Skin Ingredient Combos I Love & The Combos I Don't Love
Another blog, another hot topic. Navigating skincare ingredients combinations can feel overwhelming, I totally get it. Not only are you expected to understand a ton of ingredients, what they do and if they will help with your skin type, but you are also having to figure out the combos that can make your skincare even more effective (and the ones that will leave your skin irritated). With that being said, I wanted to make a little cheat sheet for each of you, that will help you understand how your skincare ingredients interact with each other. I really want to emphasize that when I say combos, I am not saying to mix multiple products into a skin cocktail, then apply. This is simply saying which ingredients layer on top of one another well (some of the ingredient combos I recommend can be found in a single product, though). I am going to give you my true honest thoughts on the harmonious pairings that enhance our skincare goals, as well as the combinations that are best kept apart.
Why Proper Skin Combos Matter:
Before we get into the exact combos I recommend and don’t recommend, I just want to provide a little more information on why everyone should care and be aware of this topic. The science behind skincare combinations involves understanding how ingredients interact on a chemical level and with the skin's physiology. For instance, combining vitamin C and ferulic acid not only stabilizes the vitamin C, enhancing its longevity and effectiveness against environmental damage but also increases the overall antioxidant effect for better skin protection. Similarly, mixing incompatible ingredients like retinol with benzoyl peroxide can neutralize each other's effects or increase skin irritation.
Combos I Love:
Niacinamide and Retinol: Niacinamide is one of those special ingredients that pairs well with a ton of other ingredients (I go into this in my Niacinamide 101 blog). With that, I do want to specifically highlight the combo of Niacinamide and Retinol, just because there are so many benefits. Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, enhances the barrier function of the skin, reduces the appearance of pores, and improves skin tone. If you read my blog on retinoids, you would know that Retinol is a form of vitamin A, known for its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and diminish dark spots. When used together, niacinamide helps to mitigate the irritation and dryness often associated with retinol use, allowing for a smoother, more even skin tone and texture.
How I Combine Them: This demonstration is suggesting you are using a retinol before a moisturizer, please tailor how you use retinols based on your personal skin’s needs (I give some insight into this in my retinoid blog)! Apply a pea-sized amount of retinol to your skin first, allowing it to fully absorb. This ensures that your skin can fully utilize the retinol’s benefits, such as increased cell turnover and improved texture. From there, it’s time for your Niacinamide product. I mentioned this in my favorite Niacinamide products blog, but I highly suggest using a product that contains Niacinamide, rather than applying a Niacinamide specific serum. For example, I love to go in with a moisturizer (that contains Niacinamide).
Antioxidants and Sunscreen: Integrating antioxidants with sunscreen amplifies SPF's effectiveness and provides comprehensive protection against UV damage and premature aging. Antioxidants like Vitamin C, E, and plant extracts neutralize free radicals and enhance skin defense (bon voyage sun damage)!
How I Combine Them: For optimal results, use an antioxidant-rich serum (I recommend Vitamin C) under sunscreen in the morning. To be specific, I would do Vitamin C, moisturizer, then sunscreen (you can read more about skin layering here)! This combination not only shields the skin from the sun but can also repair existing damage.
My Favorite Antioxidants:
My Favorite Sunscreens:
Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid: I mean you guys shouldn’t be surprised by this one. Considering I have been singing Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum praises for years. Ferulic acid on its own can’t reverse free radical damage on your skin. It acts more like a protective shield to prevent free radical oxidation to cause anymore damage. Basically it neutralizes the damaged molecules that are sitting on your skin. However, when paired with Vitamin C, the benefits are truly abundant. Ferulic acid not only stabilizes vitamin C, but they can slow down the appearance of fine lines, reduce inflammation and prevent hyperpigmentation (the bane of my existence).
How I Combine Them: Don’t get me wrong, you can absolutely pair them separately (as in apply a Vitamin C serum and then a moisturizer with ferulic acid), but my personal preference is just to use the queen of Vitamin C and Ferulic acid herself ( Skinceuticals C E Ferulic). This combo is so beautifully formulated, it’s one of the splurges I absolutely swear by!
Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C: Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that helps with collagen production and fades pigmentation, while Hyaluronic Acid provides deep hydration by holding onto water molecules, improving skin plumpness and elasticity. So when we combine them, Vitamin C is supported by the moisture-binding characteristics of Hyaluronic Acid, which can enhance the skin's texture, appearance, and overall health. These two also work like skincare bff’s by helping strengthen the skin’s barrier!
How I Combine Them: Use a Vitamin C serum in the morning on a clean face (for all the reasons listed in the Vitamin C and Antioxidants category). From there, I personally don’t like to use a specific Hyaluronic Acid serum. Instead, I would layer my Vitamin C with a moisturizer that contains HA, like this one from Tatcha.
Peptides and Retinoids: Similar to Niacinamide and Retinoids, I love to incorporate peptides with retinoids, for similar reasons. This combination works synergistically to enhance the anti-aging effects while mitigating potential irritation from retinoids, thanks to the soothing properties of peptides. Peptides are amino acids that help signal the skin to produce more collagen, leading to firmer, plumper skin. Peptides can also hydrate and soothe the skin, reducing redness and strengthening the skin barrier. So when we combine them with retinoids, there will be a boost in skin firmness, smoothness, and hydration.
How I Combine Them: As I mentioned in the niacinamide and retinoids “how to,” this demonstration is suggesting you are using a retinoid before a moisturizer, please tailor how you use retinoids based on your personal skin’s needs! Apply a pea-sized amount of a retinoid product. Follow with a peptide-based cream (this one from Skinfix is a MUST-HAVE) to hydrate and further boost collagen production.
Combos I DON’T Love
Retinol and Vitamin C: I want to start this off by saying that I love these two ingredients. Quite frankly, it is rare for me to go a day without incorporating each of them. With that, I personally don’t use them together. I will use my Vitamin C in the morning and my retinol in the evening. In my experience, combining retinol and Vitamin C can be challenging because both are potent and can potentially irritate the skin when used together. The acidic nature of Vitamin C may lead to increased sensitivity when combined with retinol, leading to redness, peeling, or irritation for some skin types.
AHAs/BHAs and Retinol: To start, mixing actives can often be too intense for most people’s skin. AHA/BHA and retinol are no exception. Combining AHAs/BHAs with retinol can increase the risk of skin irritation and sensitivity due to the potential for over-exfoliation. Both AHAs/BHAs and retinol work to accelerate skin cell turnover, but when used together, they can strip the skin of its natural oils and weaken the skin barrier. This can lead to redness, peeling, and discomfort, making the skin more susceptible to damage from environmental stressors. I love having all of these fit into my regular skin routine, I just would not recommend using them together!
Benzoyl Peroxide with Retinol and Vitamin C: As much as I appreciate Benzoyl Peroxide, it can be a little stubborn with what it likes to work with and what it doesn’t like to work with. I also want to highlight that this is not in reference to a Benzoyl Peroxide cleanser! Considering you are washing off a cleanser, it wouldn’t actually interact with other products. This is only in reference to a product with BP that remains on the skin.
Ok now that I covered that, not all combos are bad because they cause irritation, some aren’t recommended because they hinder the efficacy of your other skincare. For example, Benzoyl peroxide and vitamin C are not recommended to be used together because benzoyl peroxide can oxidize vitamin C, rendering it ineffective (this would also be the case if you mixed Vitamin C with an AHA or BHA). Similarly, combining benzoyl peroxide with retinol is not advisable as benzoyl peroxide can deactivate retinol, reducing its effectiveness in treating skin concerns. This can compromise the benefits of both ingredients, leading to diminished results and potential skin irritation.
I hope this provided you with a clear picture on skincare combining! I know this can be challenging, so as always, DM me if you have any questions!
Hungry for more? Check out my Comprehensive Skincare Guide in the Skinthusiast Shop!
**Disclaimer: This post does not constitute medical advice. Please speak to your Dermatology provider before adding any at home procedures or products into your routine!
***This post contains affiliate links.
