How To Layer A Face Serum

Serums are winning hearts in the skincare world. These ultra-light skincare formulations are made for the targeted delivery of active ingredients such as Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Retinol, etc. Serums are also easy to use as they come in mini easy to handle bottles. However, these mini skincare formulations can get difficult to layer if you do not know much about active ingredients. If you are someone curious about layering different active ingredients together, we will help you figure it out!

Why is Correct Serum Layering Important?

Skincare experts claim that if you do not apply active ingredients in the correct order, they may become ineffective. Further, some active ingredients like Retinol are highly reactive, and using another serum with it can be harmful to your skin.

People are not aware of these small scientific details and end up buying face serums that can cost them in the long term. Let’s take a look at which serums can be paired and which should be avoided.

1. Best Face Serum Pairing

Some active ingredients go very well with each other, and using them together can give you more effective skin care. Let's take a look at some of the right serum pairings.

• Hyaluronic Acid + Retinol

This combination is perfect for anti-aging. Hyaluronic acid increases skin hydration to make your skin plumper, while retinoids are known for the treatment of skin aging. Both these go well together and can give your skin a youthful glow when used in optimal quantities.

• Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid

Vitamin C is known for delivering skin brightening, while hyaluronic acid is a hydration-boosting Ingredient. Together, these ingredients can help you get clearer, softer, and glowing skin if used properly over a sustained period.

• Retinol and Niacinamide

Also known as Vitamin b3, niacinamide soothes sensitive, irritated skin and is known to work against premature skin aging. In combination with retinol, it can fade away your wrinkles and fine lines to give you younger-looking skin.

• Vitamin C and Niacinamide

Vitamin C and niacinamide work together to heal your skin barrier and brighten up dull-looking skin. Known for its dark spot reduction property, Vitamin C can give you clearer skin, while niacinamide can soothe irritated skin to heal your skin barrier.

2. Wrong Serum Pairings

The below-mentioned serum pairings are not wrong, but they should not be used together since they cause allergic reactions when different molecules present in these formulations interact with each other. However, you can use these serums at different times (for example, AM-PM).

• Vitamin C and Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is the most common beta-hydroxy acid and is famous in anti-acne treatments. Vitamin C, on the other hand, can treat your blemishes and fade acne scars. They are the perfect anti-acne combo. However, you cannot use them together at the same time!

Both of them, if used together, can have a drying effect on your skin. Acne-prone skin can get more irritated due to dryness. It is better to use them separately, during the day or night, or use them on different days.

• Vitamin C and Retinol

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. You can apply it during the day to save your skin from the harmful effects of pollution and UV rays. Retinol is an anti-aging solution that works best when used during the night since it supports skin healing and collagen formation.

Your skin requires lower pH to absorb Vitamin C while it requires a higher pH to absorb Retinol. When both of these are used together, they render each other ineffective since one acts on acidic pH, and the other works on alkaline pH.

• Retinol and Acids (AHAs, LHA, etc.)

Make sure not to use retinoids with acids on the same day. You can use them in your skincare routine on different days. Using them together increases the sensitivity of the skin and also causes skin irritation.

Tips to Use Face Serums

Consider layering serums that have similar pH values. Do not layer active ingredients that have totally different pH values as they will cancel the effect of each other and become ineffective.

If you want to use 2 active ingredients that are not compatible with each other (have different pH values), use them on alternate days or at different times (AM-PM).

Damp skin is most effective for using serums like hyaluronic acid, while dry skin is suitable for retinol serums.

Do not apply serums on wounded skin as active ingredients can make your skin more irritated.

To Sum It Up

Since serums are meant for targeted delivery, it is essential that you layer different serums properly for maximum benefit. Feed your skin with the correct nutritive serum to get a natural glow.

To buy the best face serum in India, visit Nourish Mantra.

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Bar Soap vs. Body Wash: Which Is the Best Body Care Product to Buy?

People are torn between whether to use a body wash or a bar soap. Are you also confused about which is better for your skin? Well, you can buy body care product online, and every product will have some advantages and disadvantages of its own. 

In this blog, we will help you understand the difference between a block of bar soap and a body wash so you can decide where your loyalties lie! 

What is the Difference Between Bar Soap and Body Wash?

Bar soap is used to cleanse the dirt and sweat accumulated on the external skin surface. A body wash also has the same function. The difference lies in the ingredients and the mechanism of dirt removal.

Body washes work on the exact same mechanism for cleaning your body, but they also have an additional feature of treating common skin conditions. They do so because they contain additional ingredients that work on common skin conditions like dryness, clogged pores, and skin flaking. 

