These days, we are becoming more and more aware of skin care ingredients and how they affect our skin. Information about skin care products is all around us – through social media, beauty blogs, hairdressers and more. And with tutorials right at your fingertips as you learn more about ingredients and their benefits for your skin, there is no end to the variety of recipes you can tweak to ensure your skin care is working at its most optimal level. Read on to learn about the concept of skin care cocktails and how they can shake up your routine..

What is a skin care cocktail? | How to Mix Effective Cocktails | cocktail step by step | Combinations to Try | mixing mask | Combinations to Avoid

What is a skin care cocktail?

Multi-step skin care regimens are no longer considered high maintenance and are just sort of the norm these days. After all, if one effective product is good for your skin, two, three (or more) might be better. Although this is not always the case, there are many ingredients that can be mixed and matched to complement each other and enhance the effects beyond what can be achieved individually. Skin care cocktailing is the process of combining or layering products within a skin care regimen to enhance efficacy, absorption, and results (or all of the above) for healthy, glowing skin. This process is easy and customizable to suit your needs.

Some ingredients take skin care to the next level by bringing out the best in each other and enhancing results. These combinations can help you create the optimal skin care routine for your specific needs, but cracking the code takes a bit of work. More ingredients don’t always mean more, and layering too many can interfere with the active ingredients, irritate them, and defeat the entire purpose of the procedure. But just as a good bartender can create amazing drinks, the right skin care cocktail recipe can be a magical combination.

How to Make an Effective Skin Care Cocktail

The key to tailoring a cocktail for your specific skin is to really hone in on what you’re trying to achieve. If you want a brighter-looking complexion, clearer, more balanced skin, and a soft, dewy glow, knowing the end result and working backwards is the most effective way to manage your mix.

A skincare cocktail routine requires knowledge of how to layer active ingredients. It’s important to understand which ingredients work well together and in what order they should be used. The rule of thumb is to apply according to texture. The lightest products come first and the thickest products last. Use toner, serum, oil, moisturizer and SPF throughout the day.

Timing of application is also important. Allow sufficient time for each product to penetrate the skin and dry before applying the next product. About 5 minutes is a good time. A clue that you’ve layered something too quickly can be the product fluffing or separating on your skin. Again, the term “cocktailing” may conjure up images of one large martini shaker filled with various ingredients, but this is more about layering ingredients than mixing them.

Skin Care Cocktail Step by Step

To get the most out of this skin care strategy, follow these easy rules:

Level 1

Wash your face to start with fresh, clean skin. Depending on your goals, you can choose a cleanser that suits the results you want to achieve. That means, rather than simply cleansing your skin to turn it into a clean, neutral canvas, improve your skin with a cleanser that tackles issues from dark spots to fine lines.

A good tip is to find products that complement your skin type and address any concerns you may be experiencing. If your goal is a cocktail to help with problem or acne-prone skin, we recommend starting with the Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser. It cools and balances and reduces the visible signs of problem skin and rashes. Or try Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam, which effectively prevents acne and clears clogged pores.

After cleansing, exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and other debris from the skin’s surface that may interfere with product absorption. Exfoliating cleansers like Charcoal Exfoliating Gel Cleanser or Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser save you time by doing double duty. Both cleanse and exfoliate in one step, preparing your skin to drink in the rest of the cocktail.

Step 2

Applying toner and essence can help enhance the results of your cocktail routine. Toner completes the cleansing process by removing any residue that may remain on your face. Toners can also address skin issues from acne to aging and balance the skin’s pH level. Use the essence to maximize hydration, plumping and protection while preparing your face for the next step in your routine. Skin is known to absorb active ingredients better when it’s slightly moist, so a spritz or swipe of a hydrating essence can prepare your skin for the next ingredient in your cocktail routine..

Pineapple Refining Tonic is designed to brighten, hydrate and exfoliate skin with gentle enzymes and acids. If you want to purify your skin and improve its barrier function, Birch Water Purifying Essence is a great choice.

