You may boast a beauty arsenal that rivals the local drugstore, but your lotions and potions may not all get along. Ingredients in different products can “fight” each other, negating their powers or causing skin irritation when combined, Dr. Lamba cautions. “For instance, when you use retinoids like Retin-A at the same time as benzoyl peroxide, you can actually deactivate the effects of the retinoid,” she says. Talk about wasted money.
Break it: Stick with a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, SPF, topical retinoid, and maybe one other carefully selected antioxidant product, Dr. Krant suggests. When in doubt, seek the advice of a dermatologist or aesthetician who can advise on a simple but effective routine.
