A while ago, I wrote a post about using two different serums together and I said that I did it because it just felt right for me, and did not break me out or kill my skin or anything. If anything, some combinations made my skin look better than it ever did.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh, famed aesthetic surgeon who was in town for a flying visit and to introduce a new night cream in his eponymous skincare line. I’ll be telling you about that soon, but what really got me excited after listening to him over lunch, is how he advocates the use of 2 different face serums, if necessary!
I sought confirmation and he said yes. You can use two different serums to target different concerns and because serums are different in texture and formula and content so the answer by Le Docteur is yes! It feels great to know I could be doing the right thing all by myself 😉 I’ll share here some things I learned from the good Doctor who is a big advocate of aesthetic procedures but who also says that using good skincare is the first step to age maintenance.
The rationale behind why one might use 2 serums together is because different serums serve different purposes and have different compositions. Generally speaking, active ingredients dissolve better in water and so a water based serum will generally be able to contain higher concentrations of active ingredients. By contrast, an oil based serum may contain less of the active ingredients because there is no water medium for the ingredients to blend into.
Consistency and concentration aside, skincare serums do contain a higher concentration of active ingredients when compared to a normal face cream, hence the higher prices associated with serums and the greater efficacy. I for one do tend to believe in using a good face serum even if I use a regular face cream, simply because of the concentration of ingredients in a serum.
The ideology behind the blending or mixing of 2 different serums comes down to the composition of a moisturizer. Essentially, a face cream is an emulsion of oil and water. So, says the good Doctor, if you were to blend 2 different serums of oil and water bases, you could customize your own face cream, with a higher concentration of active ingredients!
Generally speaking, oily skin would not take well to oil based serums whilst dry skins will find water based serums less effective. Combining two different serums in different quantities e.g. 2 drops of oil to 1 drop of water for dry skins may yield a better result than just using an oil based serum.
You can mix the two serums in the palm of your hand to create your own customized face cream to suit your skin needs, or you can layer them on your skin, one after the other, starting with the one that is lighter in texture. If your skin is feeling drier, use more oil based serums and if you’re oily, adjust the mixture accordingly.
I asked if you might need to use a separate cream thereafter, and Dr. Sebagh said it was really up to how you feel. If you feel the serums aren’t moisturizing enough, a thin layer of face cream over it might help seal in moisture better. However, if you feel comfortable, then you may not need it.
Granted that we were discussing the merits of using the Dr. Sebagh Supreme Maintenance Youth Serum (water based) and Rose de Vie serums (oil based) but he was generous to keep discussions relatively open so the moral of the story that I took away from the lunch was this – It is alright to mix 2 different serums together to suit your skin’s needs and this is what real luxury bespoke skincare is; where you can customize your skincare to your own needs.
I don’t always mix my serums based on oil-water ratios but I am using the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate every night which is oil based, and I do still mix my serums depending on how I feel that day. I sometimes skip the MRC and just use 2 other water based serums that I may have on hand. I do think it works for me (as I have shared before) and so long as I don’t break out, I’ll keep doing it… because the good Doctor said I can! 😀
Do you mix 2 different serums together? Do you use 2 different serums at the same time? Its not something you have to do of course. It can get terribly pricey because serums are expensive, but I’m curious to know if other people do it too and if you do, what do you use? 🙂
Paris B
Hullo!
Finally the Docteur says “YES”< for I'm a huge fan of serums and making cocktails outta them <3 [No-Frills Skin Care Routine for Mature Acne-Prone Skin] http://suelynn76-beautyblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/updated-no-frills-skin-care-routine-for.html
The good Doctuer’s approval makes me feel it’s more legit though ^_^
LOVE this Psot 😉
Hiya! And yes Le Docteur validated this technique. I guess whatever works for us yes? 😉
I’ve always used 2 serums at night. I use the ANR first, then another whitening serum. Using Shiseido white lucent now. In the day, I keep it light by just using the ester lauder idealist. Works great for me! My skin breaks out pretty easily but I’ve been doing this for almost a year and my skin is ok. There r times when my skin is especially prone to breakouts, so I tend to cut back on serums for a week and get right back into it 😉
Great to know it works for you too! I like ANR too. I get back to it when my skin needs a boost and it always delivered 🙂 I was using the Idealist for a while too but I found it drying for my skin. Quite a pity because it was otherwise quite nice.
I definitely like using more than one serum. It’s so dry here in Canada so I need a hydrating serum, but I also want to continue lightening my dark spots so a whitening serum is still a must. Since whitening serums are usually exfoliating, they just don’t come in one bottle.
Thank you for this very informative post!
Hi Sheila! Isnt it great how we’re already practicing this? I do find that whitening products are very drying so you’re probably doing it right by using a hydrating serum together with it. I may have to do that so I don’t waste the serums I presently have
I love using 2 serums. I’m on MRC and over that I have kiehls’ line reducing concentrate. Love it!
That is an amazing combination! I was told it worked very well together but I didn’t try it till now 🙂
thanks for sharing the tips! i don’t mix them, but i just layer them. maybe i should now 😀 …provided that i have serums of 2 different textures!
Well he did say we can just layer it too. No need to mix 🙂
I mix two different serums together only after reading your article! I usually use only one serum in the morning – the Biotherm Source Therapie serum. At night, I drip one / two drops of MRC and mix it with a pump of Source Therapie serum before topping it up with a layer of moisturizer. =)
And I’m guessing it’s working well for you? 😉
thanks for the info. i have a question. Can we use 2 type of toner together? For example, i used sebamed clarifying toner 1st with cotton ( bcos it can wipe a away dirt from face). Then i continue with Hadalobo lotion (toner) by patting them to face by palm…
An interesting question and to be honest I don’t see why to if it’s not doing harm to your skin. I’m actually doing this right now or rather a variation of it and I think it’s doing my skin a world of good! 😀
Good to know PB 🙂 And by the way, is the EL ANR oil-based or water-based?
