Can Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid Be used Together as A Face Scrub?

Hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid may both contain the word “acid”, but each perform very differently on the skin. I wouldn’t blame you for feeling cautious when using two powerhouse ingredients together as quite often when doing this there is a negative impact on the skin and its pH levels.

Luckily, this isn’t a concern when using salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid together as this makes an impressive duo that are able to simultaneously treat the skin whilst combating any dryness or irritation that can often occur when applying the potent BHA, salicylic acid to your skin. If you wanted to know more about the benefits of each powerhouse acid, we have dedicated blog post about each of them over on The Beauty Insiders which you’ll find below.

What are the skincare benefits of salicylic acid?

What are the skincare benefits of hyaluronic acid?

 So, now that you have had a little refresher on how each ingredients helps the skin, we can now move on to finding out more about whether you can use salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid together as a face scrub.

Can salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid be used together as a face scrub?

Yes, they can in a way be used as a face scrub, but perhaps not in the conventional way as other chemical and physical formulas that are available on the market. The way that salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid can work as a face scrub is down to how each perform on the skin. By this I mean the ability salicylic acid has at reaching the lower layers of the skin and clearing out the pores from excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities. This helps maintain great clarity and help regulate the complexion by combating any frequent flare-ups in breakouts and blemishes. Whilst it does this, it is able to slough away the layer of dead skin cells that can also play a role in making the skin appear dull and lack lustre as well as causing blackheads, whiteheads, and other spots.

When teaming salicylic acid with hyaluronic acid you are eliminating the negative impact the BHA can sometimes have on the skin, such as dryness, irritation, and discomfort. This will keep the complexion looking its best whilst visibly reducing signs of ageing and dehydration and maintaining the skin barrier to ensure it is able to protect itself from exposure to free radical damage, like pollution, UV rays, harsh climates, and other environmental aggressors.

Can I put salicylic acid over hyaluronic acid?

Yes, you can, in fact, many skincare experts will advise you to do this as it is the easiest way to ensure the potent BHA penetrates the skin whilst avoiding the drying side effects. If you are wanting to know more about how to layer hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid there is more detailed information in our blog post about how to layer hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid.

How do you use hyaluronic acid with salicylic acid?

As I have already mentioned you can use both ingredients in separate formulas without any concern of them preventing each other from working effectively on the skin. You may also find that some products, such as serums, face oils, or moisturisers include a blend of both powerhouses together. This is the easiest way to ensure you are reaping the rewards in the most effective and easiest way, targeting impurities and imperfections whilst keeping the skin barrier hydrated and functioning properly enabling it to ward off any skin damage caused by exposure to free radicals, such as pollution, UV rays, and central heating to name a few.

What should you not mix salicylic acid with?

There are a few ingredients that should not be mixed with salicylic acid, here are some examples of the most common ones to avoid.

• Vitamin C- Due to the pH levels of each ingredient causing an imbalance, some suggest alternation when is best to apply vitamin C and salicylic acid. With the luminous finish vitamin C gives to the complexion and the fact it is packed with antioxidants its ideal to use during your morning routine. You can then apply salicylic acid in the evening to combat any skin damage experienced from the day.
• AHAs- It’s best to avoid using salicylic acid with other alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, this is because these acids can over exfoliate the skin stripping it of the oils it needs to remain healthy and over time cause several flare-ups in breakouts and spots.
• Retinol- With retinol being one of the most potent ingredients available there are a few skincare rules you need to follow to avoid irritation. Ideally, you should opt for an exfoliating toner enriched in salicylic acid that should be applied 30 minutes before applying your retinol product. This allows enough time for the skin’s pH levels to rebalance and formulas to fully absorb into the skin.

There you have just a couple of ingredients that should not mix with salicylic acid. If you have any concerns with using other products, it’s best to consult with a doctor or dermatologist to get a better understanding of reaping the rewards.

Is hyaluronic acid or salicylic acid better?

With the word acid in the names of both ingredients, you may be surprised to hear each acid works very differently on the skin. Salicylic acid is the most used BHA and is oil-soluble meaning it can penetrate right into the pores and unclog them of any build-up of bacteria, dirt, debris, and impurities that over time will lead to breakouts, such as spots and blackheads. You’ll also find that salicylic acid works on the outer surface ridding the skin of dead skin cell build-up resulting in an exfoliated and healthy-looking complexion.

As for hyaluronic acid, this works as a highly hydrating ingredient with humectant properties ensuring it can draw moisture in from the atmosphere and lock it into the skin. This will keep the skin plumped, moisturised with a youthful bounce whilst working effectively with salicylic acid.

There you have a little more information about whether you can use salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid can be used together as a face scrub. Don’t forget if you had anymore skincare questions, come and follow us on Instagram.