and incorporating new active ingredients is how to combine them. Because, although we believe that the more we add the better, a bad combination of them can carry adverse effects.
There are some active ingredients, therefore, that are applied at the same time that are not compatible and can either cancel each other’s effects or cause a reaction that will lead us to the vicious cycle of “reaction, solution, repetition”.
- Retinol or Retinoids and Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Both derivatives of vitamin A (Retinol or Retinoids) and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid, are used to accelerate cell turnover and increase collagen production. Although the combination of each other won’t be a case of more is better. Both will exfoliate the outer layer of skin, irritating it and bringing side effects. You don’t need to leave one out though: we recommend you use them on alternate days.
- Vitamin C and Retinol or Retinoids
When used together, the antioxidant effects of Vitamin C and A can cancel each other. Besides that, do not worry because we better recommend using Vitamin C in the morning, while Retinoids are better for using at night. However, we want to clarify that in some professional treatments where an intensive effect is sought, the combination of Vitamin C and Retinol is recommended.
- Retinoids or Retinol and Salicylic Acid
The combination of Vitamin A with acne treatments, most of them based on Salicylic Acid (a Beta Hydroxy Acid – BHA) can cancel each other as well and produce irritation, sensibility and desquamation to the skin. Again, our solution would be to use acne treatments during the daytime and Retinol at night.
- Vitamin C and Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Again, the use of too many acids on the face may cause irritation and redness. Additionally, some acids can also change the pH of vitamin C and destabilize it. As we said, we better recommend using Vitamin C in the morning, so you can perfectly use Alpha Hydroxy Acids during your night skincare routine.