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Don't Combine These Skin Care Ingredients
  • JudyJudy
    As if skin care wasn't complicated enough I recently read some suggestions about which skin care ingredients NOT TO USE together. Ironically enough I read it in REAL SIMPLE where NOTHING is SIMPLE nor inexpensive, but I digress. Here is their list with my brief summation of why not to combine.

    ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS (AHAs) and RETINOIDS: When these are used together they cancel out each other's benefits.

    SALICYLIC ACID and AHAs or RETINOLS: This can overexfoliate your skin.

    HYDROQUINONE and AHAs: AHAs render the Hydroquinone ineffective.

    BENZOYL PEROXIDE and RETINOLS: When combined these ingredients can irritate dermatitis or exczyma.

    I presume these warning are about layering creams.gels, etc. with these ingredients not about using two of them by themselves. Perhaps on the BB's can weigh in on this. I personally use several creams at night and perhaps they conflict. However, they are Paula Begoun products which give good directions on how to use.
  • PurpleRulesPurpleRules
    I was poking around in Blue Murcury last week. They sell rediculously expensive skin care products. (They also sell a couple of cosmetics lines and perfumes that I like, which is why I was there.) I was talking to the sales associate about skin care and "product overload." She said you should only be using 3 products in the morning and 3 products in the evening -- a cleanser, a serum and a moisterizer (with the caveat that you might need additional products for eyes.) One of the reasons she gave was to avoid incompatable products. Then she gave me a load of samples (perfume and skin care) even though I didn't buy anything so she's my new best friend. Anyway, her point was that there are so many products out there that everyone should be able to find one serum that meets all their needs. Then you add in a cleanser and a moisterizer that's appropriate for your skin type and you're all set. I thought it was a refreshing change from SAs who try to sell you 4 different products to treat 4 different problems. I'm going to reread Paula's article on exfoliating and had back to the store and see if I can come up with a product for mornings since I've already got a retinol cream that I really like.
  • KarenKaren
    Good info, Judy!

    Paula Begoun suggests using the AHA or BHA in the morning and the retinol produce at night, or vice versa. She says it's still important to use both because the AHAs or BHAs aid in your other products penetrating deeper down into the skin since they exfoliate, open up pores, and make the skin more supple. The BHA is particularly good for people with clogged pores or other acne issues.
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