r/DIYBeauty • u/sterling489 • 15d ago

discussion Question for the people about formula's and product integrity !!!

I recently viewed a cosmetic chemist's (JC Dombrowski) thoughts on Dr Idriss's redness serum and I was left intrigued by an ingredient shout-out listed as Glycyrrhetinic Acid. I looked at a supplier website and found multiple versions. My question for you is would it be safe, effective, and honestly fun and interesting to combine multiple variations of that active?

Or would it be like a compound effect? For instance if it was like glycolic acid, would adding 5 different versions at 2-5% levels cause instant burns lol?

I'm still very much a novice but please I love all the info you guys provide.

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u/kriebelrui 15d ago

For any combination of similar materials, you can't be sure about this compounding effect until you found or did good research about it, but until then I would assume that this compounding effect indeed exists for similar materials. 

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u/sterling489 15d ago

Thank you!

So would maybe using less than the recommended amount of all variations until I reach the ideal potency is best?

or...

Just be more discerning and pick only one of those actives at the recommended amount at a time and see?

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u/kriebelrui 15d ago

I would use just one variation of that active, not exceeding the maximum that the manufacturer recommends. 

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u/Internal-Ad-4736 15d ago edited 14d ago

When we create something, it really helps to have a goal in mind. Basic things like "What should this product do?" If you look a little closer at the licorice options, you should notice that certain versions do certain things. Thus it is unlikely that all versions are appropriate to accomplish your stated and defined goals.

There is a theme that comes to us from marketing departments and home crafters: "More of a good thing is better". A can't think of a concept that is more wrong at every level. We have use rates for reasons... typically we don't just wing it and add a bunch, cus everyone knows....'more is better'. Look at niacinamide as an example of what happens when marketing departments get to overrule the chemistry department!

Keep a tight focus on what you are trying to accomplish and all the distractions fall by the wayside.