What Can You Not Mix with Azelaic Acid?
The common mistake many have is thinking azelaic acid is a member of the extensive family of chemical exfoliants, called alpha hydroxy acids, the thing about azelaic acid is that believe it or not, it isn’t either an AHA, BHA or PHA.
Derived from yeast that occurs naturally on the skin it’s a favourite amongst dermatologists for how versatile and gentle it is. Not to mention how effective it is at giving the complexion great clarity by combating flare-ups of acne and other blemishes. Formulated into various skincare products, from face washes to leave on treatment products all of which deliver impression results. You can find out more about this unique skin ingredient over on our website with a dedicated blog post about what it is and how the number of benefits you can expect to see.
So now I’ve briefly explained what azelaic acid is, let’s find out what can you not mix with azelaic acid.
Can you mix vitamin C and azelaic acid?
Both vitamin C and azelaic acid are highly potent ingredients and provide quick skin results, with this in mind, you may think it’s a bad idea to combine them together. It’s generally thought that doing this is perfectly safe, however, to avoid any possibility that your skin will find it too overwhelming it’s best to apply each ingredient separately.
What goes first vitamin C or azelaic acid?
Due to the fact that vitamin C is packed with antioxidants making it a free radical fighting powerhouse, it’s best to apply it during your morning skincare routine as this will result it in working throughout the day keeping your skin protected and healthy. You can then use a product enriched in azelaic acid in the evening, allowing it to combat any concerns whilst you get your beauty sleep.
Can you mix azelaic acid and lactic acid?
Technically speaking azelaic acid is a dicarboxylic acid and works in a similar way as AHAs and BHAs, but also offers additional benefits to the skin, such as having a huge impact on the skin tone and correcting other skin issues. Having said that there is nothing stopping you from teaming azelaic acid with other chemical exfoliants such as lactic acid. You may find that using these acids together will allow you to combat any concerns and target areas of the skin, making light work of uneven skin texture, dark spots and signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
With lactic acid being known as one of the gentlest AHAs if you find your skin is dry, or perhaps you are new to using acids in your skincare routine, applying azelaic acid with lactic acid would be a great starting point. This will ensure you avoid overwhelming the skin and avoiding unwanted side effects.
Can I mix azelaic acid with glycolic acid?
Yes, you can, as I have already mentioned in the previous section of this post, AHAs and azelaic acid are perfectly safe to work together. When it comes to using glycolic acid with azelaic acid there is an added bonus due to the fact that by combining active levels of the acid to the skin has been proven to have a greater impact on the skin than tretinoin. For those of you who aren’t sure, tretinoin is also known as all-trans retinoic acid and is often found in prescription and medical grade products formulated to treat and clear acne and other severe blemish breakouts.
Just a word of warning, glycolic acid is the most potent of the AHAs and if overused on the skin can lead to it becoming irritated which is why I suggest you first consult with a doctor or dermatologist. Follow this by performing a patch test for 24 hours before applying it all over the skin to avoid any unwanted skin reactions.
What can I put on top of azelaic acid?
Ideally, the best products to layer on top of azelaic acid is a hydrating moisturiser, and daily SPF of 30 and higher.
To get the best out of azelaic acid, it is thought best to apply it in the later stages of your routine. Many skincare experts recommend you apply your skincare products containing AHAs, such as lactic and glycolic acid, BHA, such as salicylic acid and retinol before azelaic acid. This ensures these actives are able to work in the skin whilst clearing it of any dead skin cell build-up allowing azelaic acid to absorb rapidly and effectively in the skin.
Can I use moisturiser after azelaic acid?
With azelaic acid being praised for being so versatile and formulated into an array of skincare products. This is important to remember as generally speaking when using skincare products, the best way of getting optimal results is to apply products depending on the thickness of their formulas. This usually means moisturisers should be at the end of a routine. You will also find that applying a moisturiser after using a product containing azelaic acid will help balance the skin and give a boost in hydration. This is an effective way of counteracting any signs of dryness that might occur when using azelaic acid and other chemical exfoliants.
Can you mix salicylic acid and azelaic acid?
When it comes to using azelaic acid with BHAs, particularly the most used, salicylic acid, many dermatologists hesitate to recommend teaming the effective duo together. It is considered that due to the fact salicylic acid molecular size is small it’s able to penetrate further into the skin making it prone to causing some irritated side effects. Although azelaic acid is a lot gentler, by teaming the two acids on the skin will be too much and you’ll find an increase in dryness, redness and general discomfort.
If you are wanting to use both of these ingredients in your routine, I would suggest alternating the days you use them, not forgetting to apply a daily SPF to ensure the skin is protected from exposure to UV damage.
What are the side effects of azelaic acid?
You may be wondering why, after explaining how gentle azelaic acid is on the skin, I wanted to share the side effects of the acid with you. This is because even with the gentlest ingredient, there is always chances of experiencing some form of side effects. If you are new to any ingredient, or perhaps it is the first time you have used any type of skincare always seek the help of a dermatologist or trained professional to ensure your new product or routine is best suited for you and your skin type.
The main side effects you can experience when using azelaic acid are:
Itchiness
Burning
Stinging Tingling These should only feel minor, but if you experience any of the above severely or for an extended amount of time stop using the product immediately and call your doctor. There you have some examples of which acids work and which should be avoided when using azelaic acid in your skincare routine. As always, don’t forget to come and find us over 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.
