Protocol-Lab

Discover answers to your skincare queries with our comprehensive FAQ. Learn expert tips, product insights, and solutions for radiant, healthy skin. Explore common concerns and make informed decisions for your skincare routine.

Your Ultimate Skincare Guide: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

How to know your skin type?

Why is retinol yellow?

What is retinol?

What is vitamin C?

What’s retinol and what is it doing in skincare?

What is niacinamide?

What is AHA?

Why don't you have eye creams/serums?

What are skincare holidays or courses?

Is natural skincare good for you?

Do you have any tips when choosing natural skincare products?

Are natural skincare ingredients safer than synthetics?

What is natural skincare?

What are the problems with natural skincare?

How to choose safe natural skincare products?

What is skincare pilling, exactly?

Why is my skincare pilling?

How to stop skincare pilling

Does pilling decrease the effectiveness of my skincare?

What's behind skincare plateaus?

What is the 1% line in skincare?

Beginners

What is hyaluronic acid?

How do retinol and hyaluronic acid compare?

What are the benefits of using hyaluronic acid and retinol together?

When to see a doctor if you experience a reaction to your patch test?

Should you patch test for acne?

What are other skin patch testing considerations?

What are the skincare products we recommend you avoid?

How to patch test skincare for sensitivity or allergy?

How will you know if you’re reacting to a product?

Which ingredients are most likely to cause reactions?

Retinal or retinol - which is better?

How does retinal work in skincare?

Does Retinal have any potential side effects?

What are the things to consider when buying over the counter Retinol?

What is over-the-counter retinol?

Why retinal is the best form of vitamin A, and exactly how it works in skincare, especially in comparison to retinol and retinoic acid.

Basic Skincare Routine Steps by The Protocol Lab

What order should I use my skincare in?

What's the importance of knowing your skin concerns/skin type?

Is it safe to use retinol and hyaluronic acid together?

What are the main types of Skin?

What skincare ingredients can not be used in the same skincare session?

What is the correct way to apply serum?

What do serums do to the skin?

What are blackheads?

How to tell if I have blackheads or sebaceous filaments?

Sebaceous filaments vs blackheads: key differences

What are sebaceous filaments?

What causes sebaceous filaments?

What are ways to get rid of sebaceous filaments?

Can you get rid of sebaceous filaments for good?

Does salicylic acid help sebaceous filaments?

Can I “pluck” sebaceous filaments?

What’s the difference between blackheads and SFs?

Sebaceous filaments: friend or foe?

Skin Education

How to use retinol and hyaluronic acid together in your Protocol routine

Which do you apply first, retinol or hyaluronic acid?

What retinol and vitamin C are doing in your skincare

What are the benefits of using both vitamin C and retinol

How to use retinol and vitamin C together?

Which is better, retinol or vitamin C?

Do I use vitamin C or retinol first?

When should I apply serums, day or night?

Do I use moisturizer or serum first?

How long should I wait to apply moisturizer after serum?

How do I use serum and toner together?

How do I use multiple serums in my routine?

Skincare Routine

What’s makes moisturizers different?

Understanding Water Lock

When to use our Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Hydration Cream vs Water Lock

Understanding the Hydration Cream

How to use Water Lock and/or Hydration Cream

How to use Water Lock or Hydration Cream

What's the difference between Water Lock vs. Hydration Cream?

Moisturizers

What is skin dehydration?

What causes skin dehydration?

What are the signs your skin is dehydrated?

What does dehydration looks like in different skin types?

Will drinking water hydrate my skin?

How to deal with dehydration

What is dry skin?

What causes dry skin?

What are the signs of dry skin?

What are the concerns of having a dry skin?

What are the best skincare products for dry Skin?

What are the best skincare ingredients for dry skin?

What skincare ingredients to avoid for dry skin?

Dry Winter Skin Care Tips

How can I tell the difference between dryness and dehydration?

What’s transepidermal water loss (TEWL)?

What causes TEWL?

How to know if you’re experiencing TEWL?

What is the method used to fix TEWL?

What are Moisturizers that help prevent TEWL?

