about 2 months ago
Following a skincare line versus mix and match routines
Discovering my recent niacinamide overload has raised a question for me. Skincare brands often have a line or lines of "family" products based around an active or a concern that's targeted by a particular active. I've usually picked a line of products from the same family with maybe one or two products thrown in from other brands, like HOCl sprays. My thinking has been that it's better for my skin to have a routine that has formulation consistency rather than a bunch of mixed products interacting in a way I might now expect. But now I'm wondering if consistent use of one product family with the same primary active in each step of the routine is potentially leading to an overload over time. Which is more optimal? Sticking to a skincare line or mixing and matching for each step of a routine?
Comments (32)
In my skincare amateur opinion, using an entire line of the same brand for your skincare face routine can be very beneficial because its all formulated to react with each other or it should BUT I think its better to have a mixed skincare routine with the best of each brand as long as the products are friendly with each other (patch testing) 😬
@Paul Confession: for someone with such sensitive skin, I've only just started patch testing this year. (I know...straight to rosacea jail.)
Oh no, that’s not good. I haven’t patched tested none of my products, I gathered my entire skin care routine products 1st then I applied them all on my face. I didn’t get any reaction except from my retinal 0.1% which made my skin feel tingle for about 1 month. I got lucky
@hazelmoss 😆
Agree with Paul that starting with one product family gives a nice, predictable safety net at first since formulas won't clash. But eventually, almost everyone needs to mix and match! Our skin is complex, and we rarely have a single concern across the whole canvas—our cheeks might be reactive and vascular, while our T-zone or chin needs congestion control. Plus, sticking to one line is exactly how 'ingredient stacking' happens when every bottle repeats the same active. Building a routine by picking the best tool for each specific job (regardless of the brand) lets you adapt to what your face actually needs day to day! (Oh, and don't feel guilty about the patch testing either—I don't patch test either and usually end up finding out the hard way! 🙈😅)
@Mariacasino Thank you! I'm learning a lot. You bring up another concept that is new to me, which is facial mapping. I've always applied products all over without consideration of the different needs of different quadrants. Combo skin keeps things exciting, I guess? Thank you for your input, as always.
It’s the best when you learn about things you actually like 👌🏼 Good afternoon here @Mariacasino , how are you feeling today; if I can remember correctly you said you were feeling under the weather a bout a week ago? 🤔 (Yes you explain everything much better. I guess you can say we like learning through trial and error 😂)
@hazelmoss don't give up, the trick is to better understand your skin. I don't think I have really what they call combo skin, but different parts of my face react differently 🤔 I'm not perfect myself, I feel like I'm continuously learning and my skin doesn't cooperate: weather, hormones, stress... And it's a mess again 😅😂 Thanks @Paul I'm almost recovered from the cold... Time to go back to work and be social 😬😬😬
Hey @hazelmoss 🙂 I feel like mixing and matching might be better option. The reason is ... a lot of K-beauty makes have got one great product that works and then they just make the rest of the line up of mediocre products just to sell more. This might not always be the case but Iam sceptical. That said if you like all of the routine from one make and it works I would definitely not change that. The best thing you can do is to create very basic routine that just supports your skin barrier and you know it always works, and then add.. Everytime I am adding a new product I straigt up just put it on half of my face 🙃 I know this sounds funny and it is a bit anoying, but in 2 weeks you will notice if little annoying spots keep popping up just on one side or just one side keeps getting oversensitised. Please keep us updated on how you changed your routine and what helped! 💕
@lemon_skin You raise a point that has been niggling amorphously in the back of my mind but you articulated it, re: 1 standout product. For example, I find myself returning to the I'm From Mugwort toner and sometimes the gel cream, but often avoiding the serum. I will try the half-face method when I'm ready to fold in a new product that I patch-tested successfully on my arm. This is the most scientific I have ever been in my life! 👩🏼🔬 Thank you for your input!
I know half face is very pseudo science 🤣 but I find most of the products are fine on my neck or arm, but they can still cause problems on my face. Good luck with testing 🙂 I still have to try the I'm from Mugwort toner 😍
@lemon_skin I've only just started patch testing on my arm and I already know it's not going to be reliable for my face, lol. It is helping my tattoos look nicer, though! 😁 I guess it's helpful for avoiding really awful products.
I have a skincare monthly budget so before I purchase anything I crawl around the internet to get different perspectives 🙃😬😄 We "have each other's backs"here, and I love it! Our little community is the best!
I have a monthly "luteal" gift for when I'm low and usually that's skincare 🤣
@Mariacasino I think my original reply got lost. I was saying that you should start a Luteal Gift of the Month series. I'm curious about what you pick up! And also, great idea for treating yourself with skincare. That's usually when I'm reaching for sweets.
@Annie A skincare budget? I should probably have one of those...👀
@hazelmoss it's less fancy than it sounds 😂 it could be a 5$ product, but it's not something I strictly "need"... Is more like an impulsive buy 😊
@Mariacasino in the wise words of Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford, "Treat yo self!" I went out and treated myself to the Essence peptide glosses you mentioned. Inexpensive but really nice!
@hazelmoss & @mariacasino This butting in is starting to become a habit, sorry in advanced. A skincare budget? You might be right, I have spent $950+ in the past 3 months and 3 weeks on products I NEEDED and then on products I WANTED to experiment with altogether, which are a lot fewer than my needs but it still adds up. I like to buy x2 of everything but nope I’m not a Gemini 🤭
@Paul Hey, in the CYoung community, we're all fam. Hahahaha, are you a May or a June Gemini? Asking for scientific reasons, because I'm a Virgo Sun/Moon and I keep collecting Geminis -- it's that Mercury energy. *I* need to buy 2 of everything because it's a bundle sale and so it's saving money right? (That actually makes me sound like a Capricorn!)
@hazelmoss Thanks, you girls make me feel comfortable to insert myself in your conversations. It’s nice to feel to belong. I meant it when I said I am not a Gemini, I too am a Virgo, an August Virgo 29th my fellow Virgoan 😁♍️
@Paul Ooooooh, haha! Not me mistaking literalness for irony. Usually I get it the other way around. 🤪
@hazelmoss 😂😂🤗
@hazelmoss My husband "suggested" it 🤣
@Paul LOL 😆 and that's why my husband suggested a budget. Interestingly, since I got him used to pampering he has made two orders from Yami in two days, totalling almost $200 😂😂😂
@Paul @hazelmoss I'm Aquarius ♒️ 🤪
@Paul I am about to sign up with Seoul Beauty Club. For $59 I have five full-sized products that I pick myself, and the team will recommend according to my skin type. I am really excited to check it out!! Every other month, so it should satisfy my craving 😬
@Annie Oh nice, my sister and godfather are Aquarius’, I love them so much they’re such sweethearts! I know very few Aquarius now that I think about it
@Annie I like to buy everything in 2’s so it’s gonna probably be more than $200, except for retinals and vitmain C. Yes you got the husband into skin care, great! That’s what I’m trying to do with my partner, “here throw some of this lotion on those ashes before you crawl into bed please, thank you” 😂
@hazelmoss the Essence peptide glosses! Great choice! That's something I would pick too as a treat!
@Paul That is such a lovely compliment! Thank you, from one sweetheart to another. I did order my curated box! Nice goodies, no junk ^^
@Paul Haaahaha! That's how it started for him, too. 🤠