Skin nourishing essence, or serum, is a product group with high concentrations of active ingredients, designed to solve specific problems such as melasma, wrinkles, sagging or discolored skin. However, as the trend of "layering", applying multiple layers of serum becomes increasingly popular, many people fall into irritation and flaking due to incorrect combination of active ingredients or incorrect use.
According to Dr. Varshini Reddy, a dermatologist in Hyderabad (India), a professional collaborator of the health website Health Shots, the most important principle when applying multiple layers of serum is to understand the characteristics of each active ingredient and follow the appropriate order. “Serum is not as much as possible. The important thing is the right type, at the right time and at the right concentration,” she emphasized.
Serum application order, thin first, thick later
Overall, serums should be applied from thinner to lighter to more concentrated textures. Water-based serums such as vitamin C or niacinamide need to be used first to absorb quickly. Then comes thicker textured products such as peptide or oil-based serum.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, helping to brighten the skin and protect the skin from environmental impacts. According to Dr. Reddy, vitamin C should be used in the morning to support the skin against oxidative stress caused by sunlight and pollution. For beginners, you should choose a low and gradually increasing concentration to avoid irritation. In case the skin is too sensitive, you can consider alternative antioxidants.
Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, is a more flammable active ingredient. It helps restore skin protection barriers, control sebum and improve skin tone. “Niacinamide can be safely combined with many other active ingredients, including vitamin C, and can be used both in the morning and at night,” Dr. Reddy said.
Strong active ingredients need to be used at the right time
Retinoids are considered the gold standard in anti-aging thanks to their ability to promote cell regeneration and stimulate collagen production. However, these are also groups of active ingredients that easily cause irritation. Experts recommend that retinoids should only be used in the evening because they are sensitive to light, starting with a frequency of two to three times a week. In particular, retinoids should not be used on the same day as chemical exfoliating products containing AHA or BHA.
Peptides are short amino acid chains, helping the skin maintain firmness and support collagen synthesis. The advantages of peptides are stability and flexible combination. They can be used with antioxidants or retinoids, suitable for both morning and evening skin care routines.
After completing the serum layers, it is necessary to seal with moisturizer to retain the active ingredients on the skin and limit dehydration. Dr. Reddy notes that each time, only a new active ingredient should be added to the process to monitor skin absorption capacity, avoiding overlapping irritation.
A sample procedure suggested by experts is: in the morning use vitamin C, niacinamide, peptide, then moisturizer and broad-spectrum sunscreen. In the evening, you can use niacinamide, retinoid (in the appropriate frequency), peptide and moisturizer.
Applying multiple layers of serum can bring clear results if done based on scientific evidence. Understanding the active ingredient correctly will help improve the texture, brightness and overall health of the skin safely," Dr. Varshini Reddy affirmed.
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