Does Soak and seal help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Does Moisturizing regularly help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Does less cleansing help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Does gentle chemical exfoliation help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Does quick, cool showers help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Does sunscreen help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Can Hydrating toners or serums help fix Dehydrated Skin?

How does Water Lock help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Does gentle cleansers help fix Dehydrated Skin?

What products help fix Dehydrated Skin?

Why molecular weight matters?

What are the benefits of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid?

How do high vs low molecular weight hyaluronic acid compare?

How to hydrate the skin, then?

Dehydration/Dryness

What are the considerations when shopping for hyaluronic acid and retinol products?

How to Check Skincare Expiration Dates

What signs should I look for to determine if my skincare products have expired?

What is a PAO symbol?

How to check the expiration date and batch number of your products

What factors impact cosmetic expiration dates?

Is it okay to use expired skincare?

What is patch testing in skincare?

Safety

How to get rid of pimples safely?

What’s the fastest way to heal a popped pimple?

Why Do Pimples Form?

What to avoid if you have acne-prone skin

What are good active ingredients for acne-prone skin?

How to choose skincare products for acne-prone skin

How long does a popped pimple take to heal?

How to hide a popped pimple

How to heal your popped pimple

What to avoid when healing a popped pimple

How to pop a pimple safely

How to get rid of pimples overnight

What to avoid when you have a pimple

What are the key aspects to comprehend about popped pimples?

What can I put on a popped pimple overnight?

What causes acne?

How to introduce new products safely to acne-prone skin?

What could be a good example routine for acne-prone skin?

When to see a doctor for acne treatment?

What is purging?

What does purging skin look like and how to treat it?

Which ingredients cause purging?

Whats the difference between Purging vs breakouts vs irritation?

For how long will my skin purging last?

Can you stop skin purging?

What are other caring tips for acne-prone skin?

Acne-Prone

What is oily skin?

Signs of oily skin?

What causes oily skin?

What are the concerns of having oily skin?

Best skincare products for oily skin?

What is a sample skincare routine for oily skin?

How to stop your skin from getting oily throughout the day

Oily Skin

What is combination skin?

What are the signs you have combination skin?

Any example skincare routine for combination skin?

What are the best skincare products for combination skin?

What are the concerns of combination skin?

What are the basics of caring for combination skin?

What causes combination skin?

What to avoid if I have combination skin?

Do I need a toner for combination skin?

Combination Skin

What is sensitive skin?

What are the signs you have sensitive skin?

How to introduce new skincare safely?

What are the ingredients to avoid for sensitive skin?

What are the best skincare products for sensitive skin?

What's an example routine for sensitive skin?

Is retinol safe for sensitive skin?

What is the best retinol for sensitive skin?

How to use retinol for sensitive skin?

What percentage of retinol is best for sensitive skin?

Sensitive Skin

Are your products safe for sensitive skin and rosacea?

Can the Renewing Line be used with other products?

Do you offer samples?

Can I use your products if I am pregnant or nursing?

Is the packaging recyclable?

I misplaced the instruction insert for the products. Can you provide the product instructions again?

Who owns Protocol Skincare, and is it independently owned?

What is the history behind Protocol Lab?

Does Protocol Skincare have a mission statement?

What is the philosophy and values behind Protocol Skincare?

Has Protocol Skincare received any awards or recognition?

How does the Protocol Club Rewards Program work, and are there referral benefits?

Can I return products to the Los Angeles lab, and what is the process for replacements?

Do you provide full refunds, and how does the refund process work?

What is the 60 Day Results Guarantee, and how can I qualify for a refund under this guarantee?

All articles

Categories

Beginners

Skin Education

Skincare Routine

Moisturizers

Dehydration/Dryness

Safety

Acne-Prone

Oily Skin

Combination Skin

Sensitive Skin

Protocol Skincare Brand Information

Buying Guide

Men

Anti-Aging

Sunscreen

Myth Busting

DIY Skincare

Slugging

Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum

Vitamin C Superserum

Water Lock

Hyaluronic Acid & Niacinamide Hydration Cream

Double Alpha Hydroxy Cleanser with Green Tea Extract and Aloe

Shipping