Can Azelaic Acid and Vitamin C be used together?
Finding the best ingredients that work together can be a little difficult, especially when it comes to vitamin C and azelaic acid, two widely used and beloved ingredients. Over the years, these two powerful acids have earned a loyal following among dermatologists and skincare enthusiasts, but the question we’re asking today is: can you use both together in your daily skincare routine? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to explore today, so let’s dive right in and learn more.
What is Azelaic Acid?
Azelaic acid is popular with dermatologists for its versatility and gentleness on the skin, especially acne-prone skin. Although it actually occurs naturally in the body, you’ll find this acid available from many different natural sources, such as wheat and cereals, as well as synthetically produced ones. This typically results in concentration levels of this acid that reach 15-20% used in professional treatments and products. A total of 10% of the ingredient is available in over-the-counter products, making them a safer option for your skin.
Its versatility is clearly praised for its ability to be mixed into numerous product formulas, from leave-on treatments to gels, creams, and foaming cleansers. All products produce different skin effects but target the same issues.
Key Benefits of Azelaic Acid for Skin
It exfoliates gently and effectively while penetrating deep into clogged pores without causing skin irritation.
Reduces inflammation and soothes flare-ups caused by red acne and pimples.
Fights acne and other breakouts by addressing those pesky pimples caused by Propionibacterium acnes.
It fights uneven skin tone as it contains an enzyme that prevents post-acne hyperpigmentation.
As gentle as it may be, it is always recommended to consult a doctor so that this ingredient doesn’t harm your skin or cause any adverse skin reactions. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen every day to prevent damage caused by UV rays.
What is Vitamin C?
By now you all know that I love using Vitamin C in my daily skincare routine, and I’m not the only one obsessed with this powerful ingredient! Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, delivers impressive skin results for those suffering from pigmentation issues and other free radical damage such as: B. environmental pollution and UV radiation. It’s no secret that Vitamin C has the shortest shelf life in cosmetic formulas, as it loses its potency quickly when exposed to oxygen and UV rays. Fortunately, Vitamin C products are usually packaged appropriately, giving you plenty of time to use up the product before it oxidizes. If you find this a bit confusing and can’t figure out if your product is safe to use, check out our blog post on how to determine if your Vitamin C serum is oxidized.
Key Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin
Reduces the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation
Powerful antioxidant that fights skin irritation and damage caused by free radicals
Improve redness on the skin due to spots and breakouts
Boosts skin’s resistance to UV radiation, so it can better protect itself from the sun
As with all skin ingredients, we recommend applying SPF sunscreen daily to fully protect your skin from UV radiation and other free radical damage.
Pink Clay Mask with Vitamin C
What shouldn’t be mixed with Azelaic Acid?
Azelaic acid is effective both on its own and in combination with other ingredients, but there are only a few ingredients that work well with this acid. You’ll find that soothing and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide, alpha hydroxy acids, and antioxidants work well in combination with azelaic acid. Despite its familiar acid name, azelaic acid is not a member of the hydroxyl family. This is the main factor that allows you to use them in combination with AHAs like lactic and glycolic acids without the added worry of stripping your skin of important oils and water that it needs to stay healthy and function properly. Of course, remember to use the product as directed on the packaging to avoid breakouts!
I do have one word of caution, though, and that is that azelaic acid and salicylic acid do not work well together! Granted, these acids work slightly differently on the skin, but the combination of these ingredients can still be too much and too harsh for the skin, especially if you have a dry, sensitive skin type that’s prone to skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. It’s best to alternate these ingredients in your daily routine so that you get the benefits without any of the side effects.
Ingredients to Avoid When Using With Azelaic Acid
BHAs, Like Salicylic Acid
What Not to Take With Vitamin C?
Since Vitamin C is considered unstable, there are a number of ingredients you should avoid when using it in your skincare products. These ingredients usually have exfoliating or moisturizing properties, the former usually being AHAs or retinols, and the latter usually being niacinamide. When it comes to the moisturizing benefits of niacinamide, it’s always a good idea to incorporate it into your skincare routine. However, when combined with vitamin C, you’ll find that they cancel each other out, rendering them useless. Using vitamin C and AHAs, BHAs, and retinol together may increase the risk of skin sensitivity, peeling, irritation, and redness. However, as mentioned before, if you want to use these ingredients, it’s best to alternate them in your routine.
Ingredients to Avoid When Using With Vitamin C
AHAs
BHAs
Retinol
Niacinamide
Benzoyl Peroxide
When using new products in your routine, it’s always a good idea to do a 24-hour patch test to ensure that your skin tolerates the product well with the others, while rest assured that skin irritation will not occur.
Can Azelaic Acid and Vitamin C Be Used Together?
It’s no secret that azelaic acid and vitamin C are completely safe to use together. However, when it comes to using these two powerful ingredients together in your skincare routine, many people recommend using vitamin C in the morning and azelaic acid in the evening. This is primarily because vitamin C is rich in antioxidant properties and is able to protect the skin barrier from damage caused by free radicals that our skin is exposed to throughout the day. Therefore, there’s no need to use it at night. However, you’ll find that your skin benefits from the best of both ingredients without any skin damage or side effects, making it a truly powerful combination!
Should I use azelaic acid before or after my moisturizer?
When it comes to azelaic acid, many skin care experts recommend using it after applying water-based products and before moisturizer. This is because azelaic acid can be very effective in fighting spots and blemishes. Using a moisturizer after using azelaic acid allows the powerful ingredient to penetrate the lower layers of the skin without having to fight the physical barrier created by the moisturizer you apply to your face.
I hope this answers most of your questions about azelaic acid and vitamin C and whether they can be used together! If you have any other questions you’d like us to discuss, follow us on Instagram like many of you do – we love hearing from you!
