The Selkia Skincare Routine Guide

Selkia was created to play nice with others. Our formulas are built on natural, bioactive ingredients chosen not only for their efficacy, but for how well they complement the products you already love. Whether you use prescription actives, other treatment serums, or keep things minimal, Selkia integrates seamlessly without conflict.

Every product is designed to protect, renew, and restore the skin barrier, with gentle but effective botanicals that work in rhythm with your skin. Some treatments, like Éclipse Overnight Mask and Protéger Bioactive Oil, are best alternated with stronger actives, while daily essentials like Apaiser Tonic and Réveiller Eye Serum can be used every morning and evening for steady care.

This guide shows how to layer Selkia into your AM and PM rituals, how to alternate treatments for best results, and how to adjust for skin type and season. The result: a refined, flexible routine that works in harmony with your skin and with your lifestyle.

Selkia Skincare Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Can I mix Selkia with other brands?
Yes. Selkia was designed to “play nice” with other produts. Our bioactive and botanical ingredients are chosen for compatibility. You can integrate Selkia alongside prescription treatments, dermatologist serums, or other favourites without conflict.

2. Can I use Selkia with acids (AHA, BHA, PHA, Vitamin C)?
Yes, but not all at once. Use Apaiser Tonic or Éclipse Overnight Mask on nights when you are not using strong acids, as these formulas already contain fruit acids. Alternate nights to avoid over-exfoliation. 

3. Can I use Selkia with retinoids (retinol, retinal, tretinoin)?
Yes. Protéger Bioactive Oil contains bakuchiol and rosehip, which act like gentler retinoids. Do not layer directly with prescription tretinoin or strong retinol/retinal in the same routine; alternate nights to reduce irritation. Éclipse Mask should also be alternated, not layered, as it contains natural fruit acids and rosehip oil.

4. What skin type is Selkia designed for?
Our range is formulated for all skin types, including sensitive and mature skin. Products can be adjusted seasonally, Balm for drier months, Oil for lightweight hydration in warmer weather, making Selkia adaptable across oily, dry, or combination skin.

5. Which products can I use every day?
Your daily anchors are: Aloes Doux Cleanser, Reparation Balm, Réveiller Eye Serum, and either Protéger Bioactive Oil or Luminosité Dry Oil depending on your skin’s needs. Always finish with SPF in the AM.

6. Why does Selkia have just one cleanser?
Cleansing should be effective yet non-stripping. Our Aloes Doux Cleanser is aloe-based, not water-based, making it concentrated, hydrating, and suitable for all skin types without the need for multiple variations.

7. Which Selkia products pair well together?

• Protéger Bioactive Oil → works beautifully with hydrating serums, peptides, and antioxidant formulas.
• Éclipse Overnight Mask → best paired with hydrating layers, not acids or retinoids.
• Luminosité Dry Oil → perfect under SPF in the AM or layered lightly over Balm at night.

8. What are the different types of retinoids?

• Prescription: Tretinoin, the strongest, works fastest but is the most irritating.
• Over-the-Counter: Retinol (gentle, slower to act), Retinal/Retinaldehyde (more potent, closer to prescription strength), and Retinyl esters (the mildest, least effective).
  Selkia’s Protéger Bioactive Oil includes bakuchiol and rosehip oil, plant-based retinoid alternatives that provide renewal without the irritation of traditional retinoids.

9. Why can’t I use the Éclipse Overnight Mask with retinoids?
Éclipse already contains gentle fruit acids and rosehip oil, which is naturally rich in vitamin A. Adding prescription tretinoin or strong retinol on the same night can overwhelm your skin, leading to irritation or dryness. It’s safer (and more effective) to alternate Éclipse nights with retinoid nights.

10. Why shouldn’t I use acids and retinoids together?

Both acids and retinoids work by speeding up cell turnover, but they use different mechanisms. When used together in the same routine, they can strip too many layers at once, causing:

• Dryness & irritation
• Compromised skin barrier
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight

That’s why dermatologists recommend alternating nights: acids on one night, retinoids (retinol, retinal, or prescription tretinoin) on another. This way you get all the benefits without the risk of overdoing it.

Understanding Acids in Skincare

Acids sound scary, but in skincare they’re some of the most effective tools we have. Each type has a different role:

1. AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) → e.g. Glycolic, Lactic, Mandelic

• Water-soluble, exfoliate the skin’s surface
• Help with dullness, fine lines, uneven tone
• Best for dry or mature skin (hydrating as well as exfoliating)

2. BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) → e.g. Salicylic Acid

• Oil-soluble, penetrates into pores
• Helps unclog blackheads, reduce breakouts, calm redness
• Best for oily or acne-prone skin

3. PHA (Polyhydroxy Acids) → e.g. Gluconolactone, Lactobionic Acid

• Larger molecules, very gentle
• Hydrate while exfoliating lightly
• Best for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin

4. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

• Brightens, fights pigmentation, supports collagen
• Powerful antioxidant that pairs well with sunscreen in the AM

5. Azelaic Acid

• Anti-inflammatory, helps with acne, redness, rosacea, pigmentation
• Very well tolerated compared to AHAs/BHAs

Why Your Selkia Treatments Matter

Éclipse Overnight Mask and Protéger Bioactive Oil are designed to be your at-home treatment partners.

Éclipse Overnight Mask works like a reset button: niacinamide, gentle fruit acids, and botanicals refine, hydrate, and strengthen while you sleep. Think of it as a professional-style treatment, but one you can do safely at home a few times a week.

Protéger Bioactive Oil delivers plant-based renewal with bakuchiol and rosehip oil (both rich in natural vitamin A). This gives your skin many of the benefits of retinoids, smoother texture, fewer fine lines without the irritation that often comes with prescriptions.

Together, they alternate to keep your skin in balance: one night deeply renewing, the next night replenishing and soothing.

Why a Routine Matters

Your skin thrives on rhythm. Just like sleep or diet, consistency is what delivers results. A routine helps your skin adjust, repair, and stay balanced over time. Switching products too often or overloading with actives can disrupt your barrier.

By following a steady Selkia routine—cleanse, hydrate, treat, protect—you build healthier, stronger skin day by day. And when paired with SPF in the morning, you’re giving your skin the very best chance to stay radiant, resilient, and calm at every age.