Is combining different lines of skincare dangerous?
Often, I am asked if it is ok to use products from several skincare lines. My immediate answer is, “Yes, I do not feel any line does any an amazing job at EVERYTHING!” I think it is best for everyone to have a customized skincare routine geared towards their skin concerns. For instance, if you have acne as an adult, we may want to treat the acne, but also work at building collagen to fight the aging process. This may require products from 2-3 different skincare lines.
On another note, there are some ingredients that can counteract each other that you should be aware of. For instance, copper based products like the Neova line help promote elastin and collagen production. When used in conjunction with a vitamin C serum such as SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, the effects of copper are voided and you are wasting you money on the copper product. The solution? Use the C products in the morning and the copper product in the evening.
Other concerns are mixing too many drying products like retinols and acids. Too much dryness can lead to really confused skin an unwanted short and long term side effects. If acne and oily skin are a concern, start out slow. Alternate nights with the products to build up a tolerability. Consider adding a hyalorinic acid based hydrator like SkinMedica HA5 in the am to hydrate the skin from the dryness that occurred over night. If your skin is normal to dry, avoid this combination altogether.
Hopefully, this helps with the concern of mixing brands! We are here to guide you on your skincare journey. Just make an appointment!