Step 3

This is where the real cocktails begin. As mentioned earlier, some products work well together to enhance the results of each. Two ingredients that work well together are salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that helps prevent acne breakouts and promotes exfoliation and unclogging pores. And hyaluronic acid is a skin moisturizer that nourishes and moisturizes dry skin. When you apply the two back to back, salicylic acid acts to absorb excess oil, while hyaluronic acid pumps moisture back into the skin to relieve dryness. Our Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum combines hyaluronic acid with salicylic acid from strawberries to provide just the right balance.

Niacinamide is another favorite ingredient of our product support team because it can combine with just about anything. Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, visibly reduces pore size, retains moisture, supports the skin barrier, and smoothes uneven skin texture. It is typically combined with ingredients such as antioxidants (vitamin C), glycolic acid, traditional retinol, and bakuchiol. Combining Vitamin C with Niacinamide provides hydrating, brightening, and skin-smoothing benefits. And the combination of niacinamide and bakuchiol in Bakuchiol + Niacinamide Moisturizer helps reduce wrinkles, visibly firm skin, and minimize large pores and uneven texture without visible irritation.

If you’re looking for more pairings targeting specific issues, we’ve got you covered.

dehydrated skin

Combination Birch Water Purifying Essence & Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum combines birch water, reishi mushrooms, plant-based collagen, and plant-based hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. Looking for more combos? You can also mix ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, jojoba oil, PHAs, AHAs, and linoleic acid to prevent dehydration.

Skin prone to blemishes

Clear Skin Willow Bark Booster – The dynamic duo of serum and strawberry rhubarb hyaluronic hydrator is a great combination that provides light, transparent moisture. Ingredients to look for: Hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, salicylic acid.

fine lines and wrinkles

Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum & Bamboo Firming Fluid. During the day, top up with SPF to further prevent signs of aging. Ingredients to look for: Natural retinol substitutes and vitamin C.

Happy customers, Julie, tried this combo and said this in a review on our website: “I mixed Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum with Bamboo Firming Fluid and saw amazing results, leaving my skin clear, even toned and soft. . My Eminence consultant gave me the idea of ​​creating a ‘cocktail’ product with this ingredient. Try it! “You will be glad you do!”

mixing mask

If you like the idea of ​​layering or mixing ingredients to personalize your results, but don’t want to commit to a full routine, double masking may be a good option. The right mask can provide all kinds of benefits, from nourishing and hydrating to brightening dark spots, absorbing excess oil, and minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. And because the mask is designed to deliver a higher concentration of ingredients, it can instantly revitalize your skin, making it easy and convenient to use at home. If one mask is good, might it be better to double (or triple) the price? The answer is yes! Learn more about double masking here.

Combinations to Avoid

Just as some products enhance others, there are also ingredient combinations to avoid. Avoid using too many chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids in your daily routine. This can cause excessive peeling of the skin and potentially damage the skin barrier. The same applies to the existing case Using too much retinol can cause irritation, especially on skin that has already been exposed to the acid.

SPF is non-negotiable for any daytime routine, but it’s important to note that it should never be mixed with other products. Instead, it should be applied last to the skin before makeup. Mixing SPF with other products can dilute the effectiveness of your sunscreen, defeating the purpose of using it and potentially causing serious sun damage. However, it is not recommended to mix SPF with anything, but if an ingredient is mixed with SPF (e.g. Bakuchiol and Niacinamide in Radiant Protection SPF Fluid or Passion Fruit Vitamin C in Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer) then you are all fine and your skin is just fine. You will benefit from built-in treatments.

Of course, SPF should be worn daily to protect your skin, but it’s important to apply it the day after using retinol and acids. Another great cocktail tip for maximum protection is to layer vitamin C with SPF in the morning to protect your skin from environmental stressors. This shows 3-4 drops of Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum on clean skin before applying SPF.

Are you interested in creating a skincare cocktail routine? Visit your nearest Eminence Organics spa partner to receive advice on what ingredients you can combine to achieve your desired results!