How Often Should I use Peptide Serum?
Ok so you’ve got your head around AHAs and BHAs, you’ve got an idea of what retinol is and how it benefits the skin, as for hyaluronic acid, you’ve already introduced it into your routine. But now we have peptides, yes, a must have skin ingredient that you didn’t realise you needed!
What are peptides?
The main benefits of peptides are their ability to boost collagen production enabling the skin to remain looking plumped and youthful with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles visible reduced, leaving you with a smoother complexion. They can do this because of the fact they are amino acids and form the building blocks of protein in the skin. Peptides are also cell communicative ingredients which means they tell your skin to produce more collagen. Often found in serum and moisturiser formulas as well as post facial and peel products to restore balance to the skin.
The main skincare benefits of peptides:
Reduces the appearance of fine lines
Helps to strengthen the natural skin barrier
Combats signs of skin inflammation
Locks hydration into the skin surface
Repairs damage caused to the skin
Boost collagen production
Gives you smoother, firmer looking complexion
If you are wanting to know more about peptides, their skin benefits and how you can introduce them into your routine, check out our blog post.
When should you use peptide serum?
Applying your skincare products, the correct way will have a monumental impact on the effectiveness of your routine. I have shared with you before how the best way of applying products is starting with the thinnest consistency and working your way up to the thickest.
Best order for skincare application
Cleanser/ Face Wash
Exfoliating Toner
Serum
Face Oil (optimal)
Moisturiser
SPF (day application only)
Overnight Face Mask (evening application only)
The best time to apply a peptide serum is after an exfoliating toner and before any face oils or moisturiser. This will allow the lightweight serum to reach the area it needs to without having to battle against any physical barriers caused from thicker formulations.
What does a peptide serum do?
Peptides are often praised with the various benefits they are able to produce in the skin, from boost collagen, elastin, and keratin. By applying a peptide serum, you will find your complexion is revitalised, vibrant and strengthened resulting in it looking and feeling healthy. Having said that, as effective as peptides are at helping the skin, they are unable to match the difference other more potent ingredients are able to deliver, this is why many team peptides with other skin ingredients in their every day skincare routines.
How long does it take for peptide serum to work? This boils down to how consistent you are when using a peptide serum. Immediately after application you’ll find your skin is looking plumped, hydrated, and full of bounce. For more long-term results, many have said they begin to see a notable difference in their skin after just three to four weeks. Everyone’s skin is different as well as the variety of complimentary ingredients that can be used within your daily routine will either hinder or boost the effectiveness of the peptides. If you have any concerns with specific skin ingredients, its best to consult with a doctor or dermatologist beforehand to avoid any potential and unwanted allergic reactions. Can you use vitamin C serum and peptides together? You can indeed, as I have already mentioned peptides are effective with their collagen boosting benefits. But if you are wanting the best out of them teaming them with potent powerhouse ingredients, such as vitamin C, will result in one impressive power couple. With the antioxidant properties of vitamin C warding off the damage caused to the skin by free radicals and other environmental aggressors. All of which break down the collagen in the skin resulting in signs of ageing, such as loss of firmness, fine lines, and wrinkles becoming more prominent. The way vitamin C and peptides work together is whilst vitamin C is combating free radicals and preventing damage caused to existing collagen, peptides are boosting collagen production. This results in a firmer, brighter complexion that is glowing with health with minimised signs of ageing. Are peptides or retinol better? Retinol and peptides are both fabulous ingredients to introduce into your skincare routine. Both can perform separately on the skin, but by teaming them together you will be amazed with the results. You can either use both in your evening routine, or alternate applications by using peptides in the morning and retinol in your evening routine. One of the main benefits of retinol is its ability to speed up the skin cell turnover revealing a glowing, healthy complexion. Peptides, as you already know, work at boosting collagen production. With each ingredient working on different areas, you won’t have the worry of overloading your skin with a concoction that is too harsh for the skin. Do peptides really work? Yes and no, as complicated as it sounds, there are still several studies taking place to investigate how exactly peptides work on the skin. It’s still a mystery how peptides work on the skin, but what we do know is the results they deliver are impressive. As I have mentioned peptides are clever cell communicating ingredients which results them being able to mimic any skin cells without having to penetrate far into the skin. This results in peptides being able to work on all levels of the skin, from the epidermis right the way into the dermis of the skin. What are the side effects of peptides? For topical creams and formulations enriched in peptides, there are some side effects that can occur such as, skin sensitivity, rash and itching. This are quite uncommon; however, I strongly suggest you seek the advice of a doctor before using a new product on the skin. I have also already mentioned how performing a patch test for 24 hours is a good idea. To do this apply a 10p size amount of product to the inside of your arm and leave it overnight, if there are no signs of irritation, you have the green light to apply it to your face. So, there you have more information and some of your questions answered about peptides. Wasn’t as confusing as you originally thought huh? If you have any further questions, please get in touch with us over on our Instagram.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
