When done correctly, mixing skincare ingredients can elevate your skincare routine and have your friends want to know all your secrets. Get it wrong, however, and you could be faced with major skin irritation.
Considering that only 19% of Australians know how all of the ingredients in their skincare routine work, many of us are probably getting it wrong.
Luckily, we've got you covered as we break down the active ingredients that are favourites amongst skincare enthusiasts and cover how to mix and match your skincare ingredients. Let's start with the skincare ingredients that don't mix.
Skincare ingredients not to mix
Not all skincare ingredients are designed to be used together and in some cases, certain combinations can cause the skin to become irritated or can lessen the effectiveness of products.
Here are the skincare ingredient combinations to avoid.
Retinoids or retinol and benzoyl peroxide
Retinoids or retinol and salicylic acid
Generally, it's recommended you don't mix retinol and salicylic acid in your skincare routine due to the risk of redness or potentially irritating side effects [3].
However, if you have dark spots, acne-prone skin from excess oil production or mature skin it can be beneficial to combine retinol and salicylic acid, provided you introduce them slowly and carefully.
Retinoid or retinol and AHAs/BHAs
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are hydroxy acids that work as an exfoliant for your skin. Examples of AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid and citric acid. The most common BHA is salicylic acid, but can also be sodium salicylate.
All three products are best used at night, but not on the same day or at the same time as each other to avoid skin irritation [4].
Vitamin C and AHAs/BHAs
Vitamin C should not be mixed with acids, which includes all AHAs and BHAs.
Vitamin C plays a key role in strengthening the outer layer of our skin barrier, but when combined with an acid, it can enhance the potency of your vitamin C and cause severe irritation [5].
Vitamin C and benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide actually oxidises vitamin C which renders them both ineffective. They are best used on alternate days [6].
Niacinamide and AHAs / BHAs
Niacinamide is a powerful anti-ageing ingredient that brightens skin and soothes redness. Similar to retinol, niacinamide should not be used with acidic skincare ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids.
Ordinary niacinamide combined with an acid can cause a bad chemical reaction of redness and flushing.
You'll want to leave at least 30 minutes between products or keep your niacinamide in the morning and your acids at night.
Benzoyl peroxide and hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent and is commonly used to treat hyperpigmentation, whilst benzoyl peroxide fights against acne.
These are two ingredients you should never mix or you run a serious risk of staining your skin and causing some major irritation [7].
Ingredients to mix together
While the above ingredients don't play well when mixed, several other ingredients actually benefit from being mixed with other products.
Vitamin C and ferulic acid
Combined vitamin C and ferulic acid are potent ingredients that give you a brightening agent that helps target signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone.
Software's Vitamin C + Ferulic Serum contains a whopping 15% dose of vitamin C to target dark spots and dullness and help even out discolouration.
Vitamin C and vitamin E
Both vitamin C and E work to counteract free radical damage from UV exposure, but they each combat different types of UV damage. When combined, they give your skin double the antioxidants to fight damage. You can also add in ferulic acid to give you an added boost of protection.
Vitamin C and E and sunscreen
Sunscreen protects skin from the damaging effects of visible light. Powerful antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E can actually increase your sun protection when used in tandem with sunscreen.
Retinol and hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is often thought of as the holy grail for anti-ageing as it stimulates collagen. And, it's also an ingredient that is used in most hydrating skincare products.
This makes it a perfect match for retinol products that, while targeting acne and ageing, can sometimes have side effects like excessive dryness, flaking, redness and irritation.
Niacinamide and vitamin C
This combination sparks a lot of debate among skincare experts. Some say that since both niacinamide and vitamin C contain antioxidants, they cancel each other out and might even lead to irritation.
Others believe this idea stems from outdated research and that combining these ingredients can result in great skincare benefits [8].
So, can you mix niacinamide and vitamin C? In short, yes, you can and you might see some serious skin benefits, particularly if it's dark spots and pigmentation that you're hoping to target.
Just keep in mind that this pairing can be quite aggressive, particularly for sensitive skin. It's always a good idea to start slow and patch test to understand what your skin can handle.
Glycolic acid and vitamin C
Glycolic acid and vitamin C have complementary actions: the first one helps to eliminate dead skin cells, making way for vitamin C to effectively stimulate cell turnover.
This combination is great for people who struggle with dullness and are looking for a way to achieve a brighter, more radiant complexion.
Glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid
Both glycolic and hyaluronic acid are powerful hydrators and using them together can be an excellent idea for dry skin types. Plus, hyaluronic acid can help manage some of the potential side effects of using glycolic acid (things like irritation and redness).
