Skincare cocktailing

Cause’ how are we, beauty aficionados, supposed to keep up with all the new skin care cocktail trends without a guide?

We are constantly seeking ways to enhance our skin. Whether it’s trying out a new skincare routine or product, or cocktail of products, we’re always willing to experiment in the hopes of achieving glowing skin. 

Sure, you could just use one skin care product. But why do that when you can mix and match to create the perfect cocktail for your skin? There’s no need to be a skincare hot-shot to know that layering different products can yield better results. Therefore multiple products are better than one!

By cocktail skincare products in the right way, you can take your skin game up a notch - without spending a fortune. So, is your skin care routine feeling a little lackluster lately? Are you bored of the same old products and treatments? Well, never fear — it’s time to get creative with your regimen! With just a few simple skincare ingredients, you can combine to create the perfect cocktail for your own personal skin type. 

Now, forget about following someone else’s rules — today, we’re going to teach you how to create your very own bespoke skincare cocktailing routine. Let’s get started!

3 Skin care tips before mixing a cocktail

Everyone knows this: a good skincare routine consists of skincare products that, when mixed together, form a powerful squad that gives you the skin of your dreams in multiple steps. 

But wait! We know you are excited to start mixing certain ingredients and enjoy the best benefits of cocktails, however, there are 3 tips we want to mention before creating the best skin regimen for you:

1. Know your skin type and what it needs

If you have dry skin, for example, look for cocktails that contain hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. If you have oily skin, on the other hand, steer clear of pore-clogging oils and instead opt for non-comedogenic ingredients like niacinamide.

2. Test it out on a small area first

Before slathering your new concoction all over your face, it's always a good idea to test it out on a small patch of skin first. This way, you can see how your skin reacts and make sure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients.

Moreover, talk to a board-certified dermatologist if you see any bad reactions in your skin. 

3. The order matters

Layering products in the right order is the key to building the best strategy for your cocktailing regime. Why? Because not all ingredients have the same penetration enhancers, meaning that they aren’t absorbed by your skin at the same time. So, you should always layer light products first and then the thicker ones. 

Skincare Products

Mixing skin care products: Our Fave Cocktails 

There’s skincare, and then there’s skincare cocktailing. If you want to get serious about your skincare routine – and really reap the benefits of all those lovely ingredients – it’s time to start mixing them together. 

Not only is skincare cocktailing fun, but it can also help you get the most out of your skincare ingredients by combining their individual benefits into one super-powered facial treatment.

But with so many potential combinations, which are the best ones? Here are our top cocktails picks:

Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid: A power couple for dry skin

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help, like other antioxidant ingredients, to protect the skin barrier from free radicals, while hyaluronic acid helps to keep the skin hydrated and plump, and prevents premature aging. When used together, these two active ingredients can help to give your skin a boost of hydration and protection.

There are a few different ways that you can mix these dry skin ingredients. You can either add a few drops of each ingredient to your moisturizer or hydrating serum, or you can mix them together in one serum before applying them to your face.

If you want to make sure that your skin is getting the full benefits of these ingredients, it’s best to use a vitamin C serum that contains L-ascorbic acid. This type of vitamin C is the most stable and effective form of the ingredient.

Also, when using a vitamin C serum, it’s important to apply it to clean skin and to wait for it to absorb fully before applying your hyaluronic acid product. You can then follow up with your regular moisturizer or sunscreen.

Serum
The Vitamin C 23 Serum - Asian Beauty Essentials
Serum The Vitamin C 23 Serum
Sale price$25.00
Serum
Hyaluronic Acid Pure 100 - Asian Beauty Essentials
Serum Hyaluronic Acid Pure 100
Sale price$25.00

Glycolic Acid + Retinol: Glowy cocktail

If you're looking for skincare that does it all, these two ingredients are the cocktail for you. Glycolic acid, one of the most renowned exfoliating acids, slough off dead skin cells and brightens your complexion while retinol *aka vitamin A* smooths fine lines and wrinkles. Together, these two powerhouse skin care ingredients are sure to give you the glowiest skin of your life.

But before you start mixing these ingredients together willy-nilly, there are a few things you should know: 

  1. First, always start with a lower concentration of retinol and work your way up. This will help your face get used to the ingredient and avoid any irritation. 
  2. Second, only use this cocktail at night since both glycolic and retinol can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Sunscreen + Antioxidants: A protection superhero

Any good skin care routine ends with sunscreen, but did you know that pairing it with antioxidants can help create an even more powerful skincare cocktail?

When applied topically, antioxidants, like vitamin e, help to protect the skin from free radical damage caused by environmental stressors like pollution and UV exposure. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause premature aging, fine lines, and wrinkles.

On the other hand, sunscreen works by physically or chemically blocking UV light from penetrating the skin. This helps to prevent sun damage, which can also lead to premature aging.

So, by mixing sunscreen and antioxidants together in your morning routine, you’re getting the best of both worlds: protection from free radicals and UV exposure. 

Sunscreen
All Around Safe Block Waterproof Sun Milk
Sunscreen All Around Safe Block Waterproof Sun Milk
Sale price$29.00

Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide: Hydration combo for oily skin

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you know the constant battle to keep shine at bay. And if you're anything like us, you've probably tried just about every skincare product under the sun in an effort to achieve matte perfection. But there's one skin care cocktailing mix that we swear by for keeping “greasy” skin in check: hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Generally speaking, hyaluronic acid is a skincare ingredient that's beloved for its ability to hold onto 1000x its weight in water, making it a powerful moisturizer. Niacinamide, on the other hand, is a form of vitamin B that helps control sebum production, minimize the appearance of pores, and even out skin tone by reducing acne scarring.

