How Many Serums Should I Use?

Serums are a great step in your skincare routine, but how many is too many? How do you layer serums effectively? Find out everything you need to know about using serums with NIVEA!

How Many Serums Should I Use & How Many Can Be Used at Once

Serums have arrived and they are here to stay! Widely considered to be one of the most effective skincare products that you can use in your routine, face serums are effective due to their lightweight formula that is packed with active ingredients that benefit your skin. But the real questions are how many to use and how do get the most out of them?

How many serums can you use at once

So how many serums is too many? Some people may use many, others prefer to use only one – it is up to your skin. Use of multiple serums at once can clog pores and affect a serums ability to be absorbed, the more you pile on, the more likely they’ll sit on the skin surface and not be effective so it is important to find the serums that have the ingredients that best meet your needs and what ingredients work together. The most important thing to remember is to listen to your skin: if you’re finding that your skin is irritated after use of multiple ingredients, it’s best to cut down.

What serums should not be mixed

Not all skincare ingredients work together. Some cancel each other out, others repel each other and others can cause sensitivity issues on the skin. Retinol serums shouldn’t be paired with serums including alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids as they are both potent and could cause irritation. Retinol also shouldn’t be used at the same time as Vitamin C serums – try using Vitamin C in the morning and Retinol at night. Vitamin C and Niacinamide also shouldn’t be paired as they weaken each other. On the other hand, serums with hyaluronic acid, such as the NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler Serum, can generally be paired with everything as they are hydrating and nourishing.

How to mix serums

Mixing serums is an effective way to get all the benefits without having to apply multiple times. Knowing how to create a serum cocktail however is important as mentioned before, some ingredients don’t work but also the consistency of the serums may result in a messy concoction. Try mixing serums that have compatible ingredients as well as similar formulas so you get a smoother layer on your skin.

How to apply multiple serums

To get the benefits of face serum when applying multiple, you need to layer products correctly. There are many examples of the order of skincare products and how to structure a skincare routine, but when do you use serums? Serums generally fall after the cleansing and toning steps but before moisturiser or sunscreen (if a morning routine). This is due to the varying textures of these products - you start with the lightest and finish with the thickest. With that in mind, how to layer face serums is easy – it’s the same process as your skin care routine! The lightest serum will absorb the quickest, giving your skin time to prepare for the thicker layers, so layer serums based on consistency. You wouldn’t want to apply a thick serum then have a light one just sitting on top.

Another way to use multiple serums is to rotate. Using specific serums only in the morning and others at night will help you get the best results and avoid them cancelling each other out. You can then also swap out different morning and night serums on different days to get all the beneficial ingredients.