Bar soaps just cleanse your skin, but body washes contain additional ingredients to add moisture to your skin. Both of these body care products are supposed to provide your skin with a good cleansing. 

When to Use a Body Wash?

There are certain situations where body washes work better than soaps. Some such situations are:

• When Your Skin Feels Dry

Use a body wash if your skin tends to get dry and flaky after a shower. A body wash contains more hydrating ingredients than a soap bar.

• When You Have a Chronic Skin Condition

People with chronic skin conditions like psoriasis, rosacea, or acne are generally suggested a medicated body cleanser by their dermatologist.

• When Your Skin Needs Exfoliation

Using a loofah or washcloth with a body wash provides for skin exfoliation, which is not as profound in the case of soap. 

When to Use a Bar Soap

• When You Want to go the Eco-Friendly Route

A bar soap comes in a recyclable box, and there is no waste left once you use it entirely. On the other hand, most body washes come in plastic bottles and may contain plastic beads in them, which are proven to harm the environment. 

• When You are Concerned About Your Allergies

Most bar soaps contain lesser ingredients than body washes. This means they cause fewer allergic reactions than body washes. They are also paraben-free since they do need a longer shelf-life. 

• When You Want to Stay Away From Bacteria

Loofah is said to be the breeding ground of bacteria. However, soaps are comparatively cleaner if you do not share them with other people. Soaps also have a self-cleansing mechanism of their own. 

To Sum It Up

Both soaps and body washes have their advantages. You should choose what to use depending upon your usage priority. If you want a sustainable cleansing partner, go for a soap. If you prefer to get exfoliation, hydration, etc., go for a body wash. 

Visit Nourish Mantra to buy the best body care products online.

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The Best Skin Care Routine for Acne-Prone Skin

Acne is no longer a teenage skin condition. Women and men of all ages are experiencing acne symptoms every day now. Do you know what can help you manage your acne conditions better? It's adopting a good skincare routine.

An anti-acne skincare routine helps your skin in the following way:

• Absorbing excess oil from the skin
• Clearing clogged skin pores
• Soothing irritated and sensitive skin
• Fading acne scars and blemishes

With hundreds of products for acne-prone skin available in the market, it becomes challenging to choose which one to include in your skin care routine. We have named relevant anti-acne ingredients in our guide to make it easy for you to choose the best anti-acne products for yourself.

Follow our skincare guide for acne-prone skin and witness relevant changes in your skin condition.

Say Yes to Cleanser, No to Face Wash

Start your day with a mild cleanser. A face wash can irritate sensitive skin since it contains more potent ingredients. Go for a face cleanser instead. Choose a face cleanser that removes excess oil from your skin in addition to clearing dirt and impurities from it. Moroccan lava clay can draw out acne-causing impurities. At the same time, green tea is a good ingredient that soothes inflammation and has anti-bacterial properties to kill acne-causing germs. Use face cleansers containing ingredients like Moroccan lava clay and green tea.

Use a Natural Toner

A good natural toner can remove the excess oil and dead skin cells. This helps in clearing out your skin pores. When your pores are unblocked, there will be fewer breakouts. Toners also treat minor blemishes and tighten your skin pores, so more acne-causing bacteria are not able to penetrate your skin barrier. Look for toners that contain salicylic acid in them. This is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that works wonders on acne.

Treat With a Serum

A good natural serum made from plant-based ingredients can spot treat your acne to not only eliminate them but also fade your acne scars. Look for ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, and Vitamin C in your serum. 

A good serum helps to exfoliate your skin gently to remove dead skin cells and fights acne scars to give you clear skin. Look for chemical-based exfoliating serums containing Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs).

AHAs are a group of chemical exfoliants that eliminate dead skin cells and prevent bacterial growth. They can be of different kinds. Examples include lactic acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid, to name a few.

Don't Forget to Moisturize Your Face

Oily skin is more prone to acne. Oily skinned people also avoid moisturizers thinking that it may make their skin more oily. But if you do not moisturize your skin, your sebum glands will secrete more oil to hydrate your skin, leading to increased oiliness. 
Use a lightweight gel-based moisturizer that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E for daily moisturization. 

Make SPF Your Best Friend

If you are using a topical medication for acne, your skin will become more sensitive to sunlight. You need to layer your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 and above.
This is the last step of your skin care routine. It should hardly take you 5-10 minutes to go through it, and the results will be clear skin in no time. Just make sure that you buy chemical-free products, as toxic chemicals can worsen your acne condition. 

To Sum It Up

Your daily skin care routine doesn't have to be complex. Use fewer products and use them diligently for a considerable amount of time to witness significant changes. You can explore Nourish Mantra's anti-acne skin care range to find the best products for acne-prone skin.

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