A few discussion questions: In your experience, what acid products give you the most exfoliation with the least irritation/dryness? BHAs work deeper in the pore, AHAs more on the surface. The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution and following it with the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. Active vitamin A (retinoic acid) is prescription-only, but retinol is available over-the-counter. Doing so reveals fresher, refined skin that appears much smoother, is more hydrated, and, over time, becomes visibly … BHA work deeper and are really good at fixing texture, acne etc. She added that for at-home use, lactic acid products should be about 10 percent or less, with a pH of around 3.5 to 4. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are the most common and effective AHAs. You should not be using glycolic acid with other exfoliating acids including salicylic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, etc, as these are also powerful exfoliating ingredients that when combined together can wreck your skin … The AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) family includes glycolic acid and lactic acid, while there's just one BHA (beta-hydroxy acid), salicylic acid. Additionally, using mandelic acid to treat acne can have significantly fewer side effects such as inflammatory reactions as well as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Keep out of your mouth, nose, and eyes (may burn). Or you could apply one in the morning and one in the evening. Just be careful not to over exfoliate as you will compromise your skin barrier. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Lactic acid is useless to you so return it if you can. Lactic acid is an AHA and salicylic acid is a BHA. It’s also an anti-inflammatory and will help to dry up excess oil (for some, it is too drying) and exfoliate the skin. In this article, we’ll take a closer look and answer some common questions about lactic acid and salicylic acid … You should be able to find a lot more info if you start googling AHAs vs BHAs to decide which you need, but yes, you can use both! Lactic acid helps to loosen the bonds that hold dead skin cells together so that they can slough off more easily and encourage cellular turnover. Before putting salicylic acid and lactic acid on, take off the … Using a low concentration acid, either lactic or glycolic acid, over the course of 6-8 weeks can give you incredible results comparable to a high concentration solution of just glycolic acid. Lactic acid can made both naturally and synthetically, so it can be vegan but that changes from product to product. If you’re going to use them together, apply the SA first where it’s needed and let it dry. BHAs work deeper in the pore, AHAs more on the surface. What's your HG acid product? What frequency of use works best for you? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We need exfoliants. Salicylic acid is a Beta Hydroxy Acid which works on deep level, deeper than lactic acid, to fight the appearance of blemishes. Nip&Fab Glycolic Fix pads (both daily cleansing with 2.5% Glycolic acid and Night Extreme with 5% Glycolic acid and salicylic acid): The day pads didn't really do a lot for me, probably about the level of the lactic acid serum, they were ok but not my favorite. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. ... then hyaluronic acid. Follow it with vitamin C. You can use hyaluronic acid in the evening before moisturiser. I even consulted with Dr. Leslie Baumann who said “Retinoids should not be mixed with BHA (salicylic acid) or AHA (glycolic acid) because the BHA and AHA can inactivate the retinoid. The most commonly utilized AHAs include lactic, glycolic, citric and mandelic, while salicylic acid represents the only BHA. Use it every morning after cleansing. Preferably alternate days. “For acne- or oily-prone skin, using a cleanser or toner with glycolic and salicylic acid daily will help prevent the build-up of dead skin cells and reduce congestion,” said Barankin. You should be able to find a lot more info if you start googling AHAs vs BHAs to decide which you need, but yes, you can use both! level 1. inkovic. The Ordinary has taken the skin care world by storm, with products formulated with high quality ingredients at bargain basement prices. What characteristics do you look for? Retinol is a member of the retinoid family of vitamin A and vitamin A derivatives. A better option would be to use retinol 3 nights in a row followed by 1 night of salicylic acid. Lactic acid is said to work best at a lower pH, Emma Hobson, education manager for Dermalogica and the International Dermal Institute, told Harper’s Bazaar in 2018. When the two active ingredients are used together, they can cause excessive dryness, redness and irritation. Figured no issue. Facial Cleanser with Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid : Curious about facial cleansers with salicylic acid and lactic acid? I used to use TO Lactic acid and glycolic acid together in the PM for a few weeks. The Verdict. Use on your skin only. BHAs are pH 3 whilst AHAs are pH 3-4 so you go lower pH to higher. What are the differing features? This one is an important one for me to write as I see salicylic and lactic acid being bunched together quite a lot because of their popularity in oily, acne-prone skincare but there is an intricate … ... (glycolic + salicylic, glycolic + lactic, etc.) I'm most interested in hearing from people who have a fair amount of experience with acids, as well as people with sensitive, dry, or dehydration-prone skin. For Mandelic Acid try: Garden of Wisdom Mandelic Acid 10% Serum, £9, Victoria Health. AHAs promotes skin turnover which speeds up the effects of other actives, heals scarring and hyperpigmentation. What skincare goals are you trying to address with acids? Evening routine: - Remove makeup with micellar water - CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser - Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion (5 times a week) - Lactic Acid 5% + HA (2 times a week) - CeraVe Moisturising Cream. But until then, use salicylic acid ONLY. Vitamin C is effectively an acid (it’s sometimes known as ascorbic acid), so layering it with AHAs and BHAs like glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids is a big no-no. Thanks :). AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) exfoliate the surface layer of the skin. For your skin type, salicylic acid is all you need. Stronger and better, together. So you only use SA on targeted areas, not all over the face? Salicylic acid is the most common and strongest BHA, while betaine salicylate is an … Lactic acid is an AHA and salicylic acid is a BHA. When using AHAs, use Sunscreen daily, up to 3 days after discontinuing use - though you should use sunscreen everyday regardless. Salicylic acid has the ability to bind to oil and so is able to break through the buildup of bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells in the pore lining and dissolve it, which unclogs pores and can help … I stopped after my skin became irritated and my pores looked larger instead of smaller. It isn’t necessary to use an AHA exfoliant with lactic acid and one with glycolic acid, though some products combine these ingredients to great effect.” Ole Henriksen, Lemon Strip Flash Peel, $64. There’s only one BHA and that’s salicylic acid, which comes from the bark of the willow tree. If hyperpigmentation is a concern, AFTER you’re cleared up your acne, you can substitute glycolic for salicylic to help the dark spots fade away faster. