Skincare Ingredients You Should and Shouldn’t Mix Together

Turning your bathroom into a beauty lab sounds fun and exciting—yet it can also be too easy to mix up the wrong ingredients. Of course, some ingredients will mix and layer well together. But sometimes, it’s tricky to know which ones do not work harmoniously and may even leave your skin with serious irritation. Fret not! Here’s Meekah’s guide to help you avoid any skin damage and maximize the benefits of your skincare routine.

Do Mix: SPF + Vitamin C 
No matter if it rains or shines—SPF is an essential skincare friend for 365 days a year to maintain healthy, beautiful skin. Vitamin C is an ever trendy hero ingredient with its inherent antioxidant properties. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen in the morning after layering a Vitamin C product like the By Wishtrend: Prue Vitamin C 21.5% Advance Serum to give your SPF a little extra boost.

Do Mix: Vitamin C + Vitamin E and/or Ferulic Acid 
Vitamin E does not stand out as a powerful ingredient itself, but when used together with Vitamin C, it makes one other more effective. If you are using the products that contain both, congratulations—you’re giving your skin double the antioxidant ammunition to fight damage from free radicals and more UV damage than by its lonesome. 

If you are wondering whether you can use Vitamin C, E and Ferulic Acid (A plant-based antioxidant that works to enhance the effects of other antioxidants and mainly used in anti-aging skincare products) together, the answer is yes—absolutely! All three work synergistically and using them together offers triple the protective antioxidant benefits. 

Do Mix: Retinoids + Hyaluronic Acid
Do you know one of the most popular skincare combinations? Alright, it’s retinoids and hyaluronic acid together! Like cola and fried chicken, they just complete each other. While hyaluronic acid is fantastic for moisturizing your skin, retinol and other retinoids are highly effective at preventing acne breakouts and making wrinkles, fine lines and other common signs of aging less visible. Try out the Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Special Trial Kit, a crowd favorite for its moisturizing properties.

Don’t Mix: Vitamin C & AHAs/ BHAs 
Vitamin C, aka ascorbic acid can have exfoliating effects on the skin. AHAs/ BHAs lower the pH level and make the skin more acidic. A good AHA/BHA product like the Some by Mi AHA BHA PHA Kit treats acne, lightens acne scars, and removes impurities. However, using AHAs and BHAs together and throwing vitamin C into the mix can be a recipe for irritation. Even if your skin can tolerate these, we generally don't recommend the mix for your long-term skin health. 

Don’t Mix: Retinols & Vitamin C
As both Retinol (Vitamin A) and Vitamin C are very active ingredients, using them together is another recipe for irritation and redness. Instead, using vitamin C during the day and retinol at night is a recommended practice! If you have oily and acne-prone skin, you could also use an acid-based cleanser before retinol, which can easily be rinsed off. Try the Son & Park Beauty Water, which helps restore subtle hydration to your skin in preparation for better absorption of your next skincare steps.

Remember that your skin is not a science lab! You can enjoy a wide variety of affordable skincare products like The Face Shop, Isntree, and COSRX but make sure you listen to your skin before applying and mixing ingredients.

Want to know more about how to mix and layer your skincare ingredients? Check it out here!