Can we use glycolic acid and vitamin c together

With millions of blog posts and articles about skincare products and routines you may find it hard to know where to begin, or even which ingredients work for your skin type. This is why I’m here, hoping to clear the fog of any confusion around any questions you may have about whether or not you can use glycolic acid and vitamin C together? Layering your skincare products isn’t anything new, have you ever had a facial in a lovely spa before it amount of layers that are applied and then taken off is astonishing. Not only is this designed to feel relaxing, you will also find it’s the ideal way of reaping the rewards of the active ingredients used and leave the room glowing! There’s nothing stopping you from doing your own mini version on a daily basis, it’s just a case of figuring out which work together. Can vitamin C be used with glycolic acid? This boils down to pH levels, I understand this is something you haven’t thought about since a secondary school science lesson, but this is an important factor to remember when using skincare ingredients together. Vitamin C for example has a reputation for being unstable when it isn’t formulated into balancing skin products, such as serums. You’ll find that in these formulas vitamin C is on the acidic side of the pH scale at around 3, but effective at delivering results. You want to keep it at around this level when you apply it onto the skin as the pH levels are also acidic. As for glycolic acid and other chemical exfoliants they ha...

• by Gio “I exfoliate with glycolic acid. Can I follow it up with vitamin C?” Short answer: yes, you can. But that doesn’t mean that you should… Long answer: it’s complicated. Here’s what I mean: What The Heck Is L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)? L-Ascorbic Acid is the pure form of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that: • • • Reduces transepidermal water loss,helping to keep skin hydrated • If you’re in your early ’20s and want to kickstart your antiaging journey, vitamin C is the perfect place to start. The catch? L-Ascorbic Acid ain’t the only form of vitamin C. For this post, I’ll cover just L-Ascorbic Acid. It’s the most pH dependent. Put simply: it works better at a pH of 3.5 or lower. FYI, that doesn’t mean that if you raise the pH to 3.6, L-Ascorbic Acid becomes useless. It’s just the higher up you go, the less effective it gets. Other forms of vitamin C aren’t so finicky. They work even at higher pHs. But why am I telling you this? Because the higher pH of glycolic acid is usually cited as reason why it’s incompatible with L-Ascorbic Acid. Keep that in mind. We’ll come back to it. Best Picks: • Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum ($80.00/£67.00):available at • Paula’s Choice C15 Booster ($49.00):available at • Skinceuticals CE Ferulic ($166.00):available at Turn on your JavaScript to view content Related: What The Heck Is Glycolic Acid? Glycolic acid is the best exfoliant for dry skin (if you a different skin type, you can stop reading now. You don’t need to mix glycolic ...

Glycolic acid and vitamin C are both natural compounds that are very beneficial for the skin. They have an acidic nature that matches the skin’s pH (4.5 to 5.0) and can treat or prevent various issues such as acne, wrinkles, and skin discoloration. However, it is not advisable to use both at the same time. Glycolic acid is a colorless, odorless form of alpha hydroxy acid. Glycolic acid has been proven to treat and prevent acne, sun damage, wrinkles, and pigmentation and promote skin exfoliation. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is not naturally produced by the human body and has to be obtained via diet. It is a vital nutrient required by the body and plays a major role in immunity, skin health, and bone health, among others. Vitamin C can be found abundantly in many fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, broccoli, kale, strawberries, spinach, kiwi, and pineapple. When vitamin C is applied topically, it is recommended to opt for products that have a 10%–20% concentration. Can Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C Be Used Together? The short answer is no. Glycolic acid and vitamin C are both highly acidic compounds. They can mess with the skin’s natural pH levels (4.5 to 5.0) when used together and can lead to skin irritation and rashes. Although there are no formal studies to back this hypothesis, most skin care experts would advise against mixing individual glycolic acid and vitamin C serums. Also, there are medicated serums containing both glycolic acid and vitamin C, ...

Vitamin C and retinol are both popular products on the skincare scene, especially when it comes to reducing dark spots and fine lines. You've probably seen plenty of videos on TikTok or Instagram touting the benefits of each. But positive effects aside, many people are still left with an important question: Can you use retinol and vitamin C together? "A patient should expect results in three months with retinoic acid and in six months with retinol over-the-counter (OTC) products," Minars says. "If a patient comes to me and says, 'I want to correct my photo-aging with only one topical product,' I will always recommend retinoids first, as they're just that effective and consistent." "Vitamin C has some overlapping effects with retinoids—more specifically retinol—but they're not as well-studied, predictable, or effective," Minar tells Byrdie. He generally recommends retinoids to patients looking for a product that helps with rejuvenating the skin. But in cases where retinol irritates the skin, he recommends vitamin C serum as an alternative, with the caveat that vitamin C serums aren't typically as effective as retinoids. Can You Use Retinol and Vitamin C Together? There's no problem with using both retinol and vitamin C as part of your skincare routine, dermatologists say. In fact, Shirazi calls this combo a "power couple" when it comes to aging well. But you will want to be mindful about when you use your vitamin C and retinol. To avoid the potential risk of irritation, Shi...

