
FYI: These Ingredients Play Well Together (But These Don't)
Certain skincare products are successful because they’re filled with potent ingredients that work well together; others don’t. That’s because potent ingredients often interact with one another, which is why no matter how clean or non-toxic the products on your shelf might be, there’s always a fear that combining them could lead to nasty consequences. We’re talking things like irritation, redness, sensitivity, and even breakouts.
Here’s the thing though. You’d probably need to put in hours at the library to read through the available research that pertains to ingredient interactions, and not everybody has time for that. You could always seek out a cosmetic chemist or product formulator, but we’ve done the hard work for you. You may be surprised that some of the seemingly-scary ingredient pairings actually interact quite well together.
Up your sun protection game with this duo. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, help prevent skin damage on a cellular level. They also fight off free radicals (which contribute to aging skin). And since we all know that broad spectrum sunscreen protects your skin from UVB and UVA damage, this combo helps your SPF work even better (along with providing some anti-aging fringe benefits). That's one of the reasons why both are found in our Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen.
Ingredients That DON’T Play Well With Each Other
Benzoyl Peroxide + Retinol
The only ingredients that Benjamin recommends we never combine are benzoyl peroxide and retinol because they actually counteract one another. “I have never been a fan of benzoyl peroxide to begin with because of its high likelihood of irritation,” she says. “If you’re battling acne and using a retinol prescription like Retin-A or Tazorac to help fight the issue, you’re better off looking for a spot treatment with salicylic acid than one with benzoyl peroxide. Not only is salicylic acid gentler on your skin, it also works well with retinol and will kill the acne-causing bacteria lurking in your blemish.”
If breakouts have got you down, reach for our spot treatment, Nix It Complexion Solution, which uses salicylic acid and tea tree oil to keep pores clear of congestion and calm skin.