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Some skincare ingredients should not be mixed because they can cancel each other out, irritate your skin, or cause over-exfoliation when used together. Here’s a list of the most common do-not-mix pairs:
⚠️ Skincare Ingredient Combinations to Avoid:
| 🚫 Don’t Mix | ❌ Why Not |
|---|---|
| Retinol + AHA/BHA | Over-exfoliation = redness, peeling, irritation |
| Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) + Retinol | Different pH levels; may irritate or reduce effectiveness |
| Vitamin C + Benzoyl Peroxide | Benzoyl peroxide can deactivate vitamin C |
| Retinol + Benzoyl Peroxide | They cancel each other out and irritate skin |
| Niacinamide + Pure Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | They can neutralize each other or cause flushing (unless specially formulated) |
| Exfoliating acids + Vitamin C | Too acidic together; can cause sensitivity or burning |
| Multiple exfoliants (e.g., AHA + BHA + physical scrub) | Over-exfoliation and barrier damage risk |
| Strong actives + Fragrance-heavy products | Increases chance of irritation or allergic reactions |
✅ What You Can Do Instead:
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Use powerful actives on alternate nights (e.g., retinol one night, AHAs another).
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Use buffering (apply moisturizer before retinol to reduce irritation).
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Choose formulas that combine these safely—some products are designed to include actives that typically don’t mix well, but are stabilized in one formula.