Part 2 covers questions about knowing what skin care products to buy, starting with skin care, pregnancy and skin care, which products you shouldn’t mix or use together, and what ingredients you should avoid.

Question 1: Where Do You Start With Skin Care?

Believe it or not, there is a correct order for maximum efficiency when using skincare products. A good rule of thumb that you can follow is that your products should be applied from thin to thick. The thinnest product first up to the thickest.

Another way to start is with the products that need to be absorbed into your skin first such as the ones containing antioxidants.

In the morning you should start with a safe, natural cleanser, followed by toner, antioxidant serum, eye cream, spot treatment, moisturizer, and then sunscreen last.

At night you should use makeup remover before your cleanser, followed by toners, essences and boosters, eye cream, treatment serums, creams and pads, hydrating mask or face oil, and then lastly a moisturizer or night cream.

You should also wait approximately five to thirty minutes in between each application in order to allow for proper absorption time. 

Question 2: How Do You Know What Products to Buy?

In order to know what skincare products you really need, you need to evaluate your skin type. If you have oily skin then the extra moisturizing cream for dry skin may not work out in your favor. This is even more important if you have sensitive skin.

The different skin types are oily, dry, combination, acne-prone, and sensitive. You may even consider seeing a dermatologist to find out what type of skin you have for sure before dropping a lot of money on skincare products.

Question 3: What Skin Care Products Should Not Be Mixed?

Some skincare ingredients can have adverse reactions when mixed. Vitamin C should never be mixed with BHAs or AHAs such as lactic or salicylic acid because it will destabilize the pH balance leaving the products useless.

Retinol should not be mixed with these either as it will cause irritation and damage the moisture barrier of your skin.

Vitamin C and retinol should not be mixed because it will cause irritation and redness as well as making you more sensitive to UV rays.

Oil-based and water-based products do not mix for obvious reasons.

The best way to know what is and is not good to use together is to look at the active ingredients in your products and educate yourself on what they do.

Question 4: What Ingredients Should You Avoid in Skin Care?

There are several ingredients that should be avoided when shopping for skincare products. Skincare products are not regulated the way they should be so there is no way to know if a product is safe or not without doing research.

Parabens are controversial ingredients and while there is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not they should be avoided, it has been shown that some people are more sensitive to them.

Artificial fragrances are very bad for the skin as well.

Phthalates can cause birth defects and reproductive problems. They are usually found in fragrances but can be found in other products.

Diethanolamine is a known carcinogen and foaming agent. It is often used in soap and is sometimes shown as DEA in skincare products.

There are several more ingredients that should be avoided so it is important that you make sure you know what you are putting on your body and what can happen.

Question 5: Are Skin Care Products Safe for Pregnancy?

There are several products that are safe for pregnancy but some should be avoided. Such as:

• Anything containing retinoids or salicylic acid should be avoided through pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Retinoids have not been linked to any severe issues during pregnancy but you should still practice extra caution.
• Salicylic acid has been found to cause complications in pregnancy and birth defects when used in high doses.

Talking to your doctor can help you to learn what is and is not safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as looking up information about the regular skin care products you used prior to getting pregnant.

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