Slay or Nay: The Skincare Ingredients You Can & Can’t Mix
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
So, you’ve read all the Beauty IQs, watched all the TikToks and bought all the things, but still aren’t seeing the results you hoped for.
Or, perhaps you want to level up your skincare from the simple cleanser, moisturiser and SPF schtick, but don’t know where to start.
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Creating an effective skincare routine is as much about the layering process as it is about the formulas themselves.
You can spend hundreds—if not thousands— of dollars on curating your dream regime but if the ingredients don’t work in harmony with each other, you might not see the results you’re after.
The art of layering skincare ingredients is exactly that… an art form. Knowing which pair well together and which don’t is key to enhancing your skin while protecting its barrier.
But with so much information—and misinformation—out there, it’s easy to get confused. Take it from this beauty editor, who is still navigating the laboratory of active ingredients herself.
So, I enlisted the help of an expert: Dermal Therapist and Beauty IQ writer, Yadira.
Below, we break down which ingredients to avoid mixing as well as winning combinations for radiant skin.
Skincare Ingredient Slays.
1. Retinoids + Niacinamide.
Retinoids are the magical ingredient on everybody’s lips when it comes to anti-ageing, pigmentation and acne, but where the hell does it fit into a skincare routine and what works well with it!?
We've covered the basics of retinoids in an earlier Beauty IQ here. As for what works well with it, Yads explains:
“Niacinamide (or vitamin B3) and retinoids are made for each other. This is one of my favourite skincare combinations because niacinamide buffers the effects of a retinoid, which for some, can lead to less irritation.
(Fun fact: niacinamide generally works well with everything as it's often used to alleviate sensitive skin.
Need a little retinol refresher? Check out the below YouTube video.
Some winning retinoids + niacinamide combos:
- L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Retinol + Niacinamide Pressed Cream 50ml - A deeply nourishing and hydrating night cream packed with retinol, niacinamide and 12% hyaluronic acid.
- Cosmedix Clarity Skin-Clarifying Serum - A high-strength, blemish-fighting serum that combines salicylic acid, tea tree oil, retinol and niacinamide to fight bacteria, mattify the skin and fight post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
- La Roche-Posay Redermic Retinol B3 Serum 30ml - An anti-ageing serum with pure retinol to visibly resurface and renew the look of fine lines, deep wrinkles and improve dark spots caused by photo-ageing.
- Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream 50ml- A powerful night cream fights to banish visible signs of aging by minimising fine lines and smoothing skin's texture.
2. Retinoids + Hyaluronic Acid.
Like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid is a deeply hydrating ingredient that perfectly complements retinoids’ anti-aging abilities.
“Hydrated, healthy skin is going to increase the skin's ability to tolerate retinoids and reduce the chance of irritation - including dryness/flaking so yes, HA and retinoids together work!”
Some winning retinoids + hyaluronic acid combos:
- Hyaluronic acid:
- Alpha-H Hyaluronic 8 Serum 25ml - A plumping, rehydrating serum for all skin types including sensitive and mature.
- SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel - 30ml - A moisture-enhancing gel that replenishes nutrients the skin needs to feel smooth and appear younger.
- CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum 30ml - A nourishing gel formula that infuses skin with hydration and promotes moisture retention.
- Retinoids:
- Skinstitut Retinol 30ml - A straightforward retinol serum at a reasonable price point that contains an intense gel-like formula to make skin firm and smooth.
- Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol 25ml - A beginner-friendly antioxidant serum that renews, exfoliates and hydrates skin.
- PCA Skin Intensive Clarity Treatment: 0.5% Pure - A nighttime retinol serum to address congestion and blemishes suited to normal, combination and oily skin types prone to breakouts.
3. Exfoliating Acids + Any Moisturising/Hydrating Ingredients.
Liquid exfoliants (think AHAs and BHAs) are great for removing dead skin cells and improving skin texture, and are even more effective when combined with hydrating ingredients that pull moisture into the skin to plump and hydrate.
Some winning exfoliating + hydrating combos:
- asap super B complex 30ml - An anti-inflammatory formula boosted with potent antioxidants to infuse skin with moisture, prevent dehydration and boost radiance.
- Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment 100ml - A famous skin rejuvenating powerhouse that gently clears away dead skin cells and debris, improving skin tone and texture while it’s at it.
