How Do I Use Multiple Serums in One Skin Care Regimen?

June 26, 2019

Different serums brighten your complexion, reduce wrinkles, and hydrate your skin with beautiful results. But you may have more than one skin condition you'd like to fix. Can you use multiple serums at the same time? The short answer is yes. Go ahead and apply your favorite serums. There are a few guidelines that can help your serums be their most effective.

1. Cleanse your skin first. It is not always necessary to exfoliate, but if you wish to, that comes next. Your skin needs to be clean for the serums to work their best.
2. Generally, lighter textured serums are applied first, followed by the thicker textured serums. Lighter serums are quickly absorbed by the skin, while heavier, moisturizing serums seal in the ingredients and leave your skin super soft.
3. Consider the role of the serum. Serums that brighten skin and dark spots, such as Vitamin C serums, work best if they are applied to bare skin. Other serums, such as a hydrating serum, work well put on top.
4. After you have applied all the serums, you may moisturize. This is also when to apply face oil. You can forego this step if your final serum is a good moisturizer. 

Understand Your Serums

Before you begin to create your own personal serum regimen, it's important to understand what each serum can do for you. This knowledge will guide you as you decide which serums will give you the results you want. 

• Vitamin B5 – This serum, combined with hyaluronic acid, moisturizes and smooths your skin. Vitamin B5 is well-known for treating skin damage and promoting healing. Use it when you skin is reacting to sunburn, allergies, or insect bites. It's also a great product for everyday moisturizing.
• Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Serum – A great combination already, this serum can add more power to your layering regimen. It includes hyaluronic acid for moisturizing, vitamin C for lightening and brightening, and our special Matrixyl 3000 to reduce wrinkles and aging. This particular blend does not include vitamin E, so it's great for oily skin.
• Matrixyl 3000 – Matrikines act as cell messengers to regulate skin repair and healing. They promote tissue repair, stimulate macromolecule synthesis, and help with wound healing. They form the basis of our Matrixyl 3000 serum, encouraging skin to act younger and healthier. This serum also includes hyaluronic acid for moisturizing benefits.
• Matrixyl Synthe'6 Serum – Another member of the Matrixyl family, this serum contains powerful peptides that boost skin-rebuilding. It evens out skin, reverses fine lines and wrinkles, and stimulates the skin.
• 20% Vitamin C & E Ferulic Acid Serum – Vitamin C is an antioxidant that builds collagen and evens your skin tone. You can expect brighter, fresher looking skin and a gradual fading of sunspots or other dark patches. The vitamin E and ferulic acid extend the life and efficacy of the vitamin C.
• Coenzyme Q10 Serum – Young skin naturally has an abundance of Coenzyme Q10 but your body makes less of it as you age. This serum energizes your cells to build collagen and elastin, reducing coarse skin texture and wrinkles. We add hyaluronic acid and Matrixyl 3000 to this serum for maximum benefits.

Experiment with Your Mix and Match 

It's okay to play around with different serum combinations to find the ones that work for you. You may find that you need one particular mix for summer and another for winter. That's the beauty of layering serums, they are flexible and can be tailored to your current skin conditions. 

For anyone asking, "Can you layer face serums?" the experts recommend stopping at three. Combining more than three products reduces the chance that each serum will be properly absorbed by the skin. Also, it gets time consuming to properly apply more than three serums. It's a better idea to find a serum that can multitask and cover several problems at once.

Always apply your serums with a gentle massage and allow for soaking time. If you're truly in a rush, your skin will absorb the serums whether or not you wait. However, waiting for one to two minutes after applying each serum ensures better coverage and also makes your moisturizer application easier. 

Layering serums is best done at night, when your skin can rest and repair while you sleep. If you want to layer in the morning, be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen after the serums for maximum protection. 

 
Inspired Serum Combinations

Need a little help in deciding which serums to combine? Although you can dive in and just try anything you'd like, here are a few suggestions for ways to layer your serums. 

1. 20% Vitamin C & E Ferulic Acid Serum, Matrixyl 3000 Serum, and Vitamin B5 Serum

This powerful collection of serums covers just about everything you could want a serum to do. The Vitamin C & E evens your skin tone and lightens dark spots. Follow this with Matrixyl 3000 to reduce wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. Complete your regimen with vitamin B5, which hydrates and heals damaged skin.

2. Coenzyme Q10 Serum, Matrixyl Synthe'6 Serum, and Vitamin B5 Serum

Perfect for aging skin, this combination boosts your skin's collagen production and stimulates your skin to rebuild. The vitamin B5 helps repair damaged skin and encourages healing.

3. Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum, Vitamin B5 Serum, and Matrixyl Synthe'6 Serum

This is a good combination for oily skin. The hyaluronic acid hydrates without additional oils or vitamin E. The vitamin B5 soothes, smooths, and heals sensitive skin. Matrixyl Synthe'6 reverses aging with glycerin, which is kinder to your oily skin.

The Science Behind Serums

Serums are made of very small molecules that are quickly absorbed by the skin. They are usually water based, lacking the heavy moisturizers and oils found in lotions and creams. This means you're getting a high concentration of the active ingredients, such as peptides and antioxidants, and this concentration is super-efficient at healing and rejuvenating your skin. Thicker creams create a barrier on your skin that lock active ingredients out. Without that barrier, serums can penetrate faster and deeper.

There are serums for all types of skin, from oily to dry, young to old. Only a few skin types should not use serums. Very sensitive skin might react to serums because they penetrate so deeply. Older, very dry skin will probably still need to use a moisturizer. Also, people with skin conditions such as rosacea or eczema might find that serums irritate their skin.

Serums can get pricey, as the active ingredients are the most expensive part of any skin care regimen, and serums are a concentrated form of those ingredients. However, used correctly, a one-ounce bottle of serum should last for months. It only takes a small amount to get big results.

Choosing the Right Serum for You

With all the serum choices available, finding the one that is right for your skin and meets your needs can be a daunting task. Here is a guide to choosing the best serum for you: 

• If your main worry is signs of aging, such as dull skin or sunspots, choose a serum with a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid. Vitamin C not only prevents brown spots, it can reverse the damage from ultraviolet rays.
• Fighting dry skin? Try a serum with hyaluronic acid or collagen peptides. These serums are great at holding in moisture and encouraging your skin to produce more collagen.
• If you tend to have oily skin, avoid serums with vitamin E, as it could make the problem worse. Make sure your serum has a water base and has moisturizers such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin, plus vitamins A and E.
• Just want amazing skin? Use a combination serum with coenzymes and hyaluronic acid to energize your skin and reduce wrinkles.

Remember that it takes anywhere from four to eight weeks for your skin to fully cycle and replace itself. Hang in there with your new skin care regimen and don't give up. You will see improvement over time, but you must be patient. Also, serums and other skin care products require daily use. Skin is regenerated 24 hours a day, so you should be treating yours twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Make a consistent skin care routine to see the best benefits. 

The Best Serums are the Ones That Work for You 

Look in any magazine or online and you'll see very expensive serums that may be out of your price range. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy the benefit of serums. Serums don't have to be expensive to work for you. Determine what your skin care budget is, and look for serums that fit the bill.

When you find a serum at your price point, check the ingredient list. Does it list active ingredients such as retinol, antioxidants, or vitamin C? Are those ingredients in high concentrations? If so, go ahead and give that serum a try, whether it's from a drugstore or a luxury brand. Everyone can afford to look their best and have radiant, healthy skin.

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