London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

A Guide to the Skincare Ingredients You Should Never Mix

A Guide to the Skincare Ingredients You Should Never Mix

We all know oil and water don't mix-but did you know Vitamin C and retinol together are a literal recipe for disaster?

So, you’re finally starting to create a skincare routine-or maybe you’re revamping the one you’ve been following for years. Regardless, when choosing new skincare products, it’s imperative to know which ones will mix and layer well together. Based on your skin type, it might be tricky to figure out which products complement each other the best, and you might go through some trial-and-error. Here, L’OFFICIEL guides you on your new skincare routine with a list of skincare ingredients that you should never mix together.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids + Vitamin C + Retinol


According to the dermatologist, mixing these actives can cause hyper-reactivity of the skin, excessive exfoliation and increased propensity for blemishes, especially if a good sunscreen is not used.

Still, there are products that use these ingredients in combination. Would that be a problem? According to Thatiana, no. “They are formulated to work together, and the concentrations are adjusted so that they don't cause problems” explains the expert.

"What's not interesting is making product mixtures with these acids that haven't been formulated to work together."



Benzoyl Peroxide + Retinol


When using these ingredients in combination, benzoyl peroxide can negate the effect of Retinol, because it causes the ingredient to oxidize. “If applied together with retinol, which is a vitamin A derivative and acts on the skin, making cell renewal, it increases the chance of peeling and skin sensitization,” explains the dermatologist.



Benzoyl Peroxide + Hydroquinone


Joining hydroquinone with products that contain peroxides can cause negative effects on the skin. This union can result in darkening of the skin in the treated areas, as these ingredients together can cause hypersensitivity, causing erythemia and a slight burning sensation.

However, if this has happened to you, don't worry. Thatiana reveals that this can all be reversed by interrupting the use of these ingredients.



Retinol + Salicylic Acid


These two ingredients have an exfoliating action and, therefore, when used in combination, they can cause irritation and dryness of the skin. According to the dermatologist, when used together they can damage the skin's protective barrier, causing the skin to become dull and dull.



Hydroquinone + Alpha hydroxy acid


At very high concentrations, the use of hydroquinone and high hydroxyoxide can cause skin irritation, redness and peeling. However, used correctly it can be an amazing match!

When asked about the use of these ingredients together, Thatiana reveals that they are both often indicated for lightening blemishes and smoothing the skin.

“Among the benefits of alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic acid is the most famous representative of the AHA group” explains “We can emphasize chemical exfoliation, cell renewal, lightening of blemishes, acne treatment and rejuvenation aid”.



Glycolic Acid + Retinoic Acid


According to the specialist, we should not associate acids such as glycolic and retinoic acid or even Retinol in the skin. This is because, in high concentration, glycolic acid has the function of chemical exfoliation, and retinoic acid, in addition to causing skin renewal, has a greater role in the synthesis of collagen, making the fibers more elastic and giving more firmness and thickness to the skin.

“But not all skin tolerates retinoic acid, especially in the highest concentrations of creams manipulated with a doctor's prescription. It can cause redness, irritation and peeling,” explains Thatiana. "To have a beautiful, lightened and renewed skin usually only one of these 'stars' can be the main actor".

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Sam Altman sells the 'Wedding Estate' in Hawaii for 49 million dollars
Trump: Cancel quarterly company reports and settle for reporting once every six months
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
US Launches New Pilot Program to Accelerate eVTOL Air Taxi Deployment
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
Hong Kong Industry Group Calls for HK$20 Billion Support Fund to Ease Property Market Stress
Joe Biden’s Post-Presidency Speaking Fees Face Weak Demand amid Corporate Reluctance
Charlie Kirk's murder will break the left's hateful cancel tactics
Kash Patel erupts at ‘buffoon’ Sen. Adam Schiff over Russiagate: ‘You are the biggest fraud’
Homeland Security says Emmy speech ‘fanning the flames of hatred’ after Einbinder’s ‘F— ICE’ remark
Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Tyler Robinson Faces Death Penalty as Charges Formally Announced
Actor, director, environmentalist Robert Redford dies at 89
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
JD Vance Says There Is “No Unity” with Those Who Celebrate Charlie Kirk’s Killing, and he is right!
Trump sues the 'New York Times' for an astronomical sum of 15 billion dollars
Florida Hospital Welcomes Its Largest-Ever Baby: Annan, Nearly Fourteen Pounds at Birth
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
×