We often think of skincare ingredients as one-dimensional and only useful for their intended purpose, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Ingredients can work together in extraordinary ways to create a synergistic effect on your skin. Yes, skincare “power couples” exist because they enhance the effects of each other. This post is going to explore some interesting combinations you haven’t thought about before – we’ll show you 12 ways to mix skincare ingredients for better results!

Vitamin C + Sunscreen = Amplified Skin Protection

Vitamin C is not only helpful for avoiding sunburns, but also to protect your skin from the harmful effects of aging. When you combine it with sunscreen (SPF 30 or above recommended), Vitamin C helps prevent pigmentation and age spots caused by UV damage in order to keep your skin radiant.

Wearing sunscreen daily is one of the best things you can do to maintain healthy, beautiful skin. Once you have that step down pat, why not give your SPF an extra boost by adding a vitamin C-based serum under it? Sunscreen will protect you against sun exposure but there’s no way for it to be perfect, so vitamin C helps scavenge those damaging free radicals and acts as a second line of defense.

Vitamin C + Glycolic Acid = Extra Smooth Complexion

The perfect way to perk up your complexion when it looks tired and dull is with the help of glycolic acid, which exfoliates away dead skin cells while vitamin C brightens. The two together are a quick fix for revitalizing your complexion.

Although not suitable for all skin types, it’s undeniable that glycolic acid and vitamin C make a powerful combination. They both increase collagen production in the skin. They also work synergistically to inhibit tyrosinase activity, which decreases hyperpigmentation, as well as pore size! When used together these compounds have been shown to significantly reduce dark spots while also improving overall texture of your skin.

Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid + Vitamin E = Antioxidant Powerhouse

Let’s say that you want to take your vitamin C to the next level. You can increase its benefits by searching for a serum that pairs it with ferulic acid and vitamin E.

Vitamin C is great as a preventative measure for sagging skin, treating textural irregularities on the face (think: acne scars), or fading hyperpigmentation. The only problem? Vitamin C is unstable, which can oxidize quickly when exposed to light. This of course, prevents the product from working optimally the way we want it to! Fortunately, these other two powerful antioxidants (ferulic acid and vitamin E) are here to keep the formula stable so our vitamins work better than ever before when fighting free radical damage on our skin AND delivering those protective antioxidant benefits.

Niacinamide + Salicylic Acid = Anti-aging & Anti-acne Double Duty

Niacinamide and salicylic acid can be a powerful combination for skin, as they both work to combat acne and aging. Niacinamide has the added benefit of reducing redness, inflammation, and pigmentation while improving elasticity in your skin’s barrier function.

Salicylic acid penetrates pores and removes grime inside the pore. This also means it can affect the sebaceous glands to help reduce production of oil on your skin which will improve texture as well as decrease pore size. Niacinamide helps increase hydration and slows down how quickly surface oils build up – helping you get a clearer complexion.

So, as you can tell, niacinamide and salicylic acid offer similar benefits but work in different ways. This means that combining them is a great way to amplify their effects, especially when it comes to reducing pore size!

Niacinamide + Zinc = Clear & Balanced Skin

Niacinamide is one of my favorite skincare ingredients because its got so many benefits – it can help control shine and mattify your skin. When combined with zinc, you’ve got a recipe for stopping oily or acne-prone skin in no time! Studies have shown that when used together, they reduce sebum production from clogged pores better than benzoyl peroxide without drying out the skin like BP does. With niacinamides, there really aren’t any bad side effects (besides a possible flushing sensation). Niacinamide controls oiliness and shiny patches on the face while being gentle enough not to dry up already parched areas.

Zinc is also a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent, so it’s great at calming down breakouts too. Studies show that adding this ingredient has the effect of reducing oil production without leaving your face feeling dry.

Niacinamide + Peptides = Improved Skin Regeneration

Niacinamide is a great all-rounder, and it helps improve some very specific issues like hyperpigmentation or wrinkles. And what makes it really unique? It basically goes with every single other skin care product you use so you don’t need put on your skin chemist hat and worry about negative ingredient interactions. Niacinamide not only works as a fantastic antioxidant that can help fight free radicals on your face daily, but it also strengthens the skin barrier.

