Can BHAs be used with retinol?
It’s completely normal to feel a bit like a mad scientist when using skincare. If you’ve been in this space for a while, you’ll probably be more confident about which ingredients work together. But if you’re new, don’t worry because today we’re going to cover whether or not you can use BHAs with retinol.
Let’s quickly review the benefits you can expect from using BHAs and retinol in your daily skincare routine.
What is a BHA?
The most commonly used BHA, also known as beta hydroxy acid, is salicylic acid, which is derived from willow bark. Many people with oily and blemish-prone skin love it because it removes dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria, and debris from the surface of the skin. It’s also one of the smallest acids in molecular size and is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deep into the pores to remove excess sebum or impurities that can cause skin blemishes like blackheads and acne. Due to the high efficacy of this chemical peel, it’s best used with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid. If you want to learn more about BHAs, especially salicylic acid, check out The Beauty Insiders’ blog post on their benefits.
What is Retinol?
One of the most effective and widely used ingredients in skin care, it’s a favorite among experts. Also known as Vitamin A, one of its main benefits is its ability to boost skin cell turnover. This helps improve fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture, dark spots, and breakouts. As you can see, retinol is a very versatile ingredient, but it’s also known to cause dryness and short-term side effects like itchy, flaking skin. That’s why you need to introduce retinol into your daily routine slowly and correctly to avoid severe irritation and possible damage. For more information on retinol and its skincare benefits, check out the blog.
Can Salicylic Acid Be Used with Retinol?
The short answer is yes, but make sure you use it correctly. You should avoid layering these two powerhouses because they don’t blend well with each other. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to use them in your daily routine, just use them at the best time of day.
Many skin care experts recommend using products like toner or cleanser with salicylic acid in your morning routine. Just make sure you finish your daily sunscreen routine. You can then continue to use your retinol product at night, also because retinol is known to lose its effectiveness when exposed to the sun.
If you want to use salicylic acid at night, you can, but you just need to think about it a little more to avoid adverse reactions. Ideally, you should wait at least 30 minutes between each application to allow the skin’s surface pH to balance and prepare for the next step in your skincare regimen.
Can I exfoliate with retinol?
No, it is best to avoid exfoliation when using retinol. The additional chemical and physical exfoliation of the skin, followed by the use of retinol, strips the skin of its oils. Once the skin has experienced this deprivation, it panics and starts overproducing sebum (the skin’s natural oil). Excessive sebum can cause acne breakouts and lead to an imbalance in your skin type.
Fortunately, it is recommended to use retinol every other night, so you can exfoliate on the nights when you don’t use retinol. However, I still recommend consulting your doctor or dermatologist before using new ingredients and products in your daily routine to avoid any adverse reactions.
Can salicylic acid and retinol be used on the same day?
Yes, you can, but remember to plan the application carefully. As I mentioned before, you should alternate between the two ingredients to get the benefits of using both. Since retinol should not be used during the day, consider using a cleanser or toner with salicylic acid in your morning skincare routine.
Pay attention to how your skin feels. If dryness or irritation occurs and a hyaluronic acid serum doesn’t provide relief it’s best to seek advice from a trained professional or medical professional.
What Not to Mix with Salicylic Acid?
There are many skincare ingredients that should not be mixed with salicylic acid, such as: b.
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Benzoyl Peroxide
Retinol/Retinoids
Tretinoin
Vitamin C
Just to clarify what I mentioned before: Not being able to mix any of these ingredients with salicylic acid doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them in your daily routine. If you leave at least 30 minutes between applications or use them at different times of the day, you’ll reap the rewards.
Which is Better, Retinol or Salicylic Acid?
Both ingredients are impressive and effective in fighting blemishes and breakouts, but at the same time they work on the skin in slightly different ways. You’ll find that both reach the lower layers of the epidermis, with retinol boosting collagen and elastin production, while salicylic acid fights clogged pores.
If you want to fight the signs of aging, retinol is the best ingredient to fight all of them. For all the issues related to acne and pimples, salicylic acid can easily get rid of pimples and the bacteria that cause them. Deciding which ingredient you prefer and which one is better for your skin depends on your personal preferences and the skin issues you want to treat.
That’s it, hopefully you now know a little more about whether you can use BHA with retinol. If you have any further questions, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
