How to Layer Skin Care Ingredients

The best way to layer skin care ingredients and products in your skin care routine depends upon which ingredients the products contain.

This blog discusses product layering and how skin care ingredients interact with each other.

I will discuss what should be considered when designing a skin care routine and how to correctly layer different types of skin care products.

Keep reading to learn more about how individual ingredient characteristics determine how you should combine cosmeceutical ingredients together. You will also learn which products come first in your routine.

Or- take the smartest route!

Take our skin care routine quiz and we will customize a skin care routine for your Baumann Skin Type. You will be able to shop from many brands for each regimen step with the confidence that the products are both right for you and in the correct skin care routine order.

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2 ingredients combine to form a third ingredient

Ingredients have the opportunity to interact with each other when they are:

formulated in skin care products

in contact with each other or mixed together in your hand before applying

layered on your skin above or below other products

applied later in the day or night on top of other products

how to layer skin care products on the skin

Does layering skin care products work?

Two products layered together will act differently than if they are used alone. When you layer the correct products together, you can increase the effectiveness of both.

But if you layer the wrong products together, you can decrease effectiveness and increase side effects.

Using retinoids before or after a moisturizer is a good example of how layering effects how products work.

How to layer skin care products and ingredients

Many skin care routine instructions tell you to wait 3-10 minutes after each layer before applying the next layer. In some cases this will work, but it is best if you use a skin care routine designed so that each layer compliments the next. This way when the ingredients from the various layers combine- you get an even better result.

This is why it is so important to have a skin care routine customized for your Baumann Skin type.

Once you take the quiz and find your skin type- we will help you build a skin care routine that insures that the products are layered properly.

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skin care products combine like paint does to form a new product

How to layer serums and acids?

Acids can change how well products work by lowering the pH- so the best way to layer serums and acids really depends on which types of ingredients and products you are layering.

The best way to combine a serum and an acid is to use a low pH acid cleanser like a hydroxy acid. This way the acid is washed off the skin before the serum is applied- leaving the skin a lower pH for 3-5 minutes.

Why acid cleansers should be used before serums:

If used before a Vitamin C serum, the low pH will help the ascorbic acid penetrate.

Increases exfoliation which helps serums absorb

Loosens attachments between skin cells helping serums penetrate into the skin

Why you should not layer acidic moisturizers with serums

Most moisturizers have a high pH due to fatty acids, but hydroxy acid moisturizers have a low acidic pH.

Some ingredients get inactivated by an acidic pH such as peptides, and growth factors. These can be applied after acidic cleansers are rinsed off, but should not be layered with acidic moisturizers such as hydroxy acid creams. Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid can all decrease effectiveness of some antiaging ingredients if layered together.

An acid pH might break open exosomes before they can penetrate to the dermis, which would decrease efficacy of exosome serums.

There are many intricacies with designing a custom skin care routine for your skin type, so make sure you know which of the 16 skin types you are and design your routine accordingly.

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How to layer retinol with other ingredients

This is such a complex topic that it has it’s own blog called How to use retinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C together.

You can also look at the sections below for which ingredients to use together with retinol and what not to use with retinol.

Retinol Before or After Serum

When to use retinol, Retin A and other retinoids in your skin care routine depends upon many factors. See this blog for more information.

Peptides and Retinol Together

Peptides tend to inactivate other ingredients or clump up with other peptides. For this reason, it is best not to use retinol with a large amount of peptides. If the peptide are low down on the ingredient list on the product label in a product separate from retinol, it should be ok, but do not use a product with retinol and peptides unless I have recommended a specific one for you in your custom skin care routine.

Retinol and Vitamin C Together

It is very hard to stabilize and formulate Vitamin C and retinoids together so these should not be combined in the same product. But you can use them in the same skin care routine. Vitamin

C should come first, followed by retinol- at night only.

Learn more at How to use retinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C together.

Retinol and Glycolic Acid (AHA) Together

It is not easy to formulate retinol and AHA together. The brand Skinbetter has done this but in my opinion it is best to use a glycolic acid or AHA cleanser in the am or pm and a separate retinoid at night. There are many reasons for this including better retinol stability and a mor flexible regimen if over-exfoliation occurs. You have the ability to stop one or the other if thy are in separate product. You could also alternate- an AHA one day and a retinoid another day.

