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Dryness, dehydration, premature signs of ageing, dullness—regardless of the skincare concern you’re looking to tackle, there is a serum that can get the job done. But what if you’re looking to address more than one skincare concern at a time? This is where the nifty art of layering serums can be of help.
When used correctly, multiple skincare serums can work together in harmony to combat a wider array of skincare woes at once. Here’s everything you need to know:
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Niacinamide—you’ve probably heard the name more times than you’ve checked your DMs. But does this serum live up to the buzz? For us, it absolutely did. This lightweight, fast-absorbing serum is a multitasker’s dream. Niacinamide targets issues like excess oil, large pores and uneven skin tone, while zinc swoops in to calm inflammation. From the first week of use, we noticed a striking difference in texture and shine control (goodbye, mid-day T-zone grease). Perfect for combination-to-oily skin types, this serum could be your go-to if blackheads and redness have overstayed their welcome. Pro tip? Use it sparingly if you’re layering it with other actives, like vitamin C, to avoid irritation.
Morning and/or night, after cleansing and before your heavier serums or moisturisers
Less is not always more when it comes to skincare serums, especially if you’re looking to knock off multiple goals with one routine. When paired correctly, certain actives work on levelling up each other’s performance. For instance, hyaluronic acid and retinol are a match made in heaven for negating dryness. Hyaluronic acid also makes for a worthy hype crew for vitamin C to do its job of brightening the skin. While it may not be possible to find one serum that can solve all your skincare concerns, thoughtfully pairing formulas together can help you address any gaps in your routine.
The most cardinal rule of serum layering is to know which actives work well together and which ones do not make for good team players. Ahead, all the mix-and-match combinations that your skin will adore:
What happens when salicylic acid’s anti-acne squad teams up with niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties? Skincare bliss. The duo works together on exfoliating pores and evening out the skin tone for a clearer visage.
Retinol’s anti-ageing properties and the dryness that it can leave behind often makes for a case of ‘love the player, hate the game’. While increasing the skin’s cell turnover and revving up its collagen production, retinol can also cause increased sensitivity, dryness and peeling. This is where hyaluronic acid steps in to save the day as a humectant that locks moisture into the skin.
When your skin feels dull, fatigued and in need of a boost, you likely have vitamin C on speed dial—after all, it can flood your face with antioxidants. However, overzealous use of this ingredient can also lead to dryness and sensitivity, which is when you’ll want to lean on hyaluronic acid’s intense moisturising capabilities.
Two antioxidants are always better than one—a fact that you can discover for yourself when you invite vitamins C and E into your skincare routine. Together, they work on enhancing each other’s restorative properties, doubling down on sun protection and damage control by free radicals.
If you’re looking to flex the power of niacinamide in your skincare routine, you’ll want to team it together with retinol. Niacinamide helps fortify the skin’s protective barrier and reduces any signs of dryness and irritation that may be caused by retinol.
However, not all ingredients are destined to be together. While certain actives can enhance each other’s performance, specific combinations can counteract each other’s efficacy. Here are the combinations that you’ll want to steer clear of:
One is a brightening powerhouse, while the other can turn back the clock on premature signs of ageing. However, when paired together, the duet can increase the potential for inflammation and redness.
What happens when you toss two powerful exfoliators together into the same routine? Overambitious exfoliation can prove to be counterintuitive—it can cause excessive peeling and compromise the skin barrier.
Despite its stellar street cred for brightening dull, fatigued skin, vitamin C can be something of a loose cannon when not paired with a balanced skincare routine. Throw it together with glycolic acid and you could nudge the door open to irritation, redness and lower efficacy of both actives.
Now that you’re all brushed up on which skincare serums to shop for, it helps to bear in mind a few precautionary measures that will help you transform your serum layering routine.
Less is not always more when it comes to skincare serums, especially if you’re looking to knock off multiple goals with one routine. When paired correctly, certain actives work on levelling up each other’s performance. For instance, hyaluronic acid and retinol are a match made in heaven for negating dryness. Hyaluronic acid also makes for a worthy hype crew for vitamin C to do its job of brightening the skin. While it may not be possible to find one serum that can solve all your skincare concerns, thoughtfully pairing formulas together can help you address any gaps in your routine.
The most cardinal rule of serum layering is to know which actives work well together and which ones do not make for good team players. Ahead, all the mix-and-match combinations that your skin will adore:
What happens when salicylic acid’s anti-acne squad teams up with niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties? Skincare bliss. The duo works together on exfoliating pores and evening out the skin tone for a clearer visage.
