Can I use two different moisturizers at the same time? Here is everything you need to know.
Turning the internet upside down in finding something official to present to you about how you can safely use two different moisturizers at the same time, I found nothing. But nothing at all. No one is talking or even considering the subject. All I could find was some simple answers of yes or no, but no one to explain what you can and can’t combine.
Because moisturizer is a staple in my skincare routine, and over the years I’ve successfully combined two or even more moisturizers to help my skin, in today’s post, I’d like to share with you my experience on how you can safely combine two or more moisturizers to avoid adverse reactions.
Shortly,
Yes. You can safely use two different moisturizers at the same time. However, you also need to pay attention to the ingredients in both moisturizers to avoid pairing ingredients that are incompatible and can cause skin irritation and pore-clogging, especially if you have acne-prone, sensitive skin, eczema, or other skin conditions.
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What Exactly Is A Moisturizer
A moisturizer is a lotion or cream used to prevent dryness in the skin or to maintain and even treat certain skin conditions.
Water constantly evaporates from the deeper layers of the skin in the human body, a process known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Human skin naturally maintains a dry, easily shed surface as a barrier against pathogens, dirt, or damage by regulating its water content, while protecting itself from drying out and becoming brittle and rigid. (Source)
Moisturizers combine occlusives and humectants to enhance the water-holding capacity of the skin. Further diversity in moisturizer formulation is created through the addition of special ingredients, designed to enhance the functions of the skin. The application of moisturizers can serve as important adjunctive therapy for patients with various dermatologic disorders like skin dryness, redness, rosacea, eczema or acne-prone skin. (Source)
Simply put, moisturizers are lotions or creams that contain a combination of occlusive, humectant, and special (a.k.a actives) ingredients to keep the skin healthy, smooth, and hydrated.
Here’s a short but informative video that explains how moisturizers work.
The Meaning Of Using Two Different Moisturizers At The Same Time
What do you mean by using two different moisturizers at the same time?
- 1 – layering one moisturizer on top of another?
- 2 – applying one moisturizer to the nose and another to the cheeks or any other part of the body?
It is critical to consider how you intend to use two or more different moisturizers at the same time.
Layering two or more moisturizers is one thing, and applying one moisturizer to the nose and another to the cheeks is something else.
1 – layering one moisturizer on top of another
Layering one moisturizer on top of another is one of the most complicated options.
Because not all moisturizers are created equally or have the same ingredients or even a close match. And if you make the mistake of combining what should not be combined, you may experience severe allergies or irritations.
But the good news is that it is not difficult to learn and follow a few simple rules to avoid complications.
Check out the list of ingredients and moisturizers you should never mix below.
2 – applying one moisturizer to the nose and another to the cheeks or any other part of the body
Applying one moisturizer to the nose (is just an example – it can be any part of the body) and another to the checks (again, it is just an example – it can be any part of the body) is considered to be the safest option.
The ingredients (moisturizers) that do not combine together, cannot lead to reactions. Unless you are allergic to a specific ingredient from one of the moisturizers.
And here, you can safely use whatever number of moisturizers you like. As long as you keep the distance and don’t layer them on top of each other, you are safe.
This means that if you want to use a cream with retinol on your cheeks and a salicylic acid cream on your nose, as long as you don’t layer them up on top of each other, they cannot lead to reactions (at least in theory).
Because in practice, this does not eliminate the possibility of reactions. Other ingredients in the creams may cause your skin to react.
That is why, if you are unsure about what ingredients or moisturizers to use on your skin, I strongly advise you to consult a dermatologist.
When in doubt, always seek advice because it could save your skin.
Moisturizers You Should Never Mix
Now that you understand what a moisturizer is, how it works and what is the meaning of using two different moisturizers, it’s time to learn what you should never mix.
Most experts strongly advise against combining these ingredients because they are the most likely to cause adverse reactions.
And by combining them, I mean layering them on top of each other. Because if you use them separately, and apply one cream (or ingredient) to your face and another to your body, they cannot lead to reactions (at least in theory).
