Under 18: don’t stack acids and serums

In India, many teens copy multi-step acid and serum stacks from social media. More products is not faster clear skin — it often means a damaged barrier that looks oilier and angrier.

Steps (safer default)

1. Pick one gentle cleanser — once at night; morning rinse with water is fine if you are dry or tight.
2. Use one moisturiser you tolerate (fragrance-light if possible).
3. Use sunscreen every outdoor morning — full face amount (see SPF guide).
4. Do not add AHA, BHA, retinol, or strong vitamin C the same month unless a clinician guides you.
5. If you already bought an active: use it alone, 1–2 nights a week max, never with another exfoliant the same night — and stop if burn persists.

Side effects of stacking actives

• Common after over-exfoliation: tightness, shine with dehydration, flaking, stinging water or moisturiser.
• Common: more breakouts while the barrier is angry (not always “purging”).
• Stop now: swelling, hives, cracked bleeding skin, eye swelling — seek care.

Tips

• Hard water + harsh foam cleanser twice daily is already a lot — fix that before any serum.
• Look Day in the app: log sting and shine for a week so you see patterns without guessing.