So, How Many Skincare Serums Should You Layer At One Time Anyways?

Serums are an essential part of the ideal skincare routine. It is common for many people, especially skincare aficionados, to layer on as many as three or four products at a time onto their skin for that glow affect, but how much serum is too much?

Like anything, too much of anything can skew toward negative side effects, and this notion applies to your skincare routine as well. Products like retinol and other exfoliators are known for being too harsh, especially when used in large amounts and if you have sensitive skin. Depending on the type of serum, you could be using more than what is actually necessary.

While there is no magical number when it comes to how many skincare products you should use, the general rule is that less is more. Using too many products at once can cause them to counteract each other and end up causing future skin issues you don't need.

Everyone's skin is different, but try to stick to only a couple of serums per routine. To get the most out of your serums, use one or two during your morning routine. Then, in the evening, you can reach for two other serums to target other skin issues you may have.

Furthermore, using too many products at once can cause them to cancel each other out. The more serums and products you layer on, the more knowledge is needed to know which ingredients don't mix. Don't have the time or information on hand to be able to pick these products out? That's okay; just stick to two serums to ensure that each one can penetrate your skin and truly work at its fullest potential.

While it is certainly possible that some people need more than two serums to get their skin where they want it, it is still wise to alternate them if you can. Not only are you using everything at your disposal, but it is known that certain products lose efficiency after consistent use. While your skin won't become immune to the products, it does change throughout the year due to seasons changing, so it may respond differently to what you are applying, according to Beauty RX. Alternating your serums can help keep your skin on its toes and help your products work smarter and not harder for you.

Sometimes, it may seem as though your serums just aren't doing their job, which is frustrating to deal with. If you're using two or more products, it is possible that you're applying them incorrectly. It is important to layer on your serums from lightest to heaviest for maximum absorption, according to The Skin Nerd. That said, applying serums before your favorite moisturizer will help seal in all their benefits since moisturizer tends to be richer in texture.

When mixing your serums, never combine ingredients that can be damaging to your skin. For instance, vitamin C and retinol are a big no-no since they both require different pH balances in order to work efficiently. Using both ingredients at the same time throws off your skin's pH balance and triggers irritation, according to Fleur & Bee.

Lastly, while it won't make a huge difference when it comes to product efficiency, give your serums time to penetrate into the skin instead of pilling one product after another. In most cases, the longest you should have to wait between layers is a couple minutes.