Today, I’m going to introduce you to a hack that helps reduce irritation when incorporating retinoids, azelaic acid, or benzoyl peroxide into your skincare routine. It’s called the Sandwich Method or Moisture Sandwiching.
The idea is to layer your actives in a sandwich-like fashion – applying them not directly onto clean skin but over a layer of basic moisturizing cream or hydrating serum. You can also top it off with another layer of cream. So you get a sandwich with an active ingredient filling: cream → retinol → cream, for example. Yes, this slightly reduces the absorption of active ingredients – and therefore their effectiveness – but it also reduces the likelihood of irritation. I wouldn’t use this method with acids, but for aggressive forms of retinoids (like tretinoin), high concentrations of azelaic acid (15-20%), and benzoyl peroxide, it’s a yes.
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