Niacinamides are already amazing, but pairing them with peptides will make your skin healthier and improve skin generation. Peptides have the ability to signal how our skin behaves and can influence it by telling it to produce more collagen or retain more moisture, which is what makes healthy looking skin in the long run possible.

AHAs + BHAs = Minimized & Clean Pores

You should be careful when using AHAs and BHAs, since they are water-soluble and oil soluble respectively. However, it is possible to mix them together for a more powerful exfoliation session without drying out your skin too much.

One product with this combined formula will maximize the benefits of both types of acid instead of layering two different products on top one another, which could lead to irritation due to conflicting chemicals in each serum.

Many people find that acids such as AHA (water) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA -oil based), can offer an effective way to remove dead cells from the surface of their skin, removing signs aging like wrinkles, while also giving you glowing complexion by smoothing away any imperfections.

AHAs/BHAs + Hyaluronic Acid = Clear & Hydrated Skin

As scary as it may sound, Hyaluronic acid is actually one of the gentlest ingredients around. It works for any skin type and provides an amazing humectant that draws moisture to your skin while sealing in all those skin-loving nutrients from your product so you can have a healthy glow!

After exfoliating with AHAs or BHAs (which gently remove dead cells), our skin needs some more TLC by following up with a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid; because our pores are clearer now, they’ll be able to soak up these awesome nutrient-packed molecules and give us radiantly glowing skin.

Lactic Acid + Ceramides = Renewed & Supple Skin

Lactic acid is one of the gentler hydroxy acids used in skin care to exfoliate and improve skin texture. When it comes to alpha hydroxy acids, lactic acid is the one that does double duty. It sloughs off dead skin cells, while also helping keep your skin moisturized. Basically, if you want a plumper-looking complexion with fewer dry patches in sight then go for an AHA like lactic acid!

When you exfoliate, you want to replenish your skin with moisture in between sessions or you’ll end up drying your skin out. Applying ceramides for that extra boost of moisture is the way to go! These proteins are an excellent way to help restore any lost hydration for that glowy complexion you crave. When combined with lactic acid, they make the perfect pair- one gently resurfaces while the other reinforces skins integrity in order to keep your skin moisturized and glowing throughout all seasons.

Retinoid + Hyaluronic Acid = Hydration & Anti-aging Effects

Retinoid is a superstar for tightening pores, increasing cell turnover, and for preventing breakouts. However, it’s not very gentle on the skin, because it can make it dry and flaky. Fortunately, you can pair retinol with hyaluronic acid because of its ability to keep your skin hydrated without hindering how well the retinoids work!

Is it true that if I apply a moisturizer before applying my retinoid, then the latter will be rendered inactive? Well, no. In fact, you should first use some hyaluronic acid cream or serum and then follow with pea-sized amount of your favorite retinoid product to maximize its effects while reducing irritation.

Retinoid + Niacinamide = Clear Skin & Strengthened Skin Barrier 

Yes, you can use both retinoid and niacinamide at the same time because these powerful active agents complement each other so well due to their different yet complementary ways of fighting acne and signs of aging.

Niacinamide keeps your skin calm, strengthens the acid mantle barrier, and minimizes reactivity, while the retinoid works its magic on wrinkles or fine lines. This combo addresses other skin issues like enlarged pores and uneven skin tone.

And not only that, these ingredients are really great at undoing the damage caused by environmental stressors. Simply put, each ingredient can work even more effectively than it would have on its own! Both take unique paths to improve uneven skin tone and brighten dull skin – and there’s no better way to show off your beautiful complexion than with a little help from both of them.

Retinoid + Peptides = Increased Collagen & Skin Firmness

You know that your skin is in need of some serious pampering, so you’re looking for the best ways to give it what it needs. But how do you choose between a retinoid- and peptide-based night cream? Well, I have good news! You don’t have to pick one or the other – they work perfectly side by side. Retinoids help build collagen which can make skin firmer while also improving how well the peptides penetrate the skin. Peptides are small protein fragments that can help repair damaged skin cells so they work incredibly well with retinoids.

Your skin will thank you in the long-run for using these products together. First apply just a pea sized amount of retinoid and then top it with a peptide cream to hydrate the skin and help reduce any side effects like dryness, irritation, or redness.

Photo by Nati Melnychuk on Unsplash