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What to mix, what to keep apart
Straight answers on combining actives, what layers fine, what belongs in separate routines, and which famous conflicts nobody ever checked.
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01 · 22 guides
Face measurements
What each facial measurement actually is, how it is measured, what the ranges mean, and what genuinely changes it.
Brow positionRelative to the rimCanthal tilt0°–8° typicalChin projectionJudged in profileConvex vs straightMostly mildly convexDeep set vs hoodedDepth vs skin foldEye spacingAbout one eye widthFacial symmetryAsymmetry is normalFacial thirdsRoughly equalfWHRRoughly 1.7–2.0Golden ratio facePoorly supportedGonial angle110°–130° typicalHunter eyesNot an anatomical termPupillary distanceRoughly 54–74 mmLower thirdRoughly one to twoMaxillaFixed in adultsMidface ratioNear 1.0 typicalNeotenyDescriptive, not a scoreNose to lip ratioAbout 1.5xOgee curveThree-quarter view onlyPhiltrum lengthLengthens with ageFacial dimorphismAverages overlapUpper eyelid exposureHighly variable
Do your facial analysis →02 · 45 guides
Mixing ingredients
What can be layered, what should be split between morning and night, and which "conflicts" are myths.
Azelaic Acid + Benzoyl Peroxideworkable with careAzelaic Acid + Copper Peptidesworkable with careAzelaic Acid + Glycolic Acidworkable with careAzelaic Acid + Hyaluronic Acidfine togetherAzelaic Acid + Niacinamidefine togetherAzelaic Acid + Peptidesfine togetherAzelaic Acid + Retinolworkable with careAzelaic Acid + Salicylic Acidworkable with careAzelaic Acid + Vitamin Cfine togetherBenzoyl Peroxide + Copper Peptidesbest separatedBenzoyl Peroxide + Hyaluronic Acidfine togetherBenzoyl Peroxide + Niacinamidefine togetherBenzoyl Peroxide + Peptidesworkable with careBenzoyl Peroxide + Retinolbest separatedBenzoyl Peroxide + Vitamin Cbest separatedCopper Peptides + Hyaluronic Acidfine togetherCopper Peptides + Niacinamidefine togetherCopper Peptides + Peptidesfine togetherCopper Peptides + Retinolworkable with careCopper Peptides + Vitamin Cbest separatedGlycolic Acid + Benzoyl Peroxideworkable with careGlycolic Acid + Copper Peptidesbest separatedGlycolic Acid + Hyaluronic Acidfine togetherGlycolic Acid + Peptidesworkable with careGlycolic Acid + Retinolbest separatedGlycolic Acid + Salicylic Acidworkable with careGlycolic Acid + Vitamin Cworkable with careHyaluronic Acid + Peptidesfine togetherHyaluronic Acid + Retinolfine togetherHyaluronic Acid + Vitamin Cfine togetherNiacinamide + Glycolic Acidworkable with careNiacinamide + Hyaluronic Acidfine togetherNiacinamide + Peptidesfine togetherNiacinamide + Retinolfine togetherNiacinamide + Salicylic Acidfine togetherNiacinamide + Vitamin Ca mythPeptides + Retinolfine togetherPeptides + Vitamin Cworkable with careRetinol + Vitamin Cbest separatedSalicylic Acid + Benzoyl Peroxideworkable with careSalicylic Acid + Copper Peptidesbest separatedSalicylic Acid + Hyaluronic Acidfine togetherSalicylic Acid + Peptidesworkable with careSalicylic Acid + Retinolbest separatedSalicylic Acid + Vitamin Cworkable with care
Check your whole routine →03 · 10 guides
Telling them apart
Two things that look alike and need opposite treatment. What separates them, and when to stop guessing.
Damaged barrier vs sensitive skinRecent vs lifelongDehydrated vs dry skinWater, not oilDehydration lines vs wrinklesFade in daysFungal vs bacterial acneUniform and itchyMelasma vs hyperpigmentationSymmetric patchesMilia vs whiteheadsHard and fixedPurging vs breakoutSame spots, fasterRosacea vs acneNo blackheadsFilaments vs blackheadsUniform and normalTexture vs acne scarsSurface vs fixed
Test your skin →04 · 10 guides
Building a routine
Order, timing, and how to add an active without wrecking your barrier.
Beginner routineThree stepsDouble cleansingOnly when neededTime to results8 to 12 weeksSunscreen amountQuarter teaspoonPatch testingFive to seven daysStarting retinolLow and slowMorning vs nightProtect, then repairSkin cyclingFour-night cycleRoutine orderThin to thickSluggingNot for acne-prone
Build your routine →05 · 12 guides
Color & tone
Undertone, depth, and the colors that follow from them.
Color seasonsStyling frameworkFitzpatrick scaleSun response scaleFoundation matchingTwo things to matchHair colorUndertone plus contrastFind your seasonThree questionsFind your undertoneTone moves, undertone staysLip colorUndertone then intensityMonk skin tone scale10-point tone scaleNeutral undertoneWarm and cool balancedOlive undertoneGreen cast presentVein testUnreliable methodWarm vs coolHue, not depth
Find your tone →06 · 10 guides
Acne face map
What breakouts in each zone are usually caused by, what the folklore gets wrong, and what to do about that spot.
Back and chest acneSweat and frictionPimple between eyebrowsOil and productsPimple on cheeksContact acnePimple on chinHormonal or frictionPimple on foreheadHair and productsPimple on hairlineBuildup and sweatPimple on jawlineHormonal patternPimple on lip lineBalm or cold sorePimple on noseOil, not organsPimple on templesContact and product
Check your acne →07 · 8 guides
Does it actually work?
Popular techniques measured against the evidence, including the ones that can hurt you.
Face exercisesWeak evidenceBone smashingDoes not workChewing gum for jawlineWidth, not definitionFace and mouth tapingUnsupported, riskyJaw exercisersOverclaimed, riskyMewingUnproven for adultsSkin icingTemporary effectBuccal fat removalPermanent, irreversible
Do your facial analysis →