These steps in your skincare routine may be damaging your skin

While beauty gurus may already be in the know, many are just discovering the current skincare hot topic: active ingredients.

For those not quite up to date on the latest terminology, an active ingredient refers to any ingredient that products use to address specific skin conditions, such as acne, stressed skin, or clogged pores.

When used correctly, active ingredients like peptides and retinol can have a moisturising, brightening, and toning effect on the skin. But introducing these into a skincare routine can be tricky.

With searches for ‘what does retinol do’ up +5000% in the last 30 days and ‘peptides skin care’ also up +5000% in the same period, it seems many are ready to begin their healthy skin journey today.

So, to help Brits safely use active ingredients, experts at Absolute Collagen have broken down the mistakes people may be making and how best to avoid them.

4 common active ingredient mistakes to avoid

1. Using too many at one time

While many people are used to the idea of layering skin care products – like using an SPF on top of your daily moisturiser – you must be careful when doing this with active ingredients.

When combined, active products can cause damage to your skin barrier, resulting in irritation, as well as reducing the efficacy of each ingredient.

As a rule, you should try to avoid combining too many potent AHAs, like glycolic acid, and BHAs, such as salicylic acid, with the active ingredient retinol.

Instead, try using hyaluronic acid alongside your AHA and BHA. Apply hyaluronic acid first as this must penetrate the skin to give hydration, follow this with an AHA or BHA as they are exfoliants designed to clean the skin.

2. Not using them at the correct times of day

You need to use certain active ingredients in the morning and others before bed.

For example, vitamin C and retinol should be used at alternate ends of the day as they can cancel out each other’s effects when used together. It’s best to apply vitamin C in the morning before your SPF, and retinol treatment at night-time after cleansing.

Alternatively, try taking collagen supplements that include vitamin C in the product. This will let you feel the skincare benefits of two high-quality active ingredients without the risk of them interfering with each other.

3. Applying strong anti-acne creams on top

Similar to applying too many active ingredients at once, using certain anti-acne creams alongside AHAs or retinol can cause damage as well.

Anti-acne creams containing active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide are not safe to be used alongside retinol. As anti-acne creams soak up acne-contributing excess oil, adding in the exfoliant retinol can leave the skin stripped of too much moisture. This may lead to irritation and dryness.

Instead, it’s best to use niacinamide alongside your anti-acne creams, as well as an SPF for extra skin barrier protection.

4. Not adding in calming ingredients

It’s important to take extra precautions to soothe your skin, especially when you are applying various active ingredients.

All of these active ingredients pair well with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and ceramides. Applying these alongside your active ingredients will help minimise any potential irritation from them.

Dr Shotter, skincare expert, said:

“Active ingredients are excellent when used properly, but with increased knowledge amongst consumers, you see a lot of people making mistakes when incorporating them.

“It’s important to remember that products are formulated to include great combinations of ingredients, so you don’t need to layer lots of different actives yourself.

“As a rule, you should be very careful about combining too many potent AHAs and BHAs alongside retinol in the same routine. Consider using them on alternate days so your skin can properly acclimatise to them.”

For more skincare advice or to shop collagen supplements, visit the Absolute Collagen website.