patp79•25d ago

That stubborn mask reaction took me 3 hours to figure out...

Had a client break out in hives after a vitamin C mask last Tuesday and couldn't find the cause... turned out I'd left a new hydrating serum on her skin underneath that she never reacted to before, but mixing them created a chemical reaction. Has anyone else run into product combos going bad like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

kai65725d ago

I get where you're coming from but I actually see that situation a little differently. "A chemical reaction" sounds scary but most vitamin C and hydrating serums are totally fine together, it's more about the specific ingredients in that particular serum. Could be something basic like the pH being way off or even a contamination issue with the mask itself. I'd look closer at the preservative system or maybe check if the client was on any new medications first before blaming the combo.

kevin21825d ago

Your pH theory makes sense..." My friend runs a small spa and had this happen with a pumpkin enzyme mask she'd used for years. One day a regular client got red and blotchy after it, nothing changed on her end. Turned out the supplier switched the base formula and the new batch had a much lower pH than the old one. The mask was still within range for that type of product, but it was way more acidic than what the client's skin was used to. Took her two weeks and three angry clients to figure out it was a formula change, not a bad reaction to the pumpkin itself.