Mixing Acids – Can I Use Salicylic Acid with Retinol?

Whenever there is a debate on skincare, the most concerned topic is can salicylic acid and retinol be used together or is retinol salicylic acid combo good to do or not. In this post we will understand can you use salicylic acid with retinol? their chemistry, benefits and routine. 

In skincare, layering active ingredients is actually like a complicated science. Just a small gap can create a big problem for your skin that you might not be able to reverse. Here I will help you to understand the concept, read this post thoroughly and you will find your interesting tip. 

Can I Use Retinol Before and After Salicylic Acid Cleanser?

The demands for retinol facial cleanser are increasing day by day because of benefiting both acne and anti-aging fine lines. While salicylic acid cleansers are already too popular for their exfoliating properties. 

Both are active ingredients and both have high advantages and disadvantages when used wrongly. Now the question arises can retinol and salicylic acid be used together? Skincare enthusiasts are more concerned about routine for using retinol before and after salicylic acid cleanser, layering retinol vs salicylic acid or using retinol facial cleanser and salicylic acid cream together. 

These both ingredients work very well for acne prone treatment, but both are active ingredients and combining them can be destructive for skin, so less is alway better for such products. 

Generally, I advise not to use salicylic acid with retinol in the same morning or evening routine. 

I always say ingredient or product potency does not matter that much but their chemistry matters. If someone is using retinol and salicylic acid together does not mean you should also do it. 

Even if you have normal skin, your skin is not sensitive to active ingredients, there are high risks for irritation when using salicylic acid with retinol. If you are really eager to pair them then use them in different ways, on alternative periods or consult your dermatologist. 

How to Use Retinol and Salicylic Acid Together?

Using salicylic acid with retinol is not a kind of rocket science, it is just about some tips and tricks and a little wise strategies. Here are some few methods you can use to pair salicylic acid and retinol. 

Salicylic Acid Cleanser in Morning Routine

Usually Treating our breakouts, we use salicylic acid cleanser twice a day, in morning and night routine. After getting our results we don’t agree with the idea of reducing its use. 

You might be afraid of breakouts again appearing on you face.

But with my experience with salicylic acid and retinol, I assure you after a time you can lower the concentration to use once a day or on alternative days when you want to add retinol in the skincare routine. 

Another method is to swap the routine or adding water based face cleanser at night and salicylic acid cleanser in morning, while using retinol serum or retinol cream at night. 

Use Retinol on Alternative Days to Avoid Side Effects

If your routine includes daily use of salicylic acid, then I would advise you to use retinol on alternative days. My first suggestion would always be to use retinol and salicylic acid on alternative days, if you have sensitive skin then you must avoid using them on the same day. 

Cleanser containing salicylic acid is a best option to use in morning routine and retinol serum at night routine. Salicylic acid toners and retinol face wash are also a wise choice but again on alternative days. 

Use Retinol at NightTimes

Using retinol in the day can reduce their efficacy. Most retinol products degrade in day time resulting in no changes of skin conditions. 

But if you want to wear something for daytime or sunlight exposure, I will recommend you to use Differin, it remains stable all the day. If I talk about my preferences, I still use differin at night so it does not interfere with makeup or sunscreens giving its full potential independent results. 

Salicylic Acid Serum vs Salicylic Acid Cleanser

If I were you and using a salicylic acid cleanser, the very first thing I would have done was to change it to salicylic acid toner or salicylic acid serum. Yes, I love salicylic acid toner or serum when compared to cleansers, but I think they have more benefits than cleansers.

This method gives you an advantage over longer exposure to salicylic acid than a cleanser. But for your choice, you can add salicylic acid serum in the morning routine and retinol serum at night but I will not suggest that saying it has greater advantages. 

It can cause serious destruction to your skin like skin barrier damage, dryness, irritation or over exfoliation in some cases. So try to use them differently on alternative days for a safer routine.

Retinol vs Salicylic Acid

We have talked about using salicylic acid with retinol, but most people also love to make preferences on the bases of advantages over retinol vs salicylic acid. Let’s talk about the benefits of each and choose which one is better for acne prone treatment.

Retinol Benefits for Acne Prone Skin

Retinol, differin, tretinoin, tazarotene, retinal, retinaldehyde, these are all different forms of retinoids. 

Retinoids are often misunderstood for older age, before they benefit the skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles termed as anti-aging. But actually they were introduced to fight acne.

They actually work well for both acne and aging by accelerating the skin cell turnover, retinol benefits skin by removing blackheads and other breakouts, enhances collagen synthesis and aids premature aging. 

Other retinol benefits include;

• Healing uneven skin texture
• Lightening dark spots
• Regulating sebum production for oily skin

With all these benefits, sometimes we really need to think whether to use retinoids in skincare or not, because they can cause severe dryness to skin.

Benefits of Salicylic Acid to Acne Prone Skin

When comparing retinol vs salicylic acid, retinol has more benefits.

It does not speed skin cell turnover, so it does not benefit anti-aging treatment.

Salicylic acid benefits the skin by exfoliation which retinols don’t. They absorb deeply into the skin, removing tangled sebum and clogged pores by breaking them and washing away. 

Salicylic acid works really well on oily skin and is quite popular for its properties.

Also Read :Cerave Retinol Serum Vs Skin Renewing

Conclusion

As a conclusionary remark, I would say yes, you can use salicylic acid with retinol but ofcourse with necessary precautions. Both are active ingredients with different benefits and skin concerns, retinol helps acne prone treatment and anti-aging process while salicylic acid aids exfoliation. To avoid irritation use them on alternative days, do a follow up moisturizing and keep your skin hydrated. This process can make effective changes to the appearance of your skin.

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