Has this ever happened to you?
You use a new product containing a new fabulous ingredient that your skin hasn’t seen before (or in a while) and suddenly your skin looks amazing! It glows and people are giving you compliments. So you continue using that product hoping for more comments on your gorgeous skin and suddenly folks don’t notice anymore.
It’s NOT the product!
MYTH#1:
Your skin gets “used” to products.
MYTH #2:
After a period of time your products “stop working.”
TRUTH:
The product is now maintaining your beauty. You (and everyone around you) are so used to seeing your skin in this state that the dramatic difference is no longer noticeable.
What to do when your product “stops working”?
ALTERNATE!
This allows you to get those compliments on a regular basis as well as actually finishing the tube (or jar or whatever) in it’s entirety. This is not to say you can’t love and be loyal to a particular product. Let’s just switch it up to keep your skin cells on their toes and the compliments rolling in.
Why do we alternate products?
Alternating allows the skin an opportunity to get a variety of active ingredients to help keep the skin healthy. Just like the food we put in our bodies, our skin needs a multitude of nutrients. Often different ingredients help achieve the same goal but our skin cells process them differently therefore optimizing results. As an added benefit, it’s a great way to use all those products taking up space in your bathroom cabinets!
Now the HOW…
How to alternate?
I’ll make it easy for you… even if you own a large arsenal. I’m looking at you skincare junkies.
I’m going to teach you to alternate your nighttime products. (For now, keep your daytime routine the same as you have been doing.) Choose a serum or oil or exfoliator that you can sleep in.
Need serums explained? Read my “Let’s Talk…Serums” post here.
For my beginners let’s KISS (keep it simple silly).
- Pick one serum (something that says hydrating not regenerating)
- Pick one exfoliator (something leave-on – not a scrub)
- Pick one moisturizer (it can be the same as your daytime moisturizer)
Assign each evening of the week a specific product to use (you will remove your makeup and cleanse your skin as you normally would).
Create a schedule:
- 2x nights per week – exfoliation
- 3x nights per week – serum or oil
- 2x nights per week – moisturizer
This will produce strong, healthy, plump cells to keep your skin renewed and glowing.
Here’s a free guide for alternating so you can just plug in your favorite products, tape the guide to your mirror and you will always remember what to use on what day. Reprint whenever you want to add a new or different product.
Alternating products is the best way to get maximum results from your skincare. This process allows your skin to continue to be healthy and glowing. In the comments below, tell me about your results and the compliments you get!
In the next “Let’s Talk…“ blog post we will discuss the magic of layering products.
If you have questions about which products to pick from your current home care, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Don’t forget:
Download your cheat sheet here.
The opinions expressed here are my own, based on my expertise and research.
Hello! Is it okay to alternate cleanser and toner? I have acne prone skin. I use SOME BY MI acne cleanser and toner, which has AHA/BHA ingredients. This brand is from South Korea.
I want to use different serums such as niacinamide and salicylic acid, but I’m scared of putting too much active ingredients on my face.
What should I do? Should I alternate the products for day and night? or alternate on weekly basis?
Thank you.
Hi.
If you are using a cleanser AND toner with Aha/Bha in it, both Day & Night, I might recommend NOT using the salicylic acid serum. Just to be clear, BHA is salicylic acid.
You can layer the niacinamide serum over your toner and before your moisturizer as long as the niacinamide feels ok (no stinging or burning sensations). Without knowing the rest of the products you use, there is no need to alternate anything at this time. Please feel free to reach out if you have more questions. Thanks.
Hey hope your doing well!!
I have a sensitive skin with acne scars and pigmentation.
I have vit c serum collagen serum
Ninacimide,, retinol and vit c cream.
I’m too scared as I use some in morning some at night alternate days I think my skin will be ore damaged by using all the products!!
Hi. Thanks for reaching out. If your skin isn’t having a sensitive reaction to the products you are using, keep on keeping on with your routine. That sounds great. I would recommend the Vit C Serum and moisturizer with SPF during the day and at night alternate using the niacinamide one evening and the retinol the other. Layer the Vit C cream on top of either if needed. That’s alternating and getting the most out of the ingredients from those products. Hope that helps. Feel free to reach out with more questions.
Hello!!
I have just started using vitamin c serum but not sure how to incorporate it in my routine.
I have been using for ages the pigmentclar by la roche posay at night for skin pigmentation.
And in the morning the bioderma sebium global (with AHA) for the occasional breakouts.
I heard the vitamin c should not be used with AHA products, can you please advise?
I would recommend using your Vit C serum in the AM under a moisturizer and SPF. In the PM alternate nights using la Roche Posay and the Bioderma. Although, I am unclear if the Bioderma product you are using is a moisturizer or a spot treatment. If I can support you further reach out to me via my email at melissa@melissalekus.com and we can set up a day and time to chat. Thanks so much for the question.
Hi
i just started my skin care routine a month ago,
im a male at 36yrs of age and has a very oily skin combined with excessive hyper sweating.
Been reading and researching on the beneifts of many actives these are the ones i bought and started using
Retinol, Hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide, Vit C, Peptides
I plan to just use them (1) one each night as intend to be very minimal at day time because of my oily and sweaty face and active lifestyle , plus i am always at the beach.
for day time only, Toner in glycolic acid and Moisturizer + Daily SPF.
is this ok?
This sounds like a great plan to start with. Without knowing what products you have in your arsenal it’s difficult to give you specific advice but if you would like to hop on a free consultation call next week to tell me more information about what you’re experiencing, talk through your next steps, and see how I can support you. I am not sure of your time zone so reach out to me via my email at melissa@melissalekus.com and we can set up a day and time to chat. Thanks so much for the question.
Hi, I have a bad habit of finding new products, purchase them. I’m not sure how to ‘use up’ my previous stuff. Should I mix them, a few day of both over say 1 week. Or use one up them start the new one. For eg I have 3 different serums, please can you help?
Hi Jean Taylor,
I love this question! I totally get your frustration about having too many products and not knowing what to use when, it’s something many of my clients have struggled with and we’ve worked through together. The best 1st step is to try each serum individually to see which you like best. You can rotate them for morning or night. Without knowing what products you have in your arsenal it’s difficult to give you specific advice. but if you would like to hop on a free consultation call next week to tell me more about what you’re experiencing, talk through your next steps, and see how I can support you. I realize you are in the UK, so if these times don’t work let me know what time would be best. I have next Monday and Wednesday at 10 am available.
hi! i currently have niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and BHA. would you recommend alternating between the three each day, or would you apply the 2/2/3 nights rule to these products? i’ve also seen you can use hyaluronic acid with both bha and niacinamide – would it be better to use the hyaluronic acid every day and just alternate the other two products??? hope this makes sense, thank you in advance !!!! 🙂
Thank you so much for the question. I am guessing that each ingredient you mentioned is a separate product. As only the BHA exfoliates the skin I would recommend using that product at night 2x a week (Sunday & Wednesday). If these are the only serums in your arsenal, for ease I would recommend using the niacinamide during the day and the hyaluronic in the evening (except on the nights you use the BHA). If you feel comfortable, you can even use the niacinamide AND the hyaluronic together during the day, if you need/want the extra hydration. There are many other ways to alternate with these particular products but keep it simple to start. Please feel free to reach out if you have additional questions.
Best,
Melissa
thank you so much!! they are the only serums i have at the moment, would you recommend any others to add to this routine?? i have normal skin prone to small breakouts if that at all helps 🙂
Without having a more in-depth conversation about your skin, I would recommend a salicylic spot treatment for breakouts, I love Vit C serums for daytime and a retinol serum in the evening would be a good addition to your arsenal. If you would like more personalized recommendations please feel free to reach out to me at melissa@melissalekus.com and I would love to talk about it further with you.
Hi! I am looking into using a niacinamide serum, vitamin C, beta hydroxy serum, azelaic acid, and toner- either TO glycolic or Inkey List PHA. Is it ok to use a toner daily at night? Also, how would you recommend alternating the serums and if there are ones you don’t recommend using?
Thank you so much for your comment. I assume these are all different serums and not one serum with a lot of ingredients in them. Regarding the toner, I would love to know what toner you are using, is it a wipe or a spritz? I recommend using the Vit C and the niacinamide during the day, either by themselves or layering the VitC and then the Niacinimide on top. If using solo, alternate each product daily, ie: Monday use Vit C, Tuesday use Niacinimide, and so on. The other products should be used at night. I would say use Sundays and Wednesdays using a different one each of those nights. Is the Inkey List PHA, the Polyglutamic Acid Hydrating Serum? If so, rotate that during the day either with or without the VitC (Vit C always goes first). I hope this helps if you would like a more specific consultation please reach out, I’d love to help.
Hey, I have these three products lactic acid serum 5%, vitamin c serum, and a cream consisting of ingredients such as azelaic acid & tretinoin. So how can I alternate between these 3 products? My acne has gone but it has left some scars and pits. So how should I use these products to get better results? Thanks
Thank you so much for the question. I would recommend using the Vit C serum every morning under your moisturizer. And alternating the lactic acid and the cream on different nights. For example, use the lactic Acid Sunday nights (add moisturizer over if needed) and use the Cream on Wednesday nights, depending on how thick the consistency of the cream is, you may want to layer a moisturizer over that as well. Please don’t use both products at the same time. It’s important to give your skin a break in between products that exfoliate. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.
Hi how are you ? Hope you’re doing well!!!
I have niacinamide serum
HAcid serum
Vit c serum
Bha serum
Pha toner inkey list
Mandelic acid serum
Buffet serum the ordinary
Alpha arbutin serum the inkey list
Multibiotic cream inkey list
Omgh is it too muchhh ? Help me out i would really appreciate it 🥰🥰🥰
Hello Mary
This is certainly not too much. I would recommend rotating some for day and some for night. You can layer a few at a time. I am offering free 15 minute recorded coaching sessions if you would like me to provide you with an easy routine for applying your products. Email me to sign up, melissa@melissalekus.com.
Can I altérnate my serum in night day to day? I’m using one night niacinamida one night azelaic acid
Thank you so much for the question. I think that is a perfect way to alternate those two serums. You can also use your Niacinimide serum during the day but I would recommend using the Azelaic Acid only in your evening routine.
About the schedule….. Would I leave my face bare the other four days??
Hi Maegan, Thanks for reading the blog. In answer to your question, I would recommend 2x nights per week, exfoliate. 3x nights per week use a serum or oil, 2x nights per week use a moisturizer. Each product will be used on a different evening. Assign which evening when you will use each particular product.
Yes, thanks for responding so quickly!! I realized after I sent it what you meant lol Thank you again, though. Take care ☺️
Happy To help! Feel free to reach out anytime via email or text with any of your skincare questions.
I truely need help with my skin care routine as i do not know how to use and alternate or if im using too many products at once what to use together and what not to use ingredients wise google doesnt help much when im looking for answers
Hi Jennesa
Thank you so much for your comment. I truly understand how overwhelming and confusing skincare products and creating a home routine can be. I would love to help you achieve glowing skin using the products you already have. I now offering inexpensive coaching to get you back on course and simplify your skincare journey. Feel free to check out my coaching page https://melissalekus.com/coaching/ or reachout via email melissa@melissalekus.com. I look forward to working with you. Best, Melissa
if i use different products for the routine is it bad?
e.g. i use a cleanser today and a different product tomorrow
Hi Chloe,
You can definitely alternate between cleansers from day to day. Even day to evening. I love the idea that you have a variety of products to choose from. Does that answer your question?
I have a whole range of beauty products too, each with slightly different ingredients. Serums I like best though – perfect for hydration.
This is so true, I always alternate products! x
Lots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
http://marinawriteslife.blogspot.fr/