Should I use benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid first?

If you’ve ever had a bad rash, you’re probably already well aware of what benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can do for your skin. But if this is all new to you, you’ve come to the right place, as we’re going to briefly cover both skincare ingredients and explain how best to use them and when to use them in your daily routine.

Benzoyl Peroxide vs. Salicylic Acid – What’s the Main Difference?

Both ingredients have a remarkable ability to prevent rashes and blemishes from forming on your skin. Although it may feel like they target the same areas, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid work differently in how they treat your skin and any active breakouts you may have right now.

Salicylic acid helps clear the buildup of dead skin cells that can clog your pores and eventually lead to pimples or blackheads, while benzoyl peroxide kills any bacteria that cause annoying breakouts. Each ingredient is highly effective for treating acne, and both are considered safe enough to be used in conjunction with one another. For example, you could use salicylic acid one night and benzoyl peroxide the next, which is an extremely effective way to treat problem skin. As always, we strongly recommend that you consult with your primary care physician or dermatologist before using high concentrations of these ingredients.

Your acne habits and skin type can also affect the overall appearance of your complexion. Benzoyl peroxide is the ideal ingredient if you notice persistent, active pimples and blackheads on your face. For hormonal breakouts, salicylic acid helps remove dead skin cells and maintain skin clarity.

What is Benzoyl Peroxide?

Benzoyl peroxide, also known as BPO, is an over-the-counter skincare ingredient that kills bacteria on the skin. It is available in different concentrations such as 2.5%, 5%, and 10% and treats those with moderate to severe acne. It also has exfoliating properties that steadily boost skin cell turnover by removing dead skin cells while clearing excess sebum from the pores.

Once you apply benzoyl peroxide to your skin, it fights any lesions on your skin, including blackheads, whiteheads, and active, red pimples. It kills bacteria and reduces the size of zits in a short period of time, allowing you to notice changes in your skin in just five days. Its ability to deliver such impressive, fast results makes sense. But be careful: the right amount of benzoyl peroxide is essential to keep your skin in top condition, as the wrong amount can lead to side effects like dryness, peeling, and redness.

Benefits of Benzoyl Peroxide for Skin Care

Benzoyl peroxide kills all types of bacteria that cause skin blemishes

Benzoyl peroxide helps speed up the turnover of dead skin cells, thus rejuvenating the skin

Benzoyl peroxide is available over the counter in a variety of strengths, which makes it easier for many people to use it because it best suits their skin type and concerns

Benzoyl peroxide works quickly, with results seen within 5 days

Side effects of using benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide can cause dryness, redness, and sometimes even peeling of the skin

Benzoyl peroxide can cause fading when it comes in contact with dark fabrics

Benzoyl peroxide is known to cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots and uneven skin tone).

What should not be used with benzoyl peroxide?

If you use benzoyl peroxide to treat breakouts and blemishes, you should avoid using retinol at the same time, as both ingredients have similar effects on the skin and will cancel each other out, making both useless steps in your skincare routine.

Since benzoyl peroxide is a very effective blemish-fighting ingredient, it has a high chance of causing dryness to the skin. Therefore, it is recommended to combine this antibacterial ingredient with a product that is rich in moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. Once you have locked in the skin’s moisture, you also need to consider protecting the skin from environmental stressors, especially UV rays. Applying SPF daily is an important step in your routine use of benzoyl peroxide, as exfoliation can make the skin more sensitive to the sun. SPF 30 and higher protects the skin from any damage.

What is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid, also known as a BHA, that can penetrate into the lower layers of the skin. It can help treat acne and is able to exfoliate the skin and unclog excess sebum, bacteria, and dirt from the pores. You will often find a buildup of dead skin cells on your skin, which is another contributing factor to blemishes. Salicylic acid breaks down the bonds between dead skin cells and the top layer of your face, making it easier to slough off and reveal new, glowing skin underneath.

Similar to benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid is found in many over-the-counter products in concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 2%. One of the main differences between the two ingredients is that salicylic acid can fight blemishes while soothing the skin, which is a unique advantage of salicylic acid over other acne-fighting ingredients that are known to cause dryness, redness, and irritation. For more information on BHAs, check out our blog post on the skincare benefits of salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid skin care benefits

Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin by removing the buildup of dead skin cells

Salicylic acid shrinks pores

Salicylic acid soothes the skin and reduces inflammation

Salicylic acid is a BHA that can penetrate deeper into the skin layers

Salicylic acid thoroughly cleanses pores of bacteria, excess sebum, and pore-clogging dirt

Side effects of using salicylic acid

Salicylic acid can cause redness, blistering, and rashes if used incorrectly

Unlike benzoyl peroxide, it may take several weeks for salicylic acid to show results
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are both highly effective ingredients that can effectively combat problematic skin. It doesn’t matter which ingredient you use first, both have impressive benefits and can help you keep your skin clear and fight breakouts with ease. If you incorporate these into a daily regimen that includes many other effective acne-fighting ingredients, you’ll really notice a difference in your complexion. To help you build your anti-acne routine, check out our blog on which ingredients help clear up acne.

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DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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