- Viviology Liquid Exfoliant 200mL - A liquid, chemical exfoliant that helps slough away devitalised skin cells infused with calming and soothing ingredients to keep skin feeling tip-top.
We deep dive into all things exfoliation in the below Skincare School episode.
4. Vitamin C + Vitamin E + SPF.
The skincare ingredient trio you didn’t know you needed.
“Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is designed to fight free radical damage, brighten skin and boost collagen production.
Vitamin E is also an antioxidant so combining them not only boosts your antioxidant protection, but when combined they are more effective at preventing photodamage than using each ingredient separately.
Vitamin E is also a great ingredient for protecting your skin’s barrier.
Did you know: Vitamin C can boost SPF's efficacy? Well, now you do. They are born to work together.
In fact, studies have shown that using a vitamin C serum prior to sunscreen can be more effective at fighting free radical damage that can lead to premature ageing and sun damage – than using just SPF alone!”
Learn more about the different types of vitamin C in our YouTube video here.
Some winning vitamin C + vitamin E + SPF combos:
- SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum - 30ml - A holy grail hydrating, anti-aging serum that helps to optimise protection against damaging UVA/UVB rays, prevent premature signs of ageing and stimulate collagen production.
- AB LAB by Adore Beauty Barely There SPF50+ Facial Sun Cream 75mL - A daily sunscreen with SPF50+ broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E that melts effortlessly into skin for an undetectable, ‘barely there’ finish.
- BOOST LAB Vitamin C Brightening Serum - A daily-use Vitamin C serum to brighten the look of skin and provide antioxidant support.
5. Vitamin C + Salicylic Acid.
Salicylic acid is a BHA used to exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog pores, whereas vitamin C is an antioxidant with a host of skincare benefits, from boosting collagen production to protecting the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines.
When used together, the pair pack a glowy punch.
“Salicylic acid and vitamin C are both great ingredients on their own, but they are often combined to brighten the skin as well as to help treat acne and age management concerns at the same time.”
Some winning vitamin C + salicylic acid combos:
- L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Clinical 12% Pure Vitamin C Serum 30ml - A serum with 12% pure vitamin C and salicylic acid to help brighten and protect skin.
- SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF 30ml - A high-strength, oil-free Vitamin C serum that refines skin and reduces oil oxidation.
- Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial 80ml - A vitamin C-infused facial exfoliant gently smooths, brightens and boosts skin's radiance.
Now that we've covered skincare ingredients that slay, let's take a look at which are a big nay...
Skincare Ingredient Nays.
1. Retinoids + Benzoyl Peroxide.
While both of these skincare ingredients are ideal for those with inflammatory acne, the two shouldn't be mixed.
“Retinoids and benzoyl peroxide are two of the most effective ingredients and ones I love for managing acne. However, for most skins, it's best to keep these separate.
I'd recommend staggering them in a routine so you're using the retinoids at night (as per your clinicians’ instructions) and benzoyl peroxide in the AM or alternate nights.”
2. Retinoids + Vitamin C.
Powerful alone, transformative together, retinoids and vitamin C both offer a host of skincare benefits and can be used together but with a strong word of caution.
“Now you can technically use retinoids and vitamin C in the same routine, but to avoid confusion I'd apply your vitamin C in the morning and retinoid at night.
When combined, the pH level of vitamin C increases and the pH level of retinol decreases. So essentially, they won’t work as well when layered. Plus, vitamin C protects the skin from free radical damage, so the morning makes it much more efficient in its age management role.”
Gone a little too hard on the actives or have an impaired skin barrier? Below, we take you through how to remedy it.
Skincare Ingredient (Semi) Slays.
1. Retinoids + Exfoliating Acids.
Landing smack-bang in the middle of slays and nays are retinoids and exfoliating acids.
“OK so generally, retinoids + exfoliating acids are recommended to be avoided. However, they can be combined and some skins can tolerate the two.
But because both ingredients effectively increase cell turnover, it can be too much for some - and especially too much to start with so again, most often it’s recommended to keep them separate.
Plus, using them incorrectly can dry out the skin and cause further irritation - which is essentially the opposite of what we're trying to achieve.
If you're a beginner, pick one ingredient, and stagger/apply on alternate nights.”
Now that you've got skincare ingredients covered, check out these other helpful Beauty IQ articles:
