5 Skin Care Ingredients You Should Never Mix—and 4 You Should

Some skin care products work in harmony, but others, especially chemical ingredients, could harm your skin if used together.

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How to mix and match, safely

Many different ingredients in serums, creams, moisturizers, and face washes offer benefits for your skin. But just because they’re good for your skin doesn’t mean you should use them together. In fact, mixing some skin care ingredients could actually harm your complexion. Here are the things dermatologists say not to combineas well as the ones that work really well together.

retinol cream
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Don’t mix: Retinol and hydroxy acids

Retinol is the topical anti-aging miracle worker and alpha hydroxy acids are hailed for softening fine lines and wrinkles. Because they accomplish similar goals of accelerating skin cell turnover, it would seem to make sense to combine them. But, as Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, points out, they both also can trigger potentially irritating side effects—especially when combined. “They’re both harsh on the skin individually, so they cause even more detriment when used together.” (Did you know retinol has a short shelf life? Find out if you should be keeping your skincare products in a beauty fridge.)

woman applying serum to face
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Mix: Retinol and hyaluronic acid

Most dermatologists are willing to tout the seemingly endless benefits of retinol, which is essentially a form of vitamin A and nearly all will warn you about its extensive, drying side effects. “Retinol is known to cause irritation to the skin, especially when a proper moisturizing regimen is not put in place,” warns Dr. Zeichner. That’s why a hydrating agent, such as hyaluronic acid, can be helpful. “Retinol is an incredible tool to speed up cellular turnover smooth skin and boosts collagen, while hyaluronic acid helps draw water into the skin providing a plump, glowing complexion,” says Arielle Panarello, medical aesthetician at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City. “You can counteract some of the dryness while still letting the retinol penetrate the outer layer of the skin.”

dry skin
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Don’t mix: Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and retinol

No matter your skin type, one combo you should avoid is retinol plus benzoyl peroxide, a common acne treatment that’s strong enough on its own. When the two are mixed together, Panarello says that most people experience dry, flaky, and peeling skin. In addition, some research suggests that benzoyl peroxide cancels the effects of retinol, which totally defeats the point of using the ingredient in the first place.

age spot under eye
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Mix: Vitamin C and vitamin E

Two vitamins—of course they go together, right? But it’s not that simple. There are a few good reasons why these immune system-fighting and skin-rejuvenating nutrients work hand-in-hand on your skin. “Vitamin C fights against free radical damage and vitamin E is great to boost hydration,” says Panarello. “Used with the powerful antioxidant, ferulic acid, and we have a match made in heaven!” In a nutshell, any acid, including alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), also make a nice combination and work well together to treat uneven pigment, dullness, and acne. “When combining these, you reap antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits,” Panarello adds.

peeling skin
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Don’t mix: Vitamin C and hydroxy acids

Most of us consider adding a “vitamin” to our skin-care regimen something similar to topping off our Frappuccino with a heaping of whipped cream. Can it really ever hurt? In the case of vitamin C and hydroxy acid, the answer is yes. “Vitamin C is a very temperamental ingredient that requires an acidic pH to remain stable and can easily become inactivated,” explains Dr. Zeichner. He recommends not applying it along with retinol, alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids, as the formulas likely won’t play well together. (Here’s how to get glowing skin naturally.)

woman washing her face
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Mix: All the alpha hydroxy acids

It may seem counterintuitive that you can mix acids; after all, aren’t they harsh on your skin? “Low concentrations of several different alpha, or even beta hydroxy acids, may be combined to offer enhanced exfoliation,” explains Dr. Zeichner. “Glycolic and lactic acid are commonly paired with other acids like salicylic acid, malic acid for enhanced exfoliation (especially on the face!)”

woman with facial mask
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Don’t mix: Retin-A and peels or waxing

The skin care ingredients you apply at morning and nighttime might seem totally different than your occasional treatments like waxings, peels, or facials, but experts say they impact one another. For example, retin-A and other (weaker) forms of it, such as retinol, are problematic if used alongside peels or waxing procedures. Joel Schlessinger, MD, board-certified dermatologist, says he always recommends that his patients avoid using them for one day prior to and two days after peels or waxing, when skin may be irritated. “If waxing is done while these are being used, very often small tears in the skin (especially on the eyelids) may occur,” he says. “The same may occur with peels, such as glycolic peels.”

pimple on woman's chin
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Mix: Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical cure-all for breakouts and blemishes and salicylic acid has also been hailed (or decades as a pore cleanser, pore minimizer, and total skin exfoliation. Together, the two ingredients excel when it comes to determining the route of your acne problems, says Dr. Zeichner. He suggests trying out a cleanser that incorporates the two, like Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser.

sunburn on woman's shoulder
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Don’t mix: Certain antibiotics and the sun

You might not think of the sun as a “skin care ingredient,” but the sun does have serious interactions with a myriad of antibiotics including tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline, and Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole). Additionally, Accutane, a strong form of vitamin A can be especially likely to cause burns or sun allergies if exposed during treatment, says Dr. Schlessinger. While sunscreens may help to some degree, the damage is often subtle at the time of exposure and severe over time, so caution is the best idea. (Find out the sunscreens dermatologists use on themselves.)

woman shopping for skin care products
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Just don’t: Overdo it with too many products

Patients can reach skin synergy by using certain products simultaneously, says Tyler Hollmig, MD, director of laser and aesthetic dermatology at Stanford Health Care. “Typically, the key to success is choosing products that act by different mechanisms to achieve a similar goal—for example, using a topical antibiotic to reduce inflammation and kill acne-related bacteria, while also using a retinoid to exfoliate the skin and mature sweat glands is a wonderful and typically safe combination treatment for acne.” From a purely cosmetic standpoint, he suggests using a night moisturizer in combination with a retinoid (tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, etc) or azelaic acid-based product (Finacea) to keep your skin smooth and healthy while simultaneously reducing the risk of skin irritation.

Now learn how to treat all the different types of acne.

Sources
  • Joshua Zeichner, MD, the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City
  • Arielle Panarello, medical aesthetician at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City
  • British Journal of Dermatology: "Chemical Stability of Adapalene and Tretinoin When Combined With Benzoyl Peroxide in Presence and in Absence of Visible Light and Ultraviolet Radiation"
  • Joel Schlessinger, MD, board-certified dermatologist
  • Tyler Hollmig, MD, director of laser and aesthetic dermatology at Stanford Health Care
Medically reviewed by Jessica Wu, MD, on March 08, 2021

Jenn Sinrich
Jenn is a writer, editor, content strategist, and ghostwriter with more than a decade of experience with health, wellness, beauty, and lifestyle content. In the publishing space, she’s held editorial roles for Everyday Health, Baby Magazine, and DietSpotlight.com, and as a content strategist, she’s worked with brands such as Fresh and CentreSpring MD. Jenn’s work has also been featured in Self, Women’s Health, Reader’s Digest, Total Beauty, Fit Pregnancy, Marie Claire, Brides, and The Healthy.