Wondering about the benefits of glycolic acid and vitamin C? These two powerful skincare ingredients share many benefits, from assisting in promoting a brighter, more even-toned complexion to assisting in keeping the skin’s moisture barrier intact.
But then, Can You Use Glycolic Acid with Vitamin C? Well when allowed, with the same benefits, the two ingredients end up being very different from one another.
Following is the lowdown on what sets glycolic acid and vitamin C apart, and also makes them similar, and how you can use both in your routine.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, or L ascorbic acid, is a strong antioxidant that also acts as a shield for the skin from environmental aggressors.
This ingredient can aid in maintaining the skin’s natural cell turnover while shielding the skin moisture barrier against damaging free radicals. Vitamin C’s primary function is to shield the skin, preventing skin issues such as uneven skin texture and tone.
Vitamin C is usually in an active form, like a vitamin C serum, like the La Roche-Posay Vitamin C 12 Brightening Serum. It can be used morning and night, but it’s typically best for your morning routine.
What is Glycolic Acid?
Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and belongs to the same family of ingredients as lactic acid and citric acid.
AHAs disintegrate the bonds that exist between dead skin cells, assisting in smoother, more even toned skin. Because it aids in the removal of dead skin cells that clog up the pores, glycolic acid can also aid in sebum secretion that will lead to breakouts.
Unlike vitamin C, which helps to protect the skin, glycolic acid is useful in treating evidence of environmental harm, such as irregular complexion.
Glycolic acid is usually in cleansers and also in some moisturizers and, depending on your skin type, can be used both morning and evening.
Is it Possible to Use AHA and Vitamin C Together?
Never neglect to balance and harmonize the pH levels of your skincare to work together in harmony.
Regardless of the type of AHA, it will also function in the same manner that glycolic acid does, so just use it in the way that I instructed.
One of the factors you need to take into account is your skin type since this will influence which (if any) AHAs you can use and how frequently you can use them as part of your daily skin care routine.
Oily skin types, for instance, will adore glycolic acid and the BHA salicylic acid, while drier skins will be fond of lactic acid or the gentler PHAs.
As always, I highly recommend that if you’re a novice with any of the ingredients, you do a patch test 24 hours prior to putting any of the product on your skin.
Can I Combine Benzoyl Peroxide and Vitamin C?
The most popular ingredient in treating acne and breakouts is benzoyl peroxide. It is capable of killing the bacteria responsible for acne but is quite harsh and can lead to dry, flaky patches of skin.
If you’re using vitamin C with benzoyl peroxide, you’ll find the vitamin C will oxidize and will neutralize the excellent effect of both products.
Why You Should Never Combine Retinol and Vitamin C?
Retinol is a notoriously powerful skincare product, infamous for causing side effects of peeling and flakiness of the skin.
Well, believe it or not, applying vitamin C with it will escalate these and lead to skin that is irritated, sore, and itchy. To avoid these, its best to use vitamin C in the morning and retinol during your evening routine.
Is it Possible to Use Niacinamide and Vitamin C at the Same Time?
Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3 and is an extremely effective ingredient for the skin with multiple capacities to even tone the skin, prevent any wrinkles and fine lines, and bring back a healthy glow.
These are some of the effects you will see on the skin with vitamin C, and when you combine these two ingredients, they basically cancel each other out, giving you no effect and product waste.
What can Glycolic Acid be Combined With?
Most dermatologists rave about what you can expect when using glycolic acid and other types of AHAs and BHAs, including salicylic acid.
The negative is that if you utilize too much of these acids, you can strip the skin off the water and essential oil it requires in the barrier to be healthy and working properly.
Use by all means the acids suitable for your skin type; just do it gradually and change products. Hyaluronic acid is one of those ingredients that can form a power couple with glycolic acid.
This hydrating superhero is particularly excellent at sealing in moisture into the skin and providing it with a surge of hydration to preserve balance, comfort, and radiance.
Last Lines
By now you know that it’s best if you don’t combine these ingredients in the same product, but you can combine them in the same routine.
First, cleanse Toner (containing glycolic acid) Serum (containing vitamin C) Eye cream Moisturiser SPF, as there are serums and products that have glycolic acid in them.
Now, the most effective way to add this AHA to your skin care routine is to use a toner; it effectively removes any remaining impurities and dead skin cell accumulation without being on the skin long enough to cause irritation.
Should one take vitamin C in the morning or at night? Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a product that is packed with enormous levels of antioxidant properties.
This helps it to be extremely effective at neutralizing free radical damage caused by your skin coming into contact with pollution, UV, and other environmental skin stresses.
There is no reason why you cannot use this potent vitamin twice a day, but I prefer to use it in the morning skincare regimen so it can spend the day fighting any free radicals doing less harm to the skin.