There’s nothing more fun than trying out a bunch of skin care products. But before you do, you need to know the skincare ingredients to avoid mixing. I’m a skin care junkie at heart so I’m all about little crazy with the amount of serums and treatments I’m using. I tend to mix and match my serums without much thought to whether the ingredients will work together. I’m also obsessed with acids like AHA’S and BHA’s (hello, beautiful clear skin!), but I’ve never wondered whether or not my acids will work well with my acne treatments, like benzoyl peroxide. Is this something you’ve pondered as well? Along with my own research, I asked a dermatologist to help break down the skin care ingredients you shouldn’t mix together. “There is an intricate cosmetic chemistry to different skin care products,” says Sue Ann Wee, a dermatologist at the Don’t mix…retinol and chemical exfoliants, like AHAs and BHAs. Yes, you can over exfoliate! Retinol (AKA vitamin A) is a superstar anti-aging ingredient. Products containing retinol, such as it is possible to have too much of a good thing. At their core, retinol and chemical exfoliants do just that: exfoliate the skin. Using two exfoliants together? No go. This can lead to redness, irritation, sensitivity, and even dryness and flaking. However, Wee does say that with your derm’s blessing, sometimes one product that contains both retinol and AHAs or BHAs can be used with good results. “Under the guidance of a dermatologist, retinol and hydroxy ac...

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and vitamin C are two of the most well-known, highly regarded ingredients in skincare. Their beneficial effects have been exhaustively documented, and they can be used by almost every skin type under the sun. (Speaking of sun, AHAs and vitamin C are very good at reversing the appearance of too much sun exposure.) Obviously, you want both in your life. Read on to discover the best way to incorporate AHA and vitamin C into your skincare routine. What are AHAs? Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are chemical exfoliants that help the skin shed dead cells by loosening the “glue” that keeps these dead cells stuck to your face and body, allowing them to fall off naturally. Despite their chemical categorization, AHAs can actually be a gentler form of exfoliation than physical scrubs, which rip off dead cells on contact. There are many types of AHAs (glycolic, citric, mandelic, and lactic acids , to name four), but one thing they all have in common is that they’re water-soluble. As a result, they only work on the uppermost layer of skin. What is vitamin C? Although best known as an uber-powerful antioxidant, vitamin C does more than neutralize free radicals . It also helps stimulate the production of new collagen to keep skin firm and smooth. Used consistently, vitamin C also helps minimize the look of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone by reducing melanin production. And vitamin C helps fortify skin’s barrier function, so that less water can evapo...

Now that we are at the height of summer, you probably have already heard about glycolic acid or overheard a friend mention Vitamin C. These are arguably two of the best skincare ingredients that can take on a summer's aftermath of bad decisions and dermatological slip-ups that are bound to happen when the sun is blazing hot for over 16 hours a day. But can you use glycolic acid and vitamin C together? Is the combination of AHA and vitamin C as effective as some skin experts’ support? Let's find out. To answer the question, "Can you use glycolic acid and vitamin C together?'' It's imperative to look at each of these ingredients separately and analyze what exactly they bring to the table as far as skincare goes. Vitamin C mix, for starters, is a complexion-improvement powerhouse. An antioxidant that knows no bounds when it comes to neutralizing environmental aggressors. Glycolic acid, on the other side of the divide, is an alpha hydroxy acid exfoliant. So, the million-dollar question remains, can you use AHA and vitamin C together? Let's get cracking, shall we? Layering skincare ingredients is not anything new; since time immemorial human beings have devised ingenious ways of using two or more facial products at a go. Originally, it was designed to help kill two or more birds with a single stone, although later spa owners found out that it was equally relaxing as well. It is no surprise that the question of, can you mix vitamin C and AHA, continues to elicit mixed opinions f...

Can You Combine Vitamin C and Glycolic Acid? YES, you can use vitamin C and glycolic acid together in your skincare routine. In fact, these two dermatological ingredients can work beautifully in tandem — as long as you know what you’re doing. Fortunately, we’ve got Dr. Sandra Lee (aka Dr. Pimple Popper) to explain the ins and outs of combining these potent superstars. Published: July 13, 2021 2 minute read We won’t keep you in suspense: YES, you can use vitamin C and glycolic acid together in your skincare routine. In fact, these two dermatological ingredients can work beautifully in tandem — as long as you know what you’re doing. Fortunately, we’ve got Dr. Sandra Lee (aka Dr. Pimple Popper) to explain the ins and outs of combining these potent superstars. Here, the board-certified dermatologist explains the benefits of both What does vitamin C do for skin? Vitamin C is a potent • Neutralizing free radicals that cause skin damage • Stimulating collagen production • Inhibiting According to Dr. Lee, the best way to introduce vitamin C into your routine is to find an effective yet gentle formula. Why is glycolic acid good for skin? Glycolic acid is the smallest of the • Exfoliating dead cells from the skin’s surface • Unclogging pores • Evening skin tone • Stimulating the production of hyaluronic acid • Boosting skin’s collagen production Because it’s adept at both exfoliating and hydrating, glycolic acid is ideal for Can you use vitamin C and glycolic acid together? These tw...

Using Vitamin C and Glycolic Acid Together Vitamin C and glycolic acid both help to brighten your skin tone and fade dark spots. In addition, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, protecting your skin from damaging UV rays while glycolic acid can smooth lines and wrinkles with regular use. Since these two powerhouse ingredients both have clinically proven results you may be wondering if you can use both or if you need to pick between them? You can use both Vitamin C and glycolic acid together safely in the same skincare routine. In fact, I highly recommend you use both! Together they provide the powerful antioxidant support and gentle exfoliation that will keep your skin looking smooth, bright and even toned. Depending on the type of Vitamin C you use, I most likely would not recommend using it at the same time as glycolic acid. It will usually be best to use one in the morning and one in the evening. Read on for more details and all you need to know to use both these ingredients together for smoother, glowing skin. Note: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Please see my full Types of Vitamin C and How They Differ You may have read about Vitamin C and how it’s one of the most recommended skin care ingredients to fight the signs of aging. That’s because Vitamin C is one of the strongest antioxidants we can use to protect our skin. Antioxidants protect our skin from harmful stressors like UV rays, ...