Mixing and Matching Skin Care Products Can Lead to Long-Term Damage (Part 1)

Hundreds of skin-care products.

So many choices.

Which products work best?

Well, today's skin-care consumer is justifiably confused, especially those confronting difficult skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, adult acne, skin rashes, excessively oily, flaky and itchy skin, a combination of dry and oily skin areas, rosacea, and even a combination of conditions.

More and more people are developing sensitivities to artificial ingredients and harsh chemicals. Many factors cause the skin to rebel: the environment, diet, medications, hormones, stress, and chemotherapy.

Another factor contributing to unhealthy sensitivities results from the mixing and matching of products from various manufacturers - applying a hodge-podge of products not formulated to work together.

Just as it is dangerous to combine home cleaning products, it can be damaging to combine skin care products from a variety of manufacturers.

Due to the extensive number of skin care products on the market, consumers tend to purchase a mix of products and brands that synergistically don't work together. A typical vanity is stocked with a wide-range of brand names and products. "Brand B" moisturizer is applied after "Brand A" cleanser and "Brand C" anti-aging serum is used in conjunction with "Brand D" Facial masque.

One may ask: "Is such combining of products a problem?"

The answer is a resounding, "Yes!"

Mixing brands and products may lead to a form of chemical warfare with the skin is the victim. A skin-care manufacturer will formulate products within a specific pH balance range, blending ingredients that complement one another for best results.

For example, the cleanser has a certain pH level and so does the freshener and moisturizer. The term pH refers to the measurement of the acids and alkali in the skin. The amount of acid in the skin determines the skin's resistance to bacteria.

However, one company's pH balance range may be quite different from the pH balance range of another manufacturer. One brand may not work in harmony with another brand. Mix and match brands and the result can be very damaging. Skin that becomes "off-balance" and "confused" may develop acne, allergies, rashes, and any number of other skin conditions.