1 – moisturizers containing Retinyl palmitate, Retinol, Retinaldehyde or Adapalene with prescription retinoids (Tretinoin, Tazarotene)
You should never mix moisturizers containing non-prescription retinoids with prescription retinoids like tretinoin or tazarotene.
We all know (or at least I hope we do) that retinoids are the most effective anti-aging ingredients, but they are also the most difficult to implement due to adverse reactions like excessive dryness, purges or irritations.
By definition, retinoids are drying. Using a moisturizer containing non-prescription retinoids on top of your tretinoin-tazarotene treatment is never a good idea and always ends with irritations, redness and dryness.
Always read the ingredients list of the creams you intend to layer on top of the prescription retinoids and look for creams that combat dryness and irritation like Uriage anti-irritation face and body cream, for example.
Non-prescription retinoid ingredients:
- Retinyl palmitate
- Retinol
- Retinaldehyde (also known as Retinal)
Prescription retinoid ingredients:
- Tretinoin
- Tazarotene
2 – moisturizers containing AHAs or BHAs with moisturizers containing Retinoids
AHAs and BHAs are exfoliants that exfoliate the skin. Depending on the concentration, these exfoliants may remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, or they may remove the entire outermost layer to even out your skin tone, improve overall skin texture, or decrease inflammation, a key marker of acne, rosacea and other skin concerns. (Source)
Never mix moisturizers containing AHAs or BHAs with moisturizers containing Retinol (or any form of retinoid – prescription, non-prescription).
All of these ingredients irritate and dry out the skin. Combining them does nothing but increase the dryness and irritation. Never layer them on top of each other and always use them separately.
The safest option? AHAs or BHAs in the morning and Retinoids at night.
AHA ingredients:
- Glycolic acid
- Lactic acid
- Tartaric acid
- Citric acid
- Malic acid
- Mandelic acid
BHA ingredients:
- Salicylic acid
3 – moisturizers containing Vitamin C as active with moisturizers containing any other active (e.g. Retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, Niacinamide, Benzoyl Peroxide, Hydroquinone)
If there is one thing I have learned over the years, is that vitamin C is the most unstable skincare ingredient.
I’m not a fan of vitamin C, and it never seems to work for me. However, if you find a product containing a stable form of vitamin C, avoid combining it with other active ingredients as they tend to reduce its benefits.
Vitamin C ingredients:
- Ascorbic acid
- L-ascorbic acid
- Ascorbate
- Ascorbyl-6-palmitate
- Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate
- Ascorbyl Glucoside
4 – two moisturizers containing active ingredients
If you have two moisturizers with two different (or the same) active ingredients, you should never mix them. And when I say active ingredients, I mean ANY active ingredient. Retinol, niacinamide, allantoin, petrolatum, shea butter, vitamin C, exfoliants, hyaluronic acid, and prescription retinoids are just a few examples.
Only use one moisturizer containing an active ingredient at a time. Active ingredients are generally present in higher concentrations to treat specific conditions (acne, eczema, dull skin, rosacea, sensitive skin, you name it).
Using two moisturizers that contain different or the same active ingredients increases your chances of irritation, dryness and negative side effects.
The Safest Approach
Using the moisturizers separately.
When I want to use two different moisturizers at the same time, I always prefer to apply them separately rather than layering them on top of each other.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that this is the safest way to avoid extra skin irritation, redness, acne, and so on. More is not always, if ever, efficient.
Here’s a real-life example of how you can safely combine two moisturizers.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream with La Roche Posay Lipikar Balm
CeraVe moisturizing cream is a cream I like for my hands, body, and face, but I don’t always like its matte finish on my face. I much prefer having semi-dewy or even dewy skin.
So I use CeraVe in conjunction with La Roche Posay, using CeraVe on my chin, nose, and forehead because the cream is more matte (and my T-zone feels more oily). And La Roche Posay on the rest of my face because it’s richer, and as I have a combination to dry skin, it feels more hydrating but also dewy on the drier areas of my face.
If you stick to applying the moisturizing creams on separate areas and don’t layer them on top of each other, no harm can be done.
It really depends on your goals for using two different moisturizers. Because, mostly, using just one face or body moisturizer is simple enough.
I hope this was helpful!