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. The type of sunscreen you use can affect your skin care routine. And it matches well with salicylic acid because “they both work toward the same end goal of treating pigmentation and evening skin tone,” says Tiffany Libby, MD, a fellow NYC derm. What products (and what ways of using those products) have you found to exfoliate most effectively, while being relatively easy for your skin to handle? If you have never used it before, it will have next-day results. Additionally, the notable difference between salicylic acid and mandelic acid is the lack of post-inflammatory erythema that often accompanies skin treatments with mandelic acid. As mentioned above, retinol can be too much when paired with acids, but be wary of layering them with vitamin C, too. Can attest to this. If they had roughly the same free acid value, would you prefer a product with a higher pH and higher % of acid, or a lower-pH product with a lower percentage? BHA first, then AHA. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the SkincareAddiction community, Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. (AKA L-ascorbic acid.) I've been following this regime … Can you use both in your routine or only one? What about blends of acids, like glycolic+salicylic? Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, for example. Both of these acids can work wonders for your skin over time, making a difference that you can actually see. Then apply the lactic acid all over your face, neck and décolletage. "You could also use acids in a mask form (R29 recommends Tata Harper's Clarifying Mask, £59) while using a retinol night treatment as the acid isn’t being left on the skin. And every once in a while (once every 2-3 weeks) I use the Salicylic Acid 2% Masque. It’s also really unstable, so any acids you layer it with will destabilise the pH balance and render it completely useless before it even has chance to work its magic. Does pH make a difference to you? An acid is still an acid, even when it gets a glow-y makeover and rebrands itself as a vitamin. Dr. Shah says that salicylic acid is best for people with oily and acne-prone skin, but people with sensitive skin should it use with caution since it can be drying. I read lactic is for evening skin tone whereas salicylic is to stop pimple formation. They can definitely bith be part of your routine. Do not take salicylic acid and lactic acid by mouth. Either way, you get flake-free skin. If you want to finish it, I’d say use it it in the morning and exfoliate at night. With salicylic acid being present in the formula at high concentration, combining it with other acidic and high strength formula may increase the sensitivity of the skin. While I amassed quite a haul from the brand, today’s skin care review focuses on two items – The Ordinary 10% Lactic Acid + HA 2% and the 10% Azelaic Acid, because you can … They declined to tell me the percentage of niacinamide, but it is second on the ingredients list! For a Citric Acid AHA mix try: REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask, £36, Feel Unique. I started off using them on different days, but you can do them on the same day if you wanted to. And for the evening routine, you alternate between your retinol and salicylic acid serum. Wash your hands before and after use. Now i use glycolic acid only once or twice a week and never with the lactic acid. Right now I am using: -Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (for a few months) -Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA (few weeks) -Lactic Acid 5% + HA (used twice) -CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (a month) -Murad Salicylic acid Acne Spot Treatment (few months) -I also own buffet but saw it shouldn’t be used with lactic acid. Find patient medical information for salicylic acid and lactic acid in collodion topical on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings. If you decide to combine this masque with other direct acids, we recommend you perform a patch test of the combination prior to full facial application. combining acids can be irritating, cause dryness, and weaken your skin barrier. SHOP NOW BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids) exfoliate the skin surface as well as deep inside the pores. In fact, this method can help you manage some less than savory side effects that come with using a high concentration acid … What's your favorite acid and why? “Like mandelic acid … This type of leave-on exfoliant can be alternated with BHA (beta hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid) if so desired. In terms of convenience they were easy but probably wasteful. It’s also a hydrating AHA that is more gentle than glycolic acid, and can help with hyperpigmentation. However, it is not recommended to use both lactic acid and salicylic acid together on dry skin and sensitive skin. But id introduce them very slowly. The concentration of AHAs/BHA there is really low so it won’t do much for you. However, it is not recommended to use both lactic acid and salicylic acid together on dry skin and sensitive skin. Moon Juice Beauty Shroom Exfoliating Acid Potion: A glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid … Tarte Knockout Tingling Treatment: A 10 percent AHA-BHA complex with lactic, citric, malic, salicylic and acetic acids plus gluconolactone. Zap stubborn spots with BHAs. Corsx toner won’t do though. Nanette, I’d use lactic acid on your dark spots and salicylic acid on your breakouts and breakouts-prone areas. Salicylic acid has an affinity for oil so it targets deep into the pores in order to remove any congestion. I have been saying for many years on this blog that you cannot use acids and retinoids together. Got oily skin? Use both, Salicylic Acid first, then the AHA - in this case, Lactic acid. If you haven't found an HG, what would your ideal acid product be like. Because of that, Chang recommended using them at different times of the day or different days of the week. I use both. Awesome, thanks for the detail! Both salicylic acid and retinol are effective in achieving clear and smooth skin. 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