We recommend using two or a maximum of three serums at a time to help ensure you're getting the most out of all the ingredients. Anything more and you start to lower the chance that each serum & oil will properly penetrate. Order of application also makes a difference.
Serums are only effective when they're applied close to the skin, as this allows the ingredients to penetrate the epidermis. Once you go beyond two or three serums, the product you're applying is less likely to be able to actually sink into your skin—therefore, it's less effective.
Limit to Two Serums Per Routine
If you have many serums that you like, use one or two in your morning routine and two different serums in the evening. Of course, it is fine to use the same one consistently but by alternating you can effectively use many different serums.
Layering multiple serums together helps to ensure that your skincare routine can work as effectively as possible. Gentle ingredients like hyaluronic acid or pre & pro-biotic fractions can ensure skin's hydration while you're implementing these active ingredients.
“Around 30 secs to 1 min is a sufficient gap between layers in the skincare step. The exception is post serum / spot treatment and retinol. You should allow 3 – 5 mins before applying the next layer to allow surface skin penetration. Apply sunscreen only after there are no traces of moisturiser on the face.
To layer vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums, always apply vitamin C first to cleansed, dry skin. Be sure to leave time for your vitamin C to sink in, then follow up with your hyaluronic acid.
Don't Overdo It: While mixing serums can increase the benefits, you also don't want to overdo it. If you add too many serums, your skin may not be able to absorb all of the ingredients effectively. We recommend sticking to just 2-3 serums at once.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Together? Not all powerful skincare ingredients can be mixed, but hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are two that become even stronger when paired with one another. These ingredients can provide both immediate and lasting results when used together in anti-aging formulations.
It is recommended that you primarily stick to one or two hyaluronic acid products in your routine to avoid the “too much” conundrum. Hyaluronic acid is great and it's no surprise so many products now contain this little wonder, but as mentioned before, too much HA can be damaging.
The lightest-textured serums go first and the thickest-textured serums go last. But I also like to take into consideration the type of active ingredient your serum has. Retinoids, vitamin C and anything that targets dark spots should be applied on clear skin to better be able to penetrate it.
The reason why people suggest a maximum of two or three serums comes down to layering and penetration. Heaps of brands, salons and experts recommend leaving time between applying your serums and moisturisers, and doing it in a specific order so as to allow all of the ingredients to actually sink into your epidermis.
“Hyaluronic acid plays well with most ingredients, while caution must be taken when using retinol in combination with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, and some types of vitamin C.” Linkner echoes the tip about avoiding vitamin C.
Keep It Simple: It's best to layer no more than two serums at a time. Too many layers can possibly prevent the ingredients from absorbing as effectively.
Can You Overuse Hyaluronic Acid? No, it is advised not to overuse HA. It is a humectant (draws moisture from the environment); excess HA in skincare can cause retention of more hydration than needed. Research suggested that overuse of HA can cause redness and inflammation.
The hero ingredient of any skincare routine, hyaluronic is perfectly safe to use every day. In fact, most experts would encourage you to apply it twice a day, every day, as part of your morning and evening rituals.
Research has shown the effectiveness of topical application. One study found that topical vitamin C increased collagen production among study participants in all age groups. The study participants noticed the effects after 40 days of treatment, and found they were even more pronounced at the 60-day mark.
Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.
After applying vitamin C serum to your face, wait for it to be fully absorbed by your skin. It should take somewhere between one and two minutes to completely dry off. Then, go ahead and apply the hyaluronic acid serum.
Vitamin C (especially L-ascorbic acid) is notoriously unstable—it loses potency when it's exposed to air, light, and water—which is why you want to apply it on clean, dry skin right after washing. You'll also want to let it dry completely, as piling on products right after could potentially deactivate the vitamin C.
In a skin care routine, it makes sense to apply serum before moisturizer. This is because serum is usually more lightweight, whereas moisturizer tends to be thicker. Applying serum first can also give the skin more opportunity to absorb the active ingredients. In many skin care routines, moisturizer is the last step.
First, cleanse and exfoliate your skin and follow it up with a toner or facial mist. Next, gently apply a small amount of serum to your face and neck with either your fingertips or palms. Then, wait 5 minutes for your face serum to fully absorb into your skin.
First rule of thumb is to layer your products from thinnest to thickest consistency, to ensure that lightweight formulations are absorbed first, followed by richer and thicker products.