Pickle juice and pregnancy. Peanut butter and jelly. Ham and cheese. People spend a lot of time focusing on perfect food pairings, but there is an assortment of perfect skincare duos that people should put together to get the best results possible. We’ve narrowed down the seven best skincare pairings to help you elevate your skincare routine to the next level.
1. Vitamin C + Sunscreen
Everyone knows that Vitamin C has great anti-aging benefits, but new research shows that the vitamin most commonly associated with citrus fruits also offers sun-damage protection. Dr. Kim Chang, a medical aesthetician at Baylor College of Medicine, notes that combining sunscreen with Vitamin C can protect “the skin from further photodamage caused by ultraviolet rays.” Furthermore, it can reduce toxins in the skin that are aggravated by sun exposure, such as wrinkles and fine lines.
2. Glycolic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid
This skincare combination works so well that researchers recommend it for healing. Glycolic acid triggers collagen production in the skin as well as increases cell turnover. This leads to healthier, firmer skin and can decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and, when used after Glycolic acid, can help speed up recovery time and show an improvement in the skin’s appearance after a Glycolic acid treatment. OTC products with both ingredients are the perfect combination for those with dry skin and acne as the Glycolic acid will clear up impurities while the Hyaluronic acid moisturizes the skin.
3. Retinol + Hyaluronic Acid
We’re big on cross-referencing products, and while we’re on the subject of Hyaluronic acid, it’s important to note that it works perfectly with Retinol as well. Retinol has been shown in multiple studies to help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin discoloration and increase cell production. Hyaluronic acid helps the skin both accept the retinol as well as facilitate “significant improvement of various signs of facial skin aging…” When you combine these two super products, you’re not only keeping your skin looking great, but you’re also able to use less of both products and get amazing results.
4. Benzoyl Peroxide + Sunscreen
Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) is one of the most common acne treatments on the market. However, it can severely dry out the skin, resulting in dry, easily irritated skin that’s more susceptible to sun damage. Combining BPO with sunscreen allows you to relieve itchy skin and reduce irritation. Furthermore, studies suggest that patients who combine both products with a gentle cleanser are more likely to report feeling satisfied with their skin care regimen and consider it easy to use, meaning they’re more likely to stick to the treatment plan.
5. Vitamin C + Vitamin E
We’re going to circle back to sun protection here and note that while this combination cannot replace sunscreen, Vitamin E and C, when combined, have been shown to protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays. Vitamin E acts as a barrier for deep-hitting UVB rays (the ones that cause sun spots, freckles, etc) while Vitamin C works against UVA rays (the sunburn rays). When you combine these vitamins with sunscreen, you are basically creating a nearly impenetrable barrier for your skin while gathering the antioxidant effects that both vitamins offer.
6. Salicylic Acid + Nicotinamide
Nicotinamide and Salicylic acid are both used to treat acne, resulting in clear skin that’s free of impurities as well as a reduction in signs of aging. Although most acne treatments should not be combined, the combination of Nicotinamide and Salicylic acid can help both products penetrate deeper into the skin without irritating the skin. You may see Nicotinamide on labels as Niacinamide.
7. Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid
We love when two heavyweight products can come together, and you can’t go wrong with pairing Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid together as part of your morning skincare routine. People who use this combination can reduce their lines and wrinkles by as much as 12% in less than a month as well as brighten their skin. This is the perfect combination for the person who wants to give their skin a plump, dewy look that’s safe to use if exposed to the sun.
Pairing skincare products to get the most out of each allows you to get great skin as well as saving money. If you’re looking to pair products, remember to check all active ingredients online to ensure they can be used with one another (e.g. BPO with Retinol can cause extreme skin irritation). What are some of your favourite skincare combinations? Let us know below.
Disclosure: We are a professional review and product rating website and mobile app that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review and rate. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own interpretations of a trusted source. This blog post may contain affiliate links.
The Perfect Skincare Pairings 💗 was originally published in Think Dirty on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.