Mixing water-based products can offer some serious benefits. For one, they can help to plump and hydrate your face while also calming any redness or irritation. They can also help to smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And the most important part is they can hydrate the skin without causing it to appear oily or greasy. 

Essence
Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Rx - Asian Beauty Essentials
Essence Time Revolution the First Treatment Essence RX
Sale price$52.00

Hydrating ingredients + Spot treatment: An anti-pimples powerhouse

If you are acne-prone, you are probably used to using multiple products with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid *aka the pimple-destroyer band* and, if that’s the case, you must have seen dry patches in the places where you applied those ingredients. 

This happens because chemical exfoliants *aka salicylic acid* and benzoyl peroxide are super drying - actually that’s the reason why they dry out your pimples.-

That’s where hydrating ingredients in emollient-based products, like creams and lotions, come in! Hydrating ingredients are important for keeping face plump and counteracting the effects of the spots treatments, leaving you pimple-free, but also moisturized AF. 

Moisturizer
Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Water Wave Sheet Mask - Asian Beauty Essentials
Moisturizer Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Tone Up Cream
Sale price$6.00

Aloe vera + Rosehip oil: Jam-packed mix for sensitive skin

Aloe vera is calming and soothing, while rosehip is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. Together, they make an unbeatable team for nourishing and revitalizing sensitive and irritated skin.

To make this skincare cocktail, simply mix together equal parts of aloe vera gel and rosehip oil. Apply it to your clean face and massage it in until it’s fully absorbed. You can use this mixture once or twice a day as needed.

Sheet Mask
I'm REAL Aloe Mask Sheet Moisturizing - Asian Beauty Essentials
Sheet Mask I'm REAL Aloe Mask Sheet Moisturizing
Sale price$4.00

Retinol + Vitamin C: Hyperpigmentation ingredients

These are two of the most common skincare ingredients out there. They're both great for hyperpigmentation, but when used together, they can be even more effective.

Retinol helps to increase cell turnover and boost collagen production, while the latter brightens skin and gets rid of dead skin cells. When used together in a skin routine, these active ingredients can help to fade dark spots and improve overall skin tone.

To mix these two ingredients together in one formula, start by applying a pea-sized amount of a topical retinoid to your face. Follow with a serum or cream that contains vitamin c. Apply this mixture to your face once or twice a week, depending on your skin condition and sensitivity level. 

If you have sensitive skin type, you may want to start once a week with retinol and increase as your skin adjusts, since you could experience irritation. 

Sheet Mask
Master Lab  Sheet Mask Vitamin C - Asian Beauty Essentials
Sheet Mask Master Lab Real Mask Sheet Vitamin C
Sale price$7.00
Cleanser
Bye Bye Blemish Vita Tox Bubble Cleanser - Asian Beauty Essentials
Cleanser Bye Bye Blemish Vita Tox Bubble Cleanser
Sale price$22.00
Eye Cream
Gold CF-Nest White Bomb Eye Cream - Asian Beauty Essentials
Eye Cream Gold Cf-nest White Bomb Eye Cream
Sale price$15.00

Linoleic acid oil + Hyaluronic Acid: Hydration boost for dehydrated skin

Linoleic acid and jojoba oil have completely different properties. The acid is a light, non-greasy oil that's easily absorbed by the skin. Jojoba oil, on the other hand, is a heavy oil that's best suited for the drier types.

When you mix these two oils together, you get the best of both worlds. The acid will help to balance out the jojoba oil, making it less likely to clog your pores. And, since both oils are non-comedogenic (meaning they won't clog your pores), this skin care cocktailing mix is perfect for all skin types!

Vital Hydra Solution Biome Eye Cream - Asian Beauty Essentials
Eye Cream
Sale price$56.00

Green tea extract + Niacinamide: “Shine bright like a diamond” cocktail

The beauty of skincare cocktailing is that it allows you to mix and match ingredients to target your specific skincare concerns. If you're looking to brighten and even out your skin tone, then green tea and niacinamide are a powerful combination.

Green tea extract is loaded with antioxidants that can help to fight free radical harm, while niacinamide helps to brighten the face and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Together, these two ingredients can work wonders in restoring a radiant and even complexion.

Skin care products not to mix: Our big nos’

You might think that more is always better when it comes to skincare, but that's not necessarily the case. Chemically speaking, sometimes less is more and mixing certain ingredients together can actually cancel out their benefits or cause irritation because they aren’t created equally. Here are some skincare ingredients you should avoid mixing together:

Retinol + Acne spot treatment

Retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid, are all great skincare ingredients that can help improve your skin’s appearance. However, you should avoid mixing them together in one skincare cocktail.

Retinol and benzoyl can both cause irritation and dryness, so combining them will likely worsen these side effects. Moreover, the BHA and retinol cancel each other, losing efficacy. 

Antioxidants + AHA/BHA

Antioxidants are important skincare ingredients that can help to protect the skin from free radical harm. However, when used together with other skincare ingredients such as AHA/BHA, they can actually cancel out each other’s efficacy. This is because antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals while AHA/BHA, like glycolic or lactic acid, exfoliate the skin by removing dead cells.

So, if you’re considering using both skincare ingredients in your routine, it’s best to use them at different times of the day or week. For example, you could use your antioxidant serum in the morning and your AHA/BHA exfoliant at night. Or, you could use your antioxidant serum during the day and your AHA/BHA exfoliant once a week.

If you still want to do it, consult with a board-certified dermatologist first!

Skincare products for the best cocktail ever: Where to find them?

Now that you know some of the best skincare ingredients to mix-and-match, it’s time to create your own cocktail! Just remember to always patch test new products before applying them to your face. 

Are you ready to start finding the best products to create the best cocktail ever? Visit Asian Beauty Essentials to get all you need for glowy, healthy skin! 

Happy mixing!

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