10 Amazing Ingredient Combinations To Achieve Flawless Skin!

Want to make the most of your skincare routine? Mixing skincare ingredients to achieve your goal of flawless skin is one of the best ways to make the most of your skincare regimen. But you shouldn’t mix any or every ingredient you want. While few ingredients together work as a power couple, a few may not get along.

Knowing what ingredients can be mixed together is an important thing to learn. In this article, we highlight which ingredient combinations will work magic on your skin and which combinations you should totally avoid. Let’s dig in!

WHAT EXPERT SAYS

“When your skin is running out of vitamin E, vitamin C helps to regenerate it and protect your skin against free radicals caused by harmful UV rays. Vitamin E pays back by boosting vitamin C’s power.”

Dr. Kaustav Guha, Lead Scientist, SkinKraft

Highlights:

• Combinations Of Skincare Ingredients That Work Better Together
• Which Skincare Ingredient Combinations Should You Avoid?
• Tips & Precautions To Follow With Skincare Ingredient Combinations

Combinations Of Skincare Ingredients That Work Better Together

1. Niacinamide & Salicylic Acid

Niacinamide is an essential nutrient and belongs to the vitamin B3 family. Lack of niacinamide in your body causes skin issues. It treats hyperpigmentations and works as an anti-ageing agent for the skin. [1] Salicylic acid belongs to the beta hydroxy acid family and is a chemical exfoliant. Salicylic acid is known to be an effective acne treatment [2]

How It benefits

When combined together, these two ingredients work as a super source of nourishment and skincare benefits. Both ingredients have similar characteristics and benefits but they work in different ways. Thus, combining them solves a wide range of skin problems.

Reduce skin pore size: Your skin pores grow bigger due to excessive sebum oil and lack of collagen. Being oil-soluble, salicylic acid easily enters your skin pores to remove the dead skin cells and dirt stuck around the hair follicle. It also has access to sebaceous glands beneath your skin. It can influence oil production and reduce pore size. Similarly, niacinamide decreases sebum oil production by reducing fatty acid and glyceride.

Fight ageing signs: Both the ingredients work against ageing signs. They improve the collagen level of your skin and boost the elasticity of fiber. Besides, fighting against skin pigmentation, UV rays, inflammation, and redness are added advantages.

Prevent acne breakout: Salicylic acid & Niacinamide in combination work as effective acne control agents. “Salicylic acid acts as an exfoliant & clears all the impurities that favour bacterial colonization. Niacinamide being a sebum control agent prevents further blocking of pores & reduces the chance of bacterial growth,” says Abhishikta Hati, Senior Product Development Executive.

2. Vitamin C & Vitamin E

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient for growth and development. It helps to build your skin’s collagen layer. Also, it is a powerful antioxidant that is present in the dermal and epidermal layers of your skin. Lack of vitamin C in your skin can trigger several skin issues. [3]

On the other hand, vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant. It has various forms but only Alpha-tocopherol is used for humans. Vitamin E is found in the outermost layer of your skin. But regular exposure to sunlight and attacks of oxidative stress drains out vitamin E from the layer. Thus, topical application of vitamin E is required for skin benefits. [4]

How It benefits

The combination of vitamin C and E are antioxidants that complement each other.

Anti-ageing power: Vitamin C is rich in anti-ageing properties. But when combined with Vitamin E, the anti-ageing power enhances to a large extent. [5]

Protection against free radicals: Dr. Kaustav Guha, Lead Scientist of SkinKraft elaborates that, “When your skin is running out of vitamin E, vitamin C helps to regenerate it and protect your skin against free radicals caused by harmful UV rays. Vitamin E pays back by boosting vitamin C’s power.”

SkinKraft’s Tip:

Adding ferulic acid to the vitamin C and E combination can create a powerful dose of anti-ageing solution. 0.5% ferulic acid with 1% vitamin E and 15% vitamin C should do the magic!

3. Green Tea & Caffeine

Antioxidants are essential for good skin. That’s why we bring you another antioxidant pairing of green tea and caffeine. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in antioxidants. Caffeine is antioxidant-rich and photoprotective, which means it offers protection against UV radiation.

