The world of the internet is huge and a wondrous place, full of opinions you have never asked for and advice you never knew you required. You must have come across hundreds of millions of search results in Google for” honest beauty product reviews of skincare products and got confused about which products are safe and which are not.
As here we are talking about the internet, you can expect a conflict of opinions. If you have ever gone through some honest beauty product reviews, you must have seen how people give different opinions about a beauty product. One person talks in favor of an exfoliator, whereas another says that the product ruined her skin.
However, almost everybody on the internet seems to agree that one should avoid these beauty products. The reasons why you may want to stop using scrubs, masks, and tools from your skincare routine differ- some products are too harsh, some are ineffective, and some do not give the results you are looking for.
As per different honest skincare products, here are some skincare ingredients that you should never use as they can damage your skin.
Different Skincare Products
1. Vitamin C and Sulfates- It is one of the common skincare products you must use for clear and glowing skin-. Foaming or sulfate-based cleanser has an alkaline pH. While Vitamin C has an acidic pH, when you use a foaming face wash and then apply a Vitamin C serum, your skin will not absorb it properly. This way, you will spend a huge amount of money on expensive Vitamin C serums, but you will not get the desired results.
Instead, wash your face using a low pH cleanser that consists of AHA/ BHA before you apply a vitamin C serum or any skin cream.
2. Vitamin C and Retinol- Another one on the list of popular skincare products is the combination of Retinol and Vitamin -C. Likewise, Retinol works at an alkaline pH. While Vitamin C requires an acidic pH. If you mix these two ingredients at the same time, they will cancel each other. Apart from this, both Vitamin C and Retinol have a strong possibility of causing skin irritation. Mixing them is the right method for avoiding any kind of skin disaster.
Use your Vitamin C serum during the day to enjoy the most of its protective antioxidant benefits. And during the night, use your Retinol serum to enhance skin repair and forming collagen.
3. Retinol and AHA/ BHA- According to most of the honest beauty product reviews found online, you should never use skincare products that have a combination of retinol and AHA/ BHA. By now, you must have understood that you should never combine alkaline pH and acidic. Also, do not combine two different skincare products that have exfoliating ingredients for the concern of skin irritation. This rule applies to mixing Retinol with any acid, mainly potent ones like Salicylic acid and Glycolic acid.
Instead, use exfoliating acids and retinol on alternative nights. Ensure you use a huge number of moisturizers and make sure you use SPF during the day because your skin is likely to get dry and make your skin prone to skin sensitivity issues.
4. Retinoid or Retinol and Alpha Hydroxy Acid- Both Vitamin A derivatives, like retinoids and retinol and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), like the glycolic acid, are a dermatologist’s best remedy for anti-aging as they speed up skin cell turnover and increases the production of collagen for glowing and wrinkle-free skin. Though, in this case, more is not considered better.
As both these exfoliate the skin’s outer layer, they cause certain irritating side effects, mainly in combination. When your skin gets irritated, you will not feel like following any skin regimen. You do not have to choose one or the other. Dermatologists advise patients to use products having these ingredients on alternative days. Any exception? Products that have been exclusively tested through clinical trials that mix AHA and retinoids.
5. Retinoid or Retinol and Vitamin C- According to dermatologists, you must use skincare products consisting of retinoids wisely. The third combo which you should never use is vitamin C and retinoids. Vitamin C is a tough ingredient to create as it is most effective when in an acidic pH environment. Retinol works in a higher, more alkaline pH. If used together, they will not work optimally.
The simple fix is to use both during times when they were meant. Retinol is best when applied at night and Vitamin C produced the best results when applied in the daytime as it is an antioxidant that safeguards against the assaults of day, like skin-damaging effects caused by the sun’s UV rays and pollution.
6. Niacinamide with AHA/ BHA or Vitamin C- Vitamin C, Lactic acid, Salicylic acid, and Glycolic acid has an acidic pH, whereas Niacinamide serum includes an alkaline pH. The ingredient, Niacinamide will increase the pH level of the acid which in turn makes it less effective. The mix of these skincare products also increases the redness and flushing that Niacinamide causes.
Swap between your Vitamin C serum and Niacinamide during the day and make sure you layer it with your sunscreen and moisturizer. Use AHA/BHA serum every night and then apply a moisturizer without a miss.
7. Benzoyl peroxide and retinoids- Retinoids are commonly approved to treat acne as they exfoliate the skin as well as unclog skin pores. However, you cannot mix it with benzoyl peroxide as it may cause dryness and skin issues. According to dermatologists, retinol and benzoyl peroxide deactivates each other due to their pH levels.
Retinol enhances cell turnover and helps in treating uneven skin tone. Benzoyl peroxide is a great ingredient for treating whiteheads as it reduces oil secretion of the sebaceous glands. However, the combination may make your skin too dry.
8. Salicylic acid and retinoids- Salicylic acid is lipid-soluble. It gets inside the skin and melts the lipids between the cells. These lipids or fats bind the dead skin cells together and develop the stratum corneum or the skin’s outer layer. It also helps in dissolving fats present in the oil glands.
Thus, it is always better to unclog pores and handle white and blackhead using the best skincare products. However, when used in combination with retinol, the effect can be harsh on your skin and can cause scars or burning sensations. If you have gone overboard, using hydrocortisone cream on the area can be helpful.
9. soap-based cleanser and Vitamin C- Vitamin C is regarded as a popular morning product. But what you cleanse with before also matters. As discussed earlier, Vitamin C is best when devised with a low pH. According to dermatologists, you can use a soap-based cleanser with a high pH, as it can decrease the skin’s capability to absorb Vitamin C.
And that is an issue. Not just you are missing out on safety from free radicals, which a review published in 2017 in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found, but well-formulated Vitamin C products are costly. Get your money and skin’s worth by washing your face with a glycolic or salicylic-based cleanser after you wake up in the morning before applying Vitamin C.
10. Never combine Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids along with Retinol- This is another product that is a strict no-no as per honest beauty product reviews online. As far as skincare products are concerned, alpha hydroxy acids include lactic, citric, and glycolic acid, while beta hydroxy acid usually refers to salicylic acid.
Alpha and beta hydroxy acids are used to exfoliate the skin’s top layer. It helps improve color irregularities with time. Retinols are great for treating acne and improves fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots.
When these two active ingredients are used in a combination, they can cause redness, dryness, and skin irritation. Due to this, dermatologists recommend using them at different times of the day or maybe different days in a week. So, next time when you go to buy skincare ingredients before that go through honest beauty product reviews online or ask any of your friends or family members who have used the product before. This will help you make a better choice.