How to Use Azelaic Acid with Retinoic Acid
The ingredients in this blog post are well known in the beauty industry. However, their names and skin benefits may still be unknown to the average person, but don’t worry, that will be clarified by the end of this blog post.
You’ll find a wide variety of skincare products that contain these two powerful ingredients, but the question is how to use azelaic acid with tretinoin together. That’s exactly what we’re going to demystify in today’s blog post, and with any luck, you’ll have a better understanding of how to combine these lesser-known skincare ingredients together and what results you’ll see on your skin.
Can you use tretinoin and azelaic acid together?
Before I tell you the best ways to use tretinoin and azelaic acid together, let’s first take a closer look at the benefits you can expect from using it.
What is tretinoin?
Retinoic acid is a medication, also known as retinoic acid, that is often found in many skincare products to treat acne and sun damage, such as dark spots and hyperpigmentation. You’ll also find that it can fight deeper wrinkles and improve overall skin texture and skin tone. While Retinoic Acid is effective in combating these skin concerns, you need to remember that you need to introduce it slowly into your daily skin care routine.
A common side effect of using any form of Retinoic Acid (also known as Vitamin A) is an increase in flaky, dry patches of skin. This is completely normal for most skin types and is a result of the skin’s tolerance to the power of Retinoic Acid and its skin-boosting benefits. If you’d like to learn more about Retinoic Acid, you can read our dedicated blog post.
What is Azelaic Acid?
Often mistakenly considered a member of the larger family of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), Azelaic Acid is a chemical exfoliant extracted from grains such as barley, wheat and rye. It removes layers of dead skin cells and impurities that often cause your complexion to appear dull, lackluster and often show signs of breakouts.
It’s great for nearly all skin types, especially when combined with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide. Both have impressive hydrating properties, namely that they draw moisture into the skin and lock it in, keeping the skin’s protective barrier hydrated and plumped all day long. This helps combat any potential dryness caused by using azelaic acid in your skin care routine.
When combining azelaic acid and tretinoin, it’s important to use the right combination and the optimal percentages of each formula. For example, many scientific studies have shown that the most effective combination of 20% azelaic acid and 0.05% tretinoin cream can effectively treat melasma and hyperpigmentation. Retinoic acid helps combat pigmentation that causes uneven skin tone, and azelaic acid helps remove dead skin cells from the skin that often make dark spots appear darker. A word of advice: Use this powerful cocktail in your evening skin care routine, as both ingredients increase your skin’s sensitivity to light. Leave the tretinoin and azelaic acid in overnight while you get your beauty sleep, and don’t forget to apply a high SPF sunscreen afterward to protect your skin from UV rays.
How to Use Retinoic Acid and Azelaic Acid Together?
I’ve mentioned this many times on the Beauty Insider blog, but the product formula and each ingredient plays a big role in how to use azelaic acid and tretinoin together. The general skin rule is to apply products from thinnest to thickest consistency. This allows each product to be absorbed into the skin without having to compete with the physical barrier created by the thicker consistency. You may find that azelaic acid and tretinoin are formulated in similar products, most likely serums or other thicker products. Therefore, if you wait about 15 minutes between applications, you will have plenty of time for the products to fully absorb into the skin.
Which comes first, azelaic acid or retinol?
Let’s say you use azelaic acid in conjunction with the type of retinol you use on a daily basis. This primes the skin for azelaic acid and prepares it for the azelaic acid. This allows each product to penetrate to the underlying layers and remove the buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities that often clog pores and cause blackheads and other acne.
When should you use azelaic acid on a regular basis?
To incorporate the benefits of azelaic acid into your skin care routine, it’s best to apply it to thoroughly cleansed skin after using toner and gentle exfoliation. This allows the azelaic acid to effectively penetrate new layers of skin and fight all possible skin concerns.
However, as with all skin types, introducing skin care ingredients takes some time and dedication. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist first to make sure you can safely incorporate this ingredient into your daily routine.
What Not to Mix with Azelaic Acid?
When using azelaic acid, it is recommended to avoid using it with strong acids, such as the popular BHA salicylic acid. This is because the increased skin sensitivity and irritation can not only cause a lot of discomfort, but also prevent the azelaic acid and all other skincare ingredients from working optimally.
Can I apply a moisturizer after using azelaic acid?
In fact, it is considered a good idea overall as this will help to soothe and calm the skin after an azelaic acid chemical peel. Choosing a moisturizer that is rich in hydrating and nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide will keep the skin’s water and oil levels balanced and its protective barrier fully functioning, allowing it to fight any signs of free radical damage.
I hope that today’s post has answered some of your questions about using azelaic acid and tretinoin. If you have any 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.
