Loyalty and exclusivity are terms that are typically thrown around when you’re entering a long-term relationship. However, the relationship I’m talking about has nothing to do with your dating life. I’m talking about the relationship we have with our skincare products. Which brings me to the age-old question, should we be loyal to one brand instead of mixing and matching with different brands and formulas?

Even as a beauty editor, it constantly proves challenging to know what’s real in the beauty and skincare world. The industry is constantly evolving with new technologies and product innovations. What might be the gold standard one day could be proved incorrect the next. If you thought the times were changing quicker than you can keep up, just wait until you start keeping tabs on the beauty industry because honey, it’ll make your head spin faster than you can say ‘facial’.

To Mix, or Not to Mix

As someone who has always had a very in-depth skincare routine, it never phased me that I used products from different brands. However, my eyes were opened after being generously gifted with products from goop. I received the brand’s Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Glow Lotion, and the beloved Face Oil and was instantly in love.

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I applied the products in the morning, but saved the face oil just for nighttime. For the first time, I didn’t have to worry if the products would work when layered or if they would pill after makeup application. My mind was kind of blown because everything seemed to be working so well.

So what do the experts say about staying loyal to one skincare brand? I asked goop’s legendary Beauty Director, Jean Godfrey-June, who said, “because brands typically formulate to make products compatible (and not redundant), there’s a real benefit to using multiple products from one brand to create your skin regimen.”

June adds, “For instance, the physical/chemical exfoliation I get with GOOPGLOW Microderm Exfoliator prepares my skin to fully absorb the GOOPGLOW Vitamin C Serum; the GOOPGLOW Glow Lotion works beautifully with that combination to moisturize, and to add another, complementary form of vitamin C.”

While I agree with June, brands formulate their products to work best together, I can’t help but wonder if it really makes a difference? Is going steady with your skincare products the way to go?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not challenging goop’s JGJ to a beauty duel. But if someone already has their tried and true skincare faves, why should they have to undergo and full-on beauty overhaul? Spoiler alert: they don’t have to.

Know Your Skincare Products

Dermalogica’s Director of Education Lindsay Barras shared that it might not be totally necessary to use all one skincare brand to achieve your healthiest skin. However, Lindsay says, “skin care companies with active ingredients develop products with the intention of layering and work on the assumption that products are used in the same routine.”

Lindsay added that if you are going to mix and match, it’s important to look at what ingredients you’re layering. Lindsay said, “you never want to be layering exfoliants on top of each other, so it’s important to understand exactly what is in your products to ensure you using the products safely and can achieve your skin goals.”

It’s also crucial to keep in mind what your skincare concerns are and to not double up on active ingredients. Lindsay says that, “if you have acne prone skin it would not be recommended to use multiple acne products from different skin care lines in one routine. This would likely be too harsh and leave the skin irritated and dehydrated.”

To put it simply, just pay attention to the ingredients and the order in which you apply your products. If you’re ever lost, having a professional skin therapist analyze your skin and design a custom regime for you is a great option. Use products that work for you and your skin, and that help you achieve your skincare dreams.