29 Mar Buyer Beware: Never Mix These Skincare Products Together

Regardless of whether you are new to skincare products or a seasoned skinthusiast, the rules of a good routine remain relatively the same. You have a routine for the day and for the night, and you’ll layer your products in a predetermined order on your skin. Rinse and repeat. Which to be fair, doesn’t sound too complicated.

But with the rise of the 10, 15, or God-forbid 20-step skincare routine, layering your skincare has gone from a thoughtless gesture to a nuanced artform. Layering and mixing skincare products without fully understanding their properties could lead to underwhelming results or worse still, potential skin irritation.

In which case, what skincare ingredients should you never mix together?

1. Retinoids + Salicylic Acid 

Source: @beretclub

Despite being lauded as the be-it-end-all ingredient where anti-aging is concerned, using retinoids (derivatives of Vitamin A) in your everyday skincare routine requires a very precise level of care. Retinols increase the cell-turnover in your skin to diminish signs of fine lines, age spots and hyperpigmentation. Initial use normally causes mild irritation, redness, and peeling on the face.

Which is why you should never combine the use of retinoids with chemical exfoliants such as salicylic acid (a form of Beta Hydroxy Acid). As Salicylic Acid also peels away your skin to clear away acne, using it together with retinoids can only irritate your face even more.

Source: witanddelight

Not only does it irritate your skin, this may also signal to your body to ramp up the production of sebum to compensate for the dryness. And as we know, increased sebum means increased acne!

2. Retinoids + Alpha Hydroxy Acids 

Source: parsleyhealth

The same rule applies when we talk about alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). As most alpha hydroxy acids shed dead skin cells from your face to promoting the growth of new ones, the excessive dryness can lead to an increase in sebum production. This inevitably causes redness, irritation, and flakiness to occur over the face.

To treat it, we suggest using a moisturiser containing humectants such as aloe vera or hyaluronic acid to help with the dryness and prevent further damage to the skin barrier.

3. Vitamin C + Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Source: Malena Flores

And while we’re still on the topic of Alpha Hydroxy Acids, you should be wary of mixing any Vitamin C-enriched products with it. Not because it’ll damage your face, but using them both together may alter their pH-balance (the key component to both ingredients).

If their pH-balance is disrupted, this could render both ingredients useless. Considering how expensive Vitamin C-enriched skincare can be, you’ll begin to understand why this can be a problem. A big financial one.

4. Water-based products + oil-based products 

Source: komodaa

We don’t need to tell you why this doesn’t work, do we? Oil and water simply do not mix, so there’s no point in trying to apply facial oils and then a water-based product after. Any oil-based product applied on your skin prevents water-based products from penetrating in. Which inevitably makes your water-based products null & void.

So if you must use a combination of oil and water-based skincare products together, here’s how. Start by using your water-based products first, before topping it off with your oil-based products. In fact, doing it this way helps lock in moisture into your skin, which is beneficial to those suffering from dry skin.

5. Benzoyl peroxide + AHA/BHA 

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Benzoyl peroxide may sound incredibly fancy at first. But IRL, this ingredient is actually frequently found in most acne-busting skincare products. Harsh but effective, this particular ingredient peels away skin to remove any buildup of dirt, sebum, dead skin cells & bacteria.

Source: thebazaarbohemian.com

You don’t need us to remind you that AHA/BHA-enriched products do pretty much the same thing. This means using them together can be super irritating on your skin that could even lead to flaking. So be wary!

But if you’ve already committed these skincare mistakes, chill! That’s what we’re here for.

Our Ivory Radiance facial is just the ticket for you to hit ‘Undo’ on your skincare blunders. Working wonders to restore your skin’s moisture barrier, this facial combines three key technologies to help restore & enhance your moisture barrier:

1. Micro Hydra Dermabrasion
   Micro Hydra Dermabrasion technology gently exfoliates dead skin cells, excess sebum & dirt to enhance the clarity of your skin without damage.
2. Frozen Force
   Icy cool to the touch, Frozen Force promotes consistent distribution of skincare actives over your skin, increasing its efficacy. Imparting a crisp ice membrane over the epidermis layer, this step also placates signs of redness and mild skin irritation.
3. Nano Spray
   Nano Spray breaks down particles of Pure Rose Essence & oxygen to sizes smaller than the average skin pore (0.02m – 0.05m) for greater penetration on the skin.

But you don’t need to commit cardinal skincare mistakes to reward yourself with an Ivory Radiance facial. This treatment is also ideal for improving the appearance of blemishes, acne scars, and uneven skin-tone too.

For more information on our facials, click here. And while you’re at it, follow & DM us on IG to schedule a consultation!

Also read: So You Have Body Acne. What Do You Do Now?