I think it’s water based. Usually water based serums have aqua as their primary ingredient. Oil based ones don’t have water.
That’s good to hear! Right now, I’m actually using nothing more that cleanser on my sensitive face since I’m so paranoid about mixing different lines together, but hearing that there’s no harm in it, I’m going to treat my face to some serums (after testing for sensitivity, LOL).
Glad this was of help. If you don’t need serums, you could just start with a light moisturizer so your skin doesn’t dry out from the cleansing 🙂
I’ve never thought to mix serums before application. Thanks for the info! I always have to use one serum with chemical exfoliant to keep pores clear, and when the air becomes drier I layer a hydrating serum over it. I share the same theory as you in that I rely on serums for active ingredients and use a more basic moisturizer to “seal in” everything underneath.
High 5 for having similar skincare ideas 😉 I don’t use an exfoliating serum but I’ve been reminded of Dior One Essential and I may want to get back to that one 🙂 which serums are you presently using?
Is it ok to mix serums as long as they have different consistencies and texture? How about the ingredients may fight each other? And the belief of what we apply first goes first, the later we layer may not absorb fully? Last but not least when to apply silicon-based serums?
I’m currently using Shiseido Revital Whitening serum (which is water/alcohol based) I’m thinking about applying kiehls powerful strength line reducing (which has thicker consistency) and lastly MRC (oil-based). Do you think it will be a good combination? 😀
I’m no dermatologist but based on what I know yes, sometimes some ingredients may contradict or cancel each other out. I don’t know enough though and to be honest I don’t think many commercial serums are that strong. That said if I layer I use a light serum first, then a heavier one depending on how it feels. I personally wont use more than 2 serums at a go. It could be too much for the skin to absorb at one go so I’d treat skin concerns depending on what’s most troubling you at that point and go from there 🙂
I do use at least 2 different serums everyday. One for my sensitive skin and the other for hydrating- Cellnique Intensive Soothing Factor (Though this is salon-only) and Cellnique Intensive Hydrating Complex. The sensitive skin one is water-based while the hydrating one is more gel-type, so the sensitive skin serum goes on before hydrating. Then at night, after the serums, I add on Melvita Calendula Oil.
I was worried it would be overkill, but this post at least put my mind to rest haha! 😛 (And it works for me so…) Anyway yay Doctor approved! 😀
Yeah I think anything that works for us or which we think makes our skin look better is the right combination. After all we know our own skin best! 🙂
glad to know i’m not a nuthead by using 2 or 3 serums at 1 go! i haven’t tried mixing them, as i’m afraid i will spoil it. but really, what’s the difference between layering them and mixing them up? to me it feels the same, your skin still end up absorbing both! if we can mix serums, can we mix with our moisturizers too?
i mean mix the serum with moisturizer 😛
Dr. Sebagh did say it’s ok to either layer or mix. I do either depending on how I feel or how lazy I am :p I sometimes mix in MRC with moisturizer too.
i’ve always wondered if i really need a face cream after the serum because i feel that the serums alone are moisturising enough for my oily skin.
maybe i can try that tomorrow night, eh 😉
and no, i don’t use more than one serum because i tried 2 serums before and they make my skin feels heavy.
Ah the beauty is that if your serum is moisturizing enough, you may not need a moisturizer! I sometimes go without if I feel that my skin is feeling like its had enough 🙂
I’ve never used more than one serum before! I guess I was always afraid of the adverse reaction or of their properties cancelling each other out! Good to know PB. Now for a silly question, how do we know if it’s oil based or water based? What ingredients do we look out for for each?
Generally speaking, anything water based will have water or aqua as its first ingredient. Oil based ones won’t 😉 there aren’t many oil based serums around that are affordable actually because a good oil is pricey!
I used 2 serum on the weeks I need to have that extra oomph
I mixed Clinique Turnaround + EL ANR on weeks that I need to be gorgeous or just don’t have enough rest and top it with moisture surge as sleeping mask.
Keep my face plump the next day and just radiant. But I wouldn’t drop ANR from my combo. I also generally find that if I use Hada Labo toner before applying any of these it gets even better.
Things come and go, ANR stay!
Have to agree with you about ANR! I like the new texture vs the old one which felt more like silicone. I do think it would be nicer if they made it more liquid though. I must try your wonder combination of Clinique Turnaround and ANR!
I do tent to mix 2 serums together i usually use a whitening serum 1st followed by a hydrating serum but i do always use a moisturizer after both serum just to complete the regimen.
I use a moisturizer too. It helps me seal everything in 🙂
Yeah. I do this too. 🙂
Awesome!
I’m using 2 serums for my AM and PM skincare routine. AM = Oil controlling + Whitening, PM = Whitening + Moisturizing + Firming (Hmm…Shd I say 3 instead, haha…)
Nice! Want to share which ones you’re using? 🙂
I’m currently loving most of Naruko stuff. Especially the cleanser and serums. For AM = Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Serum + Magnolia Brightening and Firming Serum. For PM = Rose & Snow Fungus Aqua Cubic Complex + Magnolia Brightening and Firming Serum. After finishing up the Magnolia serum, going to try Raw Job’s Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Serum because I’m loving it’s cleanser 🙂
??, Paris 🙂