Acetyl hexapeptide-8 and hyaluronic acid
Acetyl hexapeptide-8 and hyaluronic acid both have naturally water-binding properties.
They work perfectly together, as the acetyl hexapeptide-8 can help hyaluronic acid — and ingredient that typically sits on the surface of the skin — to penetrate into the deeper layers and moisture the skin from within.
In fact, research has shown that using hyaluronic acid with acetyl hexapeptide can lead to significantly better results [9].
Software's Multi-Peptide Eye Serum is formulated with acetyl hexapeptide-8 and hyaluronic acid, as well as glycerin and other nourishing ingredients.
It rejuvenates the delicate skin around the eyes, stimulating collagen production, reducing the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, and protecting the skin from free radicals.
Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
Penetrate and plump skin to diminish dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Ceramides and hyaluronic acid
Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are another incredibly moisturising pair — perfect if dryness or dehydration are your main skincare concerns.
Software's Ceramide Repair Balm is supercharged with ceramides to protect against external aggressors like pollution and the weather, as well as sodium hyaluronate (a type of hyaluronic acid) to attract, bind and hold on to moisture.
Always ask for help
Nailing your skincare product combinations can be the difference between happy and angry skin. So, if you have any doubts about your skincare routine or what your skin needs to function healthily, it's best to ask for the help of an expert.
At Software, we offer skincare formulas that are customised to your skin's wants and needs. You can target acne, ageing or pigmentation with the help of a local Software health practitioner.
Simply complete our text-based quiz, upload a few selfies of your skin and one of our practitioners will create a personalised treatment for you. This is compounded and delivered straight to your door. And, you can access ongoing follow-up support over the course of your treatment.
That means you can access professional skincare advice and ask any niggling questions you may have about your skin, your skincare routine and what products should be used together and which to avoid.
Get customised skin/haircare routine
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Can you mix vitamin C and niacinamide?
So we know that niacinamide and vitamin C are both powerful ingredients, and we have a feeling you're probably eager to add them both into your skincare routine as soon as possible.
However, since not all skincare products get along with one another, you might be wondering — can you mix niacinamide and vitamin C? The short answer is yes, you can use these two ingredients together and see some serious skin benefits.
Niacinamide and vitamin C have complementary benefits, and when applied correctly they can be a powerful combination.
In the past, rumours circulated about pure niacinamide and pure ascorbic acid (vitamin C) causing skin irritation when combined, but this stems from outdated research and is not really applicable when it comes to the way we use these two ingredients in our skincare today [8].
However, it is always a good idea to be cautious when introducing new products, especially if you have sensitive skin. Start gently, always do patch tests with new products, and make sure to follow storage instructions for each product.
For more detailed advice or personalised recommendations, we always recommend speaking to a qualified medical professional.
Should niacinamide be used before or after vitamin C?
Now that we're comfortable using both niacinamide and vitamin C in our skincare routine, it's important to make sure we are using them in the right order to get the maximum skin benefits.
After all, skincare products only work if used correctly. This one is pretty simple. For best results, experts suggest applying your vitamin C serum first due to the fact that it often comes in less stable forms [9].
Once it is dry and the ascorbic acid has had a chance to settle into your skin, you can add your niacinamide.
What should you not mix with niacinamide?
Ok, so now we know combining niacinamide and vitamin C is safe for our skin. But is there anything you can't use with niacinamide? As niacinamide is such a low irritant ingredient, it is safe to mix with most things without causing skin irritation.
However, one thing to be cautious of is using alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) in conjunction with niacinamide due to their conflicting pH levels. It can also reportedly cause a 'niacin flush' [11][12].
What should you not mix with vitamin C?
When it comes to vitamin C, you might also want to be careful with AHAs and consider applying them at different times. We suggest opting for vitamin C as part of your morning routine and then applying AHAs at night.
Another ingredient to use with care alongside your niacinamide product is retinol or retinoids. Like vitamin C, these vitamin A derivatives are powerful active ingredients, and when combined the two could irritate your skin.
Additionally, as they both require different environments to be effective, neither will likely work optimally if you use them at the same time [13]. Stick with applying your vitamin C serum in the morning and your retinol product at night, or use them on alternate days.
It's also important to note that retinol and AHAs can both increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, so it is crucial to make sure you are wearing sunscreen after using these products (of course, we're sure you're wearing SPF every day anyway, right?).
So there you have it! Everything you need to know about using niacinamide and vitamin C together, and how to combine the ingredients for the best results.
Next time we see you, we just know you'll be glowing.
