Can Azelaic Acid and Vitamin C be used together?
Finding the best ingredients that work together can be a little difficult, especially when it comes to vitamin C and azelaic acid, two widely used and beloved ingredients. Both of these powerful acids have earned a loyal following among dermatologists and skincare enthusiasts over the years, but the question we’re asking today is: can you use both together in your daily skincare routine? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to explore today, so let’s dive right in and learn more.
What is Azelaic Acid?
Azelaic acid is popular with dermatologists for its versatility and gentleness on the skin, especially acne-prone skin. Although it actually occurs naturally in the body, you’ll find this acid available from many different natural sources, such as wheat and cereals, as well as synthetically produced ones. This typically results in concentration levels of this acid that reach 15-20% used in professional treatments and products. Over-the-counter products contain a total of 10%, making them a safer option for the skin.
Its versatility is clearly praised for its ability to be mixed into numerous product formulas, from leave-on treatments to gels, creams, and foaming cleansers. All products produce different skin results targeting the same issues.
Key Benefits of Azelaic Acid for Skin: Can gently and effectively exfoliate while penetrating deep into clogged pores without causing skin irritation.
Reduces inflammation and relieves flare-ups caused by red acne and pimples.
Targets annoying pimples caused by Propionibacterium acnes, fighting acne and other breakouts.
Can fight uneven skin tone as it contains an enzyme that prevents post-acne hyperpigmentation.
As gentle as it may be, it is always recommended to consult a doctor so that this ingredient does not harm your skin or cause any adverse skin reactions. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen every day to prevent damage caused by UV rays.
What is Vitamin C?
By now you all know that I love using Vitamin C in my daily skincare routine, and I’m not the only one obsessed with this powerful ingredient! Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, can bring impressive skin results to those suffering from pigmentation issues and other free radical damage such as: B. environmental pollution and UV radiation. It’s no secret that vitamin C has the shortest shelf life in cosmetic formulas, as it loses its potency quickly when exposed to oxygen and UV rays. Luckily, vitamin C products are usually packaged appropriately, giving you plenty of time to use up the product before it oxidizes. If you find this a bit confusing and can’t figure out if your product is safe to use, check out our blog post on how to determine if your vitamin C serum is oxidized.
What shouldn’t you mix with azelaic acid?
Azelaic acid is effective both on its own and in combination with other ingredients, but there are few substances that coordinate well with this acid. You’ll find that soothing and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide, alpha hydroxy acids, and antioxidants work well with azelaic acid. Despite its familiar acid name, azelaic acid isn’t a member of the hydroxyl family. This is the main factor that allows you to combine them with AHAs like lactic and glycolic acids without the added worry of stripping your skin of important oils and water that it needs to stay healthy and function properly. Of course, remember to use the product as directed on the package to avoid breakouts!
I will warn you, though: azelaic acid and salicylic acid don’t mix well! Granted, these acids work slightly differently on the skin, but the combination of these ingredients can still be too much and too irritating for the skin, especially if you have a dry, sensitive skin type that’s prone to skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. It’s best to alternate these ingredients in your daily routine so you can reap the benefits without the side effects.
Ingredients to Avoid When Using Salicylic Acid, Azelaic Acid, BHAs
What Not to Take with Vitamin C?
Since Vitamin C is not stable in skincare, there are a number of ingredients you should avoid when using Vitamin C. These ingredients usually have exfoliating or moisturizing properties, but usually the former AHA or retinol and the latter niacinamide. When it comes to the moisturizing benefits of niacinamide, it’s always a good idea to incorporate it into your skincare routine. However, when combined with Vitamin C, you’ll find that they cancel each other out, rendering them useless. Using Vitamin C and AHAs, BHAs, and retinol together may increase the risk of skin sensitivity, peeling, irritation, and redness. However, if you want to use these ingredients as mentioned earlier, it’s best to alternate them in your daily routine.
Ingredients to Avoid in Vitamin CAHA
BHA
Retinol
Niacinamide
Benzoyl Peroxide
When using a new product in your routine, you should always do a 24-hour patch test to ensure that your skin can tolerate applying the product to other areas of your skin and to ensure that skin irritation does not occur.
Can Azelaic Acid and Vitamin C be used together?
It is well known that using Azelaic Acid and Vitamin C together is completely safe. However, when using these two powerful ingredients together in your skincare routine, many people recommend using Vitamin C in the morning and Azelaic Acid in the evening. This is mainly because Vitamin C is rich in antioxidant properties that can protect the skin barrier from damage caused by free radicals that our skin is exposed to throughout the day. Therefore, it is not necessary to use it at night. However, you will find that your skin benefits from the best of both ingredients without any skin damage or side effects, making it a truly powerful combination!
Should I use Azelaic Acid before or after my moisturizer?
When it comes to azelaic acid, many skin care experts recommend using it after water-based products and before moisturizer. This is because azelaic acid is so effective at eliminating spots and blemishes. Using a moisturizer after applying azelaic acid allows the powerful ingredient to penetrate the lower layers of the skin without having to fight the physical barrier created by the moisturizer you put on your face. I hope this answers most of your questions about azelaic acid and vitamin C and whether they can be used together! If you have any other questions you would like us to discuss, follow us on Instagram like many of you do – we love to hear from you!
Key Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin: Reduces the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation
Powerful antioxidant that fights skin irritation and damage caused by free radicals
Improve the appearance of red marks left by spots and breakouts on the skin
Boosts skin’s resistance to UV radiation so it can better protect itself from the sun
As with all skin care ingredients, we recommend using an SPF sunscreen daily to fully protect your skin from UV radiation and other free radical damage.
