As a Master Esthetician, I follow the science behind the active ingredients in skincare products and regularly test new products on myself and my clients. While I follow the science, I don’t follow the fads. I know fads can be fun, but efficacy is my priority. My clients trust me to determine what will work for their skin.
Whether you’re applying 3 layers or 10, you must be mindful of skincare ingredient overload. The actives in your products may be highly effective when used properly, but they may irritate the skin or cancel one another out if layered incorrectly. To minimize mis-layering, I utilize multi-tasking products that simplify your skincare routine while maximizing your results.
Why All-in-One Products Are My Preference
The multi-step approach to skincare spiked with the rise in Korean skincare products, which I LOVE! Korean skincare lines introduced a truly tailored approach to proactive and reactive anti-aging. While effective when layered properly, 7 and 10 step skincare routines aren’t for everyone. They’re time-consuming and when layered wrong, they can irritate your skin.
My go-to Korean skincare lines have transformed the way I use products, but I prefer multitasking lines. So, instead of layering niche peptides, or other single-ingredient serums, creams, and oils, I use and sell high-performing skincare lines that contain a complementary range of actives.
I teach my clients and Beauty Club members how to generate the same results of a 10 step skincare routine with 3 to 5 products!
Signs of Actives Overload
Skincare product overload doesn’t deliver the desired results and is likely to create new skincare concerns. You may be stressing your skin if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below.
Irritation
Even if your skin type isn’t sensitive, layering ingredients in the wrong order can cause sensitivity. This may increase oil production, acne, or redness. Over-exfoliating and improper layering can also disrupt your skin barrier, leaving it dehydrated and exposed to environmental toxins. For example, layering an acid exfoliator over or under an enzyme exfoliator can over-exfoliate and degrade your skin barrier.
Pro Tip: Alternate between an acid and an enzyme exfoliator in the morning and evening. You may only need to apply topical exfoliators 2 or 3 days a week.
Skin Pilling
Did you know your skin can pill, kind of like a sweater? I see skincare product pilling when clients layer too many products, or they layer products in the wrong order. You may mistake product pilling for dry or flaky skin, because it appears as tiny, visible balls or flakes. Your skin may be pilling if your product, particularly your makeup, won’t lay flat.
Pro Tip: Even when layered properly, you must allow each product 1 to 5 minutes to absorb before adding the next layer. Layering too quickly can lead to ingredient overload, pilling, and other irritation.
Decreased Product Efficacy
Some products can cancel one another out or generate a harsh reaction. For example, if you layer a copper peptide before or after an ascorbic acid Vitamin C, the pH cancels one another out—rendering both topicals ineffective. Or layering an oil over or under sunscreen will degrade your UV protection.
Pro Tip: Always apply products from light to thick and apply your most potent serums before acids. Only apply skincare oil in the evenings, after your serum and moisturizer.
Clogged Pores
Layering noncomedogenic products incorrectly can clog your pores, creating or worsening oil, acne, blackheads, and breakouts. Blocked pores can also cause comedones, small flesh-colored bumps that leave your skin textured.
Pro Tip: As your skin matures, you’ll need to transition from granular exfoliators to deep exfoliators. This includes gentle acid and enzyme exfoliators and exfoliating spa treatments.
Product Waste
The factors above waste quality products. In addition, some products should be used once a day, a few times a week, seasonally, or as needed. For example, you may only use exosome-infused products when your skin is inflamed, damaged, or after harsh skincare treatments.
Pro Tip: I suggest applying retinoids in the evenings, because they are photosensitive and can be harsh on your skin in sunlight. Further minimize sensitivity by layering retinoids as follows: non-exfoliating serum, moisturizer, retinoid, moisturizer. Or use an encapsulated PM retinoid like CBE Sleep On It that’s designed to be gentle on your skin.
My Favorite Multitasking Skincare Lines
My favorite multitasking skincare lines are House of PLLA, Neogenesis, CBE Botanicals, and Dr. Esthé. These skincare formulations contain advanced skincare technology, premium botanicals, and concentrated actives. They’re formulated to synergistically exfoliate, hydrate, nourish, and protect without overloading your skin.
House of PLLA
Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) found in House of PLLA products is an ingredient found in dissolvable surgical sutures. It’s a biostimulator. This means it stimulates collagen production and accelerates the healing process. PLLA also creates a matrix of connective tissues underneath this skin to smooth, plump, lift, and volumize.
All products in this line contain topical PLLA and concentrated actives to provide multiple anti-aging benefits.
NeoGenesis
NeoGenesis is an innovative exosome line, by Dr. Greg Maguire, a leading stem cell researcher with over 30 years of experience researching and formulating stem cell-infused products.
I consider exosomes to be the skincare of the future. Exosomes contain stem cells, peptides, lipids, growth factors, and everything cells need to repair and rejuvenate your skin. Your skin recognizes exotics, so they’re instantly absorbed to rapidly calm, soothe, and repair.
Stem cells don’t have to be injected
A common misconception is that stem cells must be injected to be effective, but this simply isn’t true. That said, the NeoGenesis line is like no other. You can’t just chop up stem cells and add them to a skincare product, because the stem cells will die. NeoGenesis created a proven way to topically apply stem cells within exosomes.
Some of my clients only use NeoGenesis products when their skin is inflamed or after microneedling, laser therapy, chemical peels, and other harsh skincare treatments. NeoGenesis Advanced Cellular Serum is so powerful that it’s safe and effective for healing surgical incisions and chemo and radiation burns.
CBE Botanicals
For those of you who don’t know, I have an exclusive skincare brand! CBE Botanicals contain premium, pure, effective, and concentrated actives. I intentionally formulated each product to be gentle and multitasking. This allows you to tailor your layers without worrying about skincare ingredient overload.
This line focuses on meeting the needs of mature skin by brightening, hydrating, and delivering nourishing anti-aging antioxidants.
Even with my own skincare line, I recognize that combining lines is required to resolve my client’s current and evolving skin conditions.
Dr. Esthé
Dr. Esthé is a Korean cosmeceutical line formulated specifically for those with ultra-sensitive skin. Cosmeceutical products aren’t mere topicals, they’re formulated with bioactive ingredients that provide medical-grade effectiveness.
This line contains several single-ingredient layering products. This is to minimize the risks of ingredient sensitivity for those with delicate skin. Even when formulated with a primary or single ingredient, the results are multitasking and designed to calm, soothe, restore, and nurture.
Learn How to Layer Your Products Without Skincare Ingredient Overload
If you’re open to multi-step layering, I’m happy to advise on that. But I understand that you may prefer a lower-maintenance and effective approach.
For tailored advice, I invite you to join the Christine Byer Beauty Club. As a beauty club member, you access exclusive content and can ask me how to layer your products for ease and efficacy.
I offer a 14-Day FREE trial so that you can experience my Beauty Club firsthand. Join now!