How to layer serums and moisturizers?

In general serums come first in routines and moisturizers are layered on top.

The only exception to this is if the serums are actually face oils rather than water-based serums.

How to layer face oils and moisturizers?

There are many different types of face oils and moisturizers.

(Note that some oils are actually essential oils and not true moisturizers.)

When face oils should be used in the regimen depends upon many factors including which Baumann Skin Type you are and what moisturizer and oils you want to use together.

In general- apply the face cream first and use the oil after. This way the oil provides occlusion and slugs the moisturizer into the skin.

How to layer SkinMedica products?

The best step order of SkinMedica products in your skin care routine depends upon your Baumann Skin Type.

General advice on how to layer SkinMedica skin care products:

Always use the TNS recovery complex or growth factor serum first. The growth factors are unstable and need to have the highest change of absorption.

SkinMedica Lytera should be used either as the 2nd or 3rd step in your skin care routine depending on which Baumann Skin Type you are.

The HA5 serum comes after the growth factor, vitamin C. or skin lightening serum. Hyaluronic acid serums will increase absorption of other products. This can increase side effects from retinol, so not all skin types should use the SkinMedica HA5 serum.

Apply SkinMedica Dermal Repair cream after TNS Recovery complex, Essential Serum or HA5

When to use SkinMedica Retinol in your skin care routine depends on variables discussed in this blog.

If you choose to use the Skinmedica retinol, apply it after the TNS Essential serum.

Make sure SkinMedica products are right for your skin type before you buy.

Take the quiz to build a skin care routine in the correct step order with products right for your skin type.

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How to layer SkinCeuticals products?

The order that you use Skinceuticals products will greatly affect how well they work.

Always use SkinCeuticals products in this order:

Cleanser

Vitamin C serum such as SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, Pfloretin or AOX10 serum

HA serum

Triple Lipid Repair Moisturizer

Retinoid

When to use the retinoid will vary from skin type to skin type so read this blog about when to use SkinCeuticals retinol. It can be more irritating than other retinols, so make sure you use it as prescribed.

These products and this step order of SkinCeuticals products is not right for all 16 skin types, so take the quiz and we will give you the exact skin care routine steps to match your Baumann Skin Type.

Make sure SkinCeuticals products are right for your skin type before you buy.

Find a dermatologist near you or take the quiz.

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How to layer La Roche-Posay products in your skin care regimen?

La Roche-Posay has products to treat many different skin concerns. The order you should use the LRP products depends upon your Baumann Skin Type and which products you are using. Your best bet is to take the skin care routine quiz and we will show you what skin care routine steps for you to use.

The advice below is general advice from dermatologists on what order to use La Roche-Posay Products.

Five tips on how to layer La Roche-Posay Products:

Use the La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum in step 2 after cleansing

Use the Effaclar Adapalene gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid after your moisturizer when beginning the retinoid.

When to use (and if to use) Hydraphase HA Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer or Face Cream depends on your skin type. It will increase absorption of other products.

Apply susncreen last in the am

Always apply retinol or adapalene at night.

To get more specific advice- we need to know your skin type.

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What Order Do I Put on Drunk Elephant Products?

Of course it depends on which of the 16 skin types you are.

Dermatologist do not recommend Drunk Elephant because medical grade skin care brands give better results. But- I get asked this a lot so I included it here.

If you choose to use Drunk Elephant- this s the best way to layer the products for most skin types.

In general this is the best way to layer Drunk Elephant Products in the morning:

ERase Milke Micellar Water

Shaba Complex Eye Serum

C Firma Fresh day Serum

Protini Polypeptide Cream

SPF

How to layer Drunk Elephant Products at night:

Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser

CeraMightly AF Eye Balm to protect eye area

Vitamin C Serum or Glycolic acid serum

Lala Retro Whipped Cream Fouettee Moisturizer

Drunk Elephant A Passioni Retinol Cream

Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil

No matter what skin care brand you choose- laying the products in the correct order is critical to get good results.

I prefer combining the best products from various brands for my patients. To see what I would recommend for you, build a custom skin care routine using the same software that dermatologists use.

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.

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