Welcome to our Skincare Q&A, where we answer some of the most common questions people are actually searching on Google. We've refreshed this edition with updated answers and a couple of new questions that keep coming up.
Can you apply water-based serums twice daily?
It depends on the serum. If the contents are non-irritating (such as hyaluronic acid) then you can happily apply twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, to keep hydration topped up around the clock. The same applies to most water-based gels and refreshing mists.
Think twice, however, before applying anything containing potentially irritating actives twice a day. The usual culprits are AHAs (glycolic, citric and lactic acid), BHA (salicylic acid) and retinol. We recommend applying these once a day at most, usually at night, and wearing SPF 30+ during the day since these treatments increase your skin's sensitivity to sunlight.
How old do you have to be to start skincare?
More common than ever, mostly because younger audiences have far more exposure to skincare content and influencers than any generation before them.
The honest answer: a simple routine suits any age. Cleanse, moisturise and SPF should be followed by everyone, and if you're old enough to be curious about skincare, you're old enough for those three steps. If we had to put a starting age on it, somewhere around 10 to 13 is when a basic routine starts making sense.
What young skin does not need is actives. Anti-aging products, retinoids and strong acids are unnecessary and often irritating on younger, more sensitive skin. The last thing you should be worrying about at 13 is wrinkles. That can change during puberty, when skin often becomes oilier and something like salicylic acid starts earning its place.
Why does my acne clear up when I stop using anti-acne products?
Many people notice this, and there are usually three possible explanations.
1. You're overusing anti-acne products
Acne products tend to be astringent (drying) and loaded with actives like AHAs, BHA or retinoids. Used sensibly, they work well. Overused, they dry the skin out enough to disturb the skin barrier, and your skin responds by producing more sebum to compensate. More oil, more clogged pores, more spots. Stopping the products lets your skin recalibrate, which is why things improve.
The fix isn't necessarily quitting the products, it's using them less often and moisturising properly alongside them.
2. Your skin was purging
When you start a routine with pore-clearing actives, there's often a purge phase: the ingredients speed up cell turnover and push existing congestion to the surface faster, so you break out more for a few weeks before you break out less. Many people quit right at this point, see their skin "clear up," and blame the products. Our advice is to persist for six to eight weeks before judging, and we cover what a purge looks like in our The Ordinary acne routine guide. If things get severe, see a dermatologist.
3. Your skin doesn't agree with the products
Less common, but real. If you have sensitive skin and you're using drying formulas across your whole face, the irritation itself can cause breakouts. Try a gentler approach or targeted spot treatments instead of all-over application, and always patch test anything new, since allergies and sensitivities can also cause flare-ups that look like acne.
How much serum do I need to put on my face?
We're big fans of the 'less is more' ideology here at Obviously Skincare, so that's exactly what we'll suggest. A few drops are usually enough to cover the entire face in a thin, even coat. Under-applying is almost always better than over-applying, both for your skin and your wallet. More product doesn't mean more results, it just means more sits on the surface doing nothing.
Can I use vitamin C and niacinamide together?
Yes. The old claim that they cancel each other out came from studies on unstable vitamin C formulations decades ago and doesn't apply to modern products. They actually complement each other well: vitamin C for antioxidant protection and brightening, niacinamide for oil control and barrier support. We've covered the combinations that genuinely don't mix in our ingredients you should never mix guide.
Do I actually need to double cleanse?
Only if you have something worth double cleansing off. If you wear makeup or SPF daily (and you should be wearing the SPF), an oil-based first cleanse followed by a gentle water-based cleanser at night does a genuinely better job. If you're bare-faced and indoors most of the day, a single gentle cleanse is plenty. Double cleansing dry, sensitive skin twice a day is a fast route to irritation.
That's it for this edition of our Q&A. If you have skincare questions you'd like answered, email us at ObviouslySkincare@gmail.com.
From the OBVS. Team