How It benefits

Skin protection: The combination of these two ingredients guards your skin against free radicals and skin cancer caused by UV rays. [6]

Enhances & hydrates: The combination also improves your skin texture and keeps it hydrated.

4. Retinol & Hyaluronic acid

Retinol is made from Vitamin E and is primarily used to treat acne and ageing signs. Hyaluronic acid is well known for skin moisturization and as an anti-ageing agent. In the skincare industry, these two ingredients are commonly used together.

How It benefits

Synergy in effect: Retinol speeds up the cellular turnover of your skin and stimulates collagen production. Hyaluronic acid works as a hydrating agent and draws the water into your skin cell to make your skin plump. This is one of the best combinations for healthy skin.

5. Glycolic Acid & Resveratrol

Resveratol is derived from grapes. It is technically an antioxidant that reduces pigmentation, reduces inflammation, and fights against ageing signs. Glycolic acid on the other hand is an alpha hydroxy acid that works like a chemical peel.

How It benefits

Treats hyperpigmentation: The combination of glycolic acid and resveratrol is best to treat hyperpigmentation. Resveratrol induces the production of melanin and helps reduce hyperpigmentation. Glycolic acid also has similar benefits on the skin such as reduced pigmentation, anti-ageing, and anti-acne.

6. Retinol & Niacinamide

Retinol initiates your skin cell turnover and boosts collagen production. It also repairs your sun-damaged skin. Retinol works on skin pigmentation as well. Niacinamide controls water loss and improves your skin barrier function. That’s how the combination stabilizes your skin condition and provides you with healthy skin.

How It benefits

Stabilizes skin condition: Retinol tends to dry out your skin when used alone. That’s why it is always suggested to use retinol along with a hydrating agent, and Niacinamide helps enhance benefits.

7. Centella Asiatica & Vitamin C

Centella Asiatica is a plant that is used for medicine formation. The plant is known to have wound healing properties. Also, it can reduce ageing signs as it is full of antioxidants. Vitamin C also has similar properties that’s why these two are a powerful pair.

How It benefits

Multifold benefits: A study suggests that the combination of these two ingredients can improve your skin hydration, and make your skin more firm and supple.[7]

8. Ceramides, Cholesterol & Fatty Acids

The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of your epidermis. It is also known as the lipid matrix as it contains the lipid structures of your skin and creates the skin barrier. The skin barrier is made of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids.

How It benefits

Multiple benefits: This layer of your skin is often affected by dehydration, dryness and pollution. The combination of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acid when applied topically, can be beneficial. Usually, most OTC moisturizing products offer this combination of ingredients.

9. Niacinamide & Vitamin C

Vitamin C has great potential and benefits in varied ways, such as anti-ageing, acne scars and skin pigmentation. Niacinamide hydrates the skin and makes it supple. According to skin experts, the combination of niacinamide and vitamin c is safe and extremely effective. But every skin is unique, and this combination may not suit everyone. People with sensitive skin may feel some mild irritation.

How It benefits

Complementing benefits: As the two ingredients complement each other, using them together can enhance the effect of each. So while both tackle aspects like skin brightening and skin ageing, both do so in different ways.

Which Skincare Ingredient Combinations Should You Avoid?

Tips & Precautions To Follow With Skincare Ingredient Combinations

1. Patch test is mandatory while experimenting with active ingredients regardless of your skin type.

2. When you buy a product for any skin issues, make sure you check the ingredients.

3. The combinations mentioned above are mostly found in over-the-counter skincare products, as they are medically approved and tested.

4. Know your skin type before you buy any ingredient combination product. Your skin may not find every combination of ingredients comforting. Usually, people with sensitive skin face a little discomfort and irritation from a lot of ingredients.

5. If you have sensitive skin, all the vitamin C-related combinations may sting you a little.

6. Do not use any alpha hydroxy acid in high concentrations. It may damage the top layer of your skin and make it extremely sensitive.

Wrapping Up

We have discussed the 10 most common and immensely effective skincare ingredient combinations. These combinations have the potential of treating a large number of skin problems.

While the ingredients mentioned above are individually powerful, their potential enhances when they are combined with other right ingredients. Hopefully, this article will guide you to choose the right ingredient combination and enjoy the amazing skin benefits it offers.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin