Skincare Stacking: A Guide to Layering Active Ingredients Safely
Welcome to the world of active skincare. You've done your research and invested in powerful ingredients like peptides, antioxidants, and exfoliants. But to truly unlock their potential, you need to become an expert in "skincare stacking"—the art and science of layering your products in the correct order and combination.
Applying ingredients in the wrong order can make them less effective, or worse, cause irritation. But when done right, a well-stacked routine can supercharge your results. Here are the foundational rules for layering active ingredients safely.
The Golden Rule: Thinnest to Thickest
The most important rule of layering is to apply your products based on their texture, moving from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. This allows the lightweight, water-based products with smaller molecules (like serums) to penetrate the skin effectively before the heavier, cream-based products (like moisturizers) are applied on top to lock everything in.
A typical routine would follow this order: Cleanser -> Toner/Essence -> Serum -> Eye Cream -> Moisturizer -> SPF (in the morning).
Smart Stacking: Powerful & Safe Combinations
The beauty of a well-formulated skincare line is that the products are designed to work together. Here are some powerful combinations you can create with your GLOWBIOTICS routine to enhance your results.
Stacking for a Brighter Glow
For a powerful brightening and antioxidant boost, layer our Probiotic Brightening + Refining Layering Solution, which contains Vitamin C, under our Probiotic Multi-Brightening Anti-Aging Cream, which contains Niacinamide. This is a fantastic duo for tackling dullness and uneven skin tone.
Stacking for Gentle Anti-Aging
To target signs of aging without irritation, apply the Ultimate Youth Restoring Serum first. Its powerful peptides will sink into the skin to begin the repair process. Follow with our Gentle Probiotic Calming Lotion to lock in the serum and support the skin barrier.
General "Don't Mix" Rule
While our products are designed to be synergistic, a general rule in skincare is to be cautious when combining multiple, very potent active ingredients from different brands, especially certain retinoids and acids, in the same routine, as this can lead to irritation. When in doubt, use them on alternate nights.
For a simple breakdown of the steps, review our guide on the Order to Apply Skincare Products.
By understanding the art of skincare stacking, you can move from simply *using* your products to truly optimizing them, creating a personalized routine that works smarter for your skin.