Retinol’s anti-ageing properties and the dryness that it can leave behind often makes for a case of ‘love the player, hate the game’. While increasing the skin’s cell turnover and revving up its collagen production, retinol can also cause increased sensitivity, dryness and peeling. This is where hyaluronic acid steps in to save the day as a humectant that locks moisture into the skin.
When your skin feels dull, fatigued and in need of a boost, you likely have vitamin C on speed dial—after all, it can flood your face with antioxidants. However, overzealous use of this ingredient can also lead to dryness and sensitivity, which is when you’ll want to lean on hyaluronic acid’s intense moisturising capabilities.
Two antioxidants are always better than one—a fact that you can discover for yourself when you invite vitamins C and E into your skincare routine. Together, they work on enhancing each other’s restorative properties, doubling down on sun protection and damage control by free radicals.
If you’re looking to flex the power of niacinamide in your skincare routine, you’ll want to team it together with retinol. Niacinamide helps fortify the skin’s protective barrier and reduces any signs of dryness and irritation that may be caused by retinol.
However, not all ingredients are destined to be together. While certain actives can enhance each other’s performance, specific combinations can counteract each other’s efficacy. Here are the combinations that you’ll want to steer clear of:
One is a brightening powerhouse, while the other can turn back the clock on premature signs of ageing. However, when paired together, the duet can increase the potential for inflammation and redness.
What happens when you toss two powerful exfoliators together into the same routine? Overambitious exfoliation can prove to be counterintuitive—it can cause excessive peeling and compromise the skin barrier.
Despite its stellar street cred for brightening dull, fatigued skin, vitamin C can be something of a loose cannon when not paired with a balanced skincare routine. Throw it together with glycolic acid and you could nudge the door open to irritation, redness and lower efficacy of both actives.
Now that you’re all brushed up on which skincare serums to shop for, it helps to bear in mind a few precautionary measures that will help you transform your serum layering routine.
Less is not always more when it comes to skincare serums, especially if you’re looking to knock off multiple goals with one routine. When paired correctly, certain actives work on levelling up each other’s performance. For instance, hyaluronic acid and retinol are a match made in heaven for negating dryness. Hyaluronic acid also makes for a worthy hype crew for vitamin C to do its job of brightening the skin. While it may not be possible to find one serum that can solve all your skincare concerns, thoughtfully pairing formulas together can help you address any gaps in your routine.
The most cardinal rule of serum layering is to know which actives work well together and which ones do not make for good team players. Ahead, all the mix-and-match combinations that your skin will adore:
What happens when salicylic acid’s anti-acne squad teams up with niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties? Skincare bliss. The duo works together on exfoliating pores and evening out the skin tone for a clearer visage.
Retinol’s anti-ageing properties and the dryness that it can leave behind often makes for a case of ‘love the player, hate the game’. While increasing the skin’s cell turnover and revving up its collagen production, retinol can also cause increased sensitivity, dryness and peeling. This is where hyaluronic acid steps in to save the day as a humectant that locks moisture into the skin.
When your skin feels dull, fatigued and in need of a boost, you likely have vitamin C on speed dial—after all, it can flood your face with antioxidants. However, overzealous use of this ingredient can also lead to dryness and sensitivity, which is when you’ll want to lean on hyaluronic acid’s intense moisturising capabilities.
Two antioxidants are always better than one—a fact that you can discover for yourself when you invite vitamins C and E into your skincare routine. Together, they work on enhancing each other’s restorative properties, doubling down on sun protection and damage control by free radicals.
If you’re looking to flex the power of niacinamide in your skincare routine, you’ll want to team it together with retinol. Niacinamide helps fortify the skin’s protective barrier and reduces any signs of dryness and irritation that may be caused by retinol.
However, not all ingredients are destined to be together. While certain actives can enhance each other’s performance, specific combinations can counteract each other’s efficacy. Here are the combinations that you’ll want to steer clear of:
One is a brightening powerhouse, while the other can turn back the clock on premature signs of ageing. However, when paired together, the duet can increase the potential for inflammation and redness.
What happens when you toss two powerful exfoliators together into the same routine? Overambitious exfoliation can prove to be counterintuitive—it can cause excessive peeling and compromise the skin barrier.
Despite its stellar street cred for brightening dull, fatigued skin, vitamin C can be something of a loose cannon when not paired with a balanced skincare routine. Throw it together with glycolic acid and you could nudge the door open to irritation, redness and lower efficacy of both actives.
Now that you’re all brushed up on which skincare serums to shop for, it helps to bear in mind a few precautionary measures that will help you transform your serum layering routine.
