There are things that are good for you, and there are things that can leave you disappointed, sad, and irritated AF. And no, this is not about your ex, but about skincare products that should never come together. While most of us know of the skincare superstars that must be on our shelves, we don’t really know which of these should be kept far apart. They just don’t make a great couple and can cause unnecessary stress and breakouts. Just like your relationship with your ex. So, to make sure that doesn’t happen, here are the skincare ingredient combinations that you must avoid.
1. Retinol and Vitamin C
Even though these are both powerhouse ingredients for the skin, they should not be layered one after the other. These are both active ingredients, and when used together, they can cancel out each other’s effects leaving your skin sensitive and irritated. So, it’s best to use Vitamin C in your morning routine and stick to using retinol in your nighttime routine. That way, you can get the maximum benefit from these two.
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Related: Best Retinol Products In India: Creams And Serums To Try In Your Skincare Routine
2. Retinoids/Retinols and Salicylic Acid
Retinol and salicylic acid just can’t be best friends and should be used separately. Since salicylic acid is a form of BHA, it can cause excessive dryness when combined with retinol. Also, since salicylic acid is used for acne and retinol is used for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, these two can render each other ineffective. They can both cause extreme dryness which will lead your body to produce more oil to compensate for it. And that will result in more breakouts.
3. Vitamin C and Benzoyl Peroxide
Vitamin C can brighten and make your skin glow. But when combined with benzoyl peroxide, which is an acne treatment, these two can cause irritation to the skin. And the imaginary glow you had in your head will disappear too. This happens because benzoyl peroxide oxidises Vitamin C and cancels out all the glow, giving you red, irritated, and itchy skin. This definitely tops the list of skincare ingredients to avoid using together.
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4. Retinol and AHAs
Just like BHAs, AHAs aren’t a great match with retinol either. AHAs are acids like glycolic and lactic acids. While both retinol and AHAs are great for healthy skin, they should be used separately. This is because they both penetrate the external layer of the skin. And doubling up on the active ingredients can do you more harm than good. Use them on alternate days so your skin doesn’t get over exfoliated.
5. Two products with the same actives
You might think that using two products with the same actives increases your chances of getting rid of the problem. But that is incorrect and can lead to major side effects on your skin. Using two products with different concentrations of the same active ingredients is a no-no. This can disrupt the skin barrier leading to irritation, breakouts, and redness. If you have used two products with the same actives and your skin didn’t act up, you got really lucky and you can continue. But, for most people, this can be disastrous.
6. AHAs and BHAs
This couple might sound like the dream team for all your problems but you better break them up before they create hell on your skin. While AHAs are ideal to correct pale or dull skin tone, BHAs treat skin issues like acne and scarring. And both of these exfoliate your skin, so using them together means extra exfoliation. So, unless your skin is made of rubber, it is best to use these separately in small quantities. You can always work them up slowly as your skin starts to adjust.
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Related: Dealing With Active Acne, Scarring, And More? Here Are Some Of The Best Products For Acne Prone Skin
7. Benzoyl Peroxide and Hydroquinone
By now, you know that benzoyl peroxide treats acne by removing dead skin and peeling it away to give way to new skin. And talking about hydroquinone, it is a great acid to reduce hyperpigmentation or dark spots on the skin. But it can be a little drying, and when paired with benzoyl peroxide, it can leave your skin dry as a desert. And don’t even get me started on the irritation and excess oil production this combo might lead to.
8. AHAs and Hydroquinone Acid
One of the top pairings of skincare ingredients to avoid using together is AHA with hydroquinone acid. These active ingredients can cause irritation to the skin individually. So, coupling two skin-irritating ingredients doesn’t sound like the best plan. And to avoid this from happening, you can substitute hydroquinone acid with Vitamin C.
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