Skincare Routine Order and Mixing Green Tea Extract with Serum or Lotion

Question

I have a toner containing Witch Hazel and Alpha Arbutin and the Vitamin C E Ferulic serum. Which product should I apply first, the toner or the serum? Can they be used together in the same routine? I also have Green Tea Extract (such as Hi-EGCG™ or Pure-EGCG™). Can I mix it directly into the Vitamin C E Ferulic serum? If not, can I mix it into a body lotion instead, and what are the recommended usage rates for liquid and powder forms?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Skincare Routine and Ingredient Mixing

Thank you for your feedback on the Vitamin C E Ferulic serum! We're glad you like it.

Here are the answers to your questions:

Order of Toner with Alpha Arbutin and Vitamin C Serum: It is recommended to apply the toner containing Witch Hazel and Alpha Arbutin first, after cleansing. This prepares the skin and ensures the toner's ingredients, including Alpha Arbutin, are applied to clean skin. Follow with the Vitamin C E Ferulic serum. This order is generally effective and allows each product to work optimally.
Mixing Green Tea Extract with Vitamin C E Ferulic Serum: It is generally not recommended to mix Green Tea Extract (such as Hi-EGCG™) directly into the Vitamin C E Ferulic serum. The description for some Green Tea Extracts indicates they should not be used in formulations containing Vitamin E, which is present in the Vitamin C E Ferulic serum. Mixing them might affect the stability or reduce the effectiveness of one or both ingredients.
Using Green Tea Extract in Body Lotion: Yes, this is a good alternative use for Green Tea Extract. You can mix Green Tea Extract into a body lotion. For liquid extracts like Hi-EGCG™, the recommended usage rate is typically 1-5%. For powder forms like Pure-EGCG™, the rate is usually 0.1-2%. Mix it into your lotion during the final step if formulating from scratch, or mix a small amount into your ready-made body lotion right before application.