Can I use glycolic acid toner then vitamin C serum?

Author: Jevon Raynor  |  Last update: Monday, September 8, 2025

Using glycolic acid and vitamin C together can have a massive, positive effect on your skin — if done in the right way. Applying your glycolic acid product first to clear the skin, followed by your vitamin C product, means that both products can be as effective as possible.

Can I use vitamin C serum after glycolic acid toner?

Yes, you can use glycolic acid and vitamin C together. If you're looking for a skincare duo to help you achieve the dewy, radiant, even skin of your dreams, look no further.

What serums to use after glycolic acid toner?

Once you have applied a glycolic acid toner, the best product to follow this with is a serum that enriched in with a hydrating ingredient, such as hyaluronic acid. As effective as glycolic acid is at exfoliating the skin, it can sometimes cause some mild irritation, no matter how much your skin has built a tolerance.

Which toner is best before vitamin C serum?

Opt for a Brightening Toner

With similar benefits to the vitamin C serum, this sake-infused toner can help brighten, soften, and rehydrate your skin. Additions of white mulberry and niacinamide create a skin-illuminating trifecta, to naturally lighten dull or hyperpigmented areas of your complexion.

What should you not use with glycolic acid toner?

What NOT to mix with Glycolic Acid. Retinol, other AHAs/BHAs, Vitamin C: Using these ingredients alongside Glycolic Acid in the same routine could irritate the skin. However, alternating them between your morning and evening skincare routine means that you can enjoy the benefits without the risk of damaging your skin.

What Can You Use Glycolic Acid With? | Retinol, Vitamin C, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid

What cancels out glycolic acid?

Glycolic acid and niacinamide.

Indeed, niacinamide used with AHA's like glycolic acid and lactic acid has no effect and can even cause redness. Since niacinamide has a pH of about 5-7, it can actually increase the lower pH of glycolic acid, which is about 3-4, and negate its properties.

Can I use glycolic acid with vitamin C and retinol?

If you're not noticing any dryness or irritation, try using a glycolic acid product in the a.m. and a retinol cream or serum in the p.m. Don't mix other AHAs or active ingredients with glycolic acid. Applying AHAs and active ingredients like vitamin C directly after glycolic acid can cause irritation.

What goes first, vitamin C or toner?

Stick to the golden rule: toner first, then vitamin C serum.

What is the next step of glycolic acid toner?

Next, take an adequate amount of glycolic acid toner on your palm or a cotton pad and gently wipe your face and neck. Follow up with a hydrating face serum and face moisturizer for best results. Lastly, use an SPF or sunscreen before stepping out under the harmful UV rays.

Can I use glycolic acid toner every day?

Now, the important thing to remember is, glycolic acid comes in various concentrations. It is OK to use 1-2% containing glycolic acid face wash or ointments daily. The creams have a higher glycolic acid content (10% and above) and must only be used once or twice a week to avoid skin irritation.

How do you neutralize glycolic acid toner?

That something can be as simple as water - which has a natural pH of 7.0. Splash your face for a minute or so and you will neutralize the mandelic, glycolic and lactic. There are some acids that differ though. Salicylic is one of them.

What pairs well with glycolic acid?

Apply vitamin C in the morning and glycolic acid at night. Glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid: Since hyaluronic acid loads up skin with moisture, it makes for an excellent pairing with glycolic acid. Look for a product that combines both for easiest application, though you can also layer serums.

Which is better for hyperpigmentation, vitamin C or glycolic acid?

Yes, but glycolic acid is better for normal to dry skin, while vitamin C works well for all skin types, especially those prone to dullness or pigmentation.

How long to wait to apply moisturizer after glycolic acid toner?

Generally speaking, the experts recommend that you not apply any other product or moisturizer to your face until 60 seconds have passed. The reason is that you want the glycolic acid to be fully absorbed into the skin and to dry before you put anything else on top of it.

Do you put glycolic acid or vitamin C first?

Using glycolic acid and vitamin C together can have a massive, positive effect on your skin — if done in the right way. Applying your glycolic acid product first to clear the skin, followed by your vitamin C product, means that both products can be as effective as possible.

What Cannot be mixed with glycolic acid?

Combining glycolic acid and lactic acid can be quite potent and is generally not recommended due to the increased risk of irritation. Both acids are effective exfoliants, and using them together can over-exfoliate the skin.

Why can't you mix vitamin C with glycolic acid?

As for glycolic acid and other chemical exfoliants they have a much lower pH level that is acidic. If you use both vitamin C and glycolic acid together in either one product or layered quickly on top of each other this may result in the skin becoming irritated with flare-ups of redness and rashes.

What serum to use after glycolic acid?

After glycolic acid, use a hydrating serum. Hyaluronic acid, again, is a top pick. It binds to water and lubricates those parched skin cells like a mini oasis. Watch as it fluffs up your skin by infusing it with moisture, rounding out the effects of the glycolic acid.

Which toner goes best with vitamin C serum?

1) Vitamin C Witch Hazel Face Toner 200ml

A brightening ingredient, vitamin C evens out the skin tone and promotes radiance, while witch hazel helps reduce inflammation as well as calming acne-prone skin.

What Cannot be mixed with vitamin C?

Vitamin C is effectively an acid (it's sometimes known as ascorbic acid), so layering it with AHAs and BHAs like glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids is a big no-no.

What not to use after glycolic acid toner?

Because Glycolic Acid exfoliates the top layer of the skin, we would recommend avoiding any other products that also promote skin cell turnover. This would include ingredients such as Retinoids and Copper Peptides. Combining multiple resurfacing products may increase the chances of developing skin sensitivities.

What should you not use with vitamin C serum?

Beta Hydroxy Acids

So that salicylic acid of yours should not be mixed with your vitamin C serum. It won't be able to help you with discoloration, collagen production, or protect you from UV rays. Additionally, combining the two can cause irritation and dryness.

What clashes with glycolic acid?

Retinoids and Glycolic Acid

Retinoids (including retinol) are fantastic for boosting cell turnover and fighting aging. However, pairing them with glycolic acid is like inviting two energetic party crashers into a small room—they can overwhelm your skin.

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