Fact vs. Fiction: Using Multiple Skincare Ingredients Together Creates Better Results

by | Jun 17, 2016

factvfictions_Shareable_HeroFICTION. Mixology may be a fun way to find your signature cocktail, but combining too many different skincare products is not likely to produce the results you’re after. Plus, if you’re not careful, product mixing can actually aggravate, rather than improve, your skin.

What’s the trick to multi-product success? Start by familiarizing yourself with the active and cosmetic ingredients in your skincare routine so you can recognize (and avoid) the most common mixology problems:

1) A lose-lose situation. Sometimes the ingredients in different products counteract each other, which means you won’t see the intended benefits of either product on your skin (for example, alpha hydroxy acids cancel the benefits of vitamin C-based products).

2) Tandem irritation strikes. In other words, your skin is fine when the products are used independently, but use them together, and hello skin irritation. This is common when combining multiple products with anti-aging benefits (think: retinol and alpha hydroxy acids).

3) Beware of product incompatibility. This is easy to test for by rubbing your face after the second product has dried. If it peels, balls, or curdles, you’re looking at products that don’t mix.

These ingredients simply don’t play nice with each other:

Retinol.* This derivative of vitamin A is a must-have when it comes to visibly improving skin texture and minimizing the appearance of pores. However, dryness, redness or irritation can result from mixing retinol with glycolic acids, alpha hydroxy acids (in many wrinkle-minimizing products), or salicylic acids (in acne treatments). It’s no surprise then, retinol and the acne-fighting ingredient benzoyl peroxide actually deactivate each other.

Citric acid. Commonly found in moisturizers, this effective ingredient is destined to be a loner. Citric acid often causes irritation if layered with other products.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and vitamin C. These acid-based ingredients actually destabilize each other, leaving the antioxidants ineffective, so choose products with one or the other—but don’t combine them or you risk redness, peeling and irritation. Also, steer clear of retinol if you’re using either of these acids.

Word to the skin-wise: Get to know the ingredients that work in harmony with your skin (and with each other)—but leave the mixology to dermatologists. Stick to a collection of products clinically designed to work together, and your skin will thank you. 

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Wedding Day Skincare Countdown

by | Jun 10, 2016

wedding

The hair, the makeup, the dress…your skin? That’s right, whether you’re the bride-to-be, a bridesmaid or a VIP guest, you want your skin to be as smooth and flawless as the wedding. But how do you get your complexion to say “I do” for the big day too?

Achieving a radiant, wedding-worthy complexion can be a time investment, so start as early as you can. Introduce new skincare, from cleansers to makeup to sunless tanners, no less than a month before the date, so you can eliminate any products that trigger even the slightest irritation.

If you don’t have any complex skincare concerns, and you want smoother, softer, more even-looking skin—exfoliation is one of the safest, simplest ways to get your skin glowing. Even the best makeup won’t hide the look of uneven skin texture, so consider ENHANCEMENTS Micro-Dermabrasion Paste, which uses sugar and salt to gently exfoliate. You can start using it up to one week before the wedding to remove old, built-up skin cells and allow younger, more vibrant cells to appear on the surface—and skin looks brighter after just one use.

Don’t exfoliate if you have a skin concern like adult acne. Instead, consider the UNBLEMISH Regimen, which targets blemishes and works to prevent future breakouts. If you’ve developed brown spots from sun exposure or hyperpigmentation, the  REVERSE Regimen helps to visually brighten and even skin tone. (You might even get away with wearing less makeup.) When it comes to skincare, the most impressive results are seen over time, so plan accordingly. If the event is less than a month away, our cardinal rule is to only stick with products that are currently compatible (or are extremely gentle) with your skin.

What should you avoid? In the last four weeks, don’t even consider in-office dermatological procedures (like chemical peels or laser treatments). Resist any last-minute temptations to try new products or treatments. Keep up your natural glow by staying hydrated and moisturizing skin. Last-minute facials (except gentle exfoliation) are off limits, as are touching, picking or squeezing, which can all irritate skin. Finally, avoid unnecessary stress and over-cleansing which can cause breakouts.

If it’s an outdoor wedding, wear a wide-brimmed hat (unless you’re the bride) and apply your sunscreen (try it in advance so you can find a formula that works with your makeup).

Ultimately, through thick and thin, your skin is with you for life—so be good to it always.

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