Response to Skin Irritation and Ingredient Concentrations

Thank you for sharing your experience. The stinging sensation and redness you experienced on the second day of using the Vitamin C E Ferulic followed by your custom Aloe Vera Gel base blend is a sign of skin irritation.

Stinging and Redness

It is not uncommon to experience some initial mild stinging or warmth when first using products containing potent active ingredients like Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), especially if your skin is sensitive or not accustomed to it. However, redness indicates a stronger reaction or irritation, not necessarily that the product is "biting" your skin, but rather that your skin is reacting negatively.

This reaction could be due to:

• Sensitivity to the Vitamin C E Ferulic product itself.
• Sensitivity to one or more ingredients in your custom Aloe Vera Gel base blend.
• A reaction to the combination of using both products together.
• The concentrations of the active ingredients in your custom blend.

We agree with the previous advice to stop using both products immediately until your skin has fully recovered and the redness and stinging have subsided.

Once your skin is back to normal, you can try to identify which product caused the reaction by patch testing. Apply a small amount of one product (e.g., the Vitamin C E Ferulic) to a small, inconspicuous area of skin (like behind your ear or on your forearm) for a few days to see if a reaction occurs. If there is no reaction, repeat the process with the other product (your custom Aloe Vera Gel base blend).

If the Vitamin C E Ferulic is the cause, you might try reintroducing it gradually, perhaps every other day or only at night, once your skin is no longer irritated. If your custom blend is the cause, you may need to adjust the formulation.

Ingredient Concentrations in Custom Blend

You asked about the concentrations of Apple Stem Cell Extract (5% used vs 2% recommended) and TEGO Pep 4-17 (5% used vs 3% recommended).

• For Apple Stem Cell Extract, while the manufacturer often recommends 3%, a usage rate of up to 5% is typically within the maximum recommended range. Using 5% might increase the potential for irritation compared to 3%, especially when combined with other actives, but it is generally considered acceptable.
• For TEGO Pep 4-17 (a type of peptide), if the recommended usage rate is indeed 3%, using 5% is a higher concentration than suggested. Using active ingredients at concentrations higher than recommended can increase the risk of skin irritation, sensitivity, or other adverse reactions. It's possible this higher concentration contributed to the stinging and redness you experienced, especially in combination with the other ingredients and the Vitamin C product.

It is generally best to follow the recommended usage rates for active ingredients to minimize the risk of irritation and ensure efficacy without unnecessary concentration.

In addition, please note that some Aloe Vera Gel base products, such as Aloe Vera Gel (Lite), may be incompatible with Hyaluronic Acid Nano, which could potentially affect the stability or texture of your custom blend, although this is less likely to be the primary cause of stinging and redness.

Listen to your skin. If a product causes irritation, it is best to stop using it.