Use Moisturizer You should always include a moisturizer in your skincare routine, especially when using an exfoliating ingredient like salicylic acid. This and other cleansing ingredients can strip away the so-called “good oils” that protect your skin and keep it hydrated during the day.
Hyaluronic acid can help rehydrate complexions after a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid has been applied. This means you can support skin texture and clarity with salicylic acid, followed by hyaluronic acid to nourish and soften the skin.
Salicylic Acid is considered to be one of the most effective peeling agents. Using Salicylic Acid with Retinol or Benzoyl Peroxide can dry out the skin, causing flakiness and redness. Mixing Salicylic Acid with Niacinamide can be very effective for treating acne.
Follow with Moisturizer:
Salicylic acid can be slightly drying, especially with frequent use. To maintain skin hydration and prevent over-drying, follow up with a skin hydrating moisturizer suitable for your skin type.
Weekly Step 2: Treat
The salicylic acid in this formula targets pore congestion and helps to remove dead skin cells and excess oil, which promotes soft, smooth skin. After Salicylic Acid 2% Masque, you can apply Balancing and Clarifying Serum before the next step.
There is little to no downtime following a salicylic acid peel. Skin erythema (redness) with flaking and dryness usually resolve within two to three days. Most candidates return to all normal activities immediately following the treatment. Unscented moisturizer or a topical steroid can aid recovery.
Salicylic acid can be drying to the skin, so it's important to moisturize your skin after using it. Look for a moisturizer that is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and free of fragrances and other irritants. Moisturizing after using salicylic acid can help to soothe the skin and prevent dryness and irritation.
It is safe to use products with salicylic acid in everyday skin care, unless it is specified otherwise on the product usage guidelines or by your health care professional. CeraVe's Salicylic Acid range includes products such as Cerave's SA Smoothing Cream and SA Smoothing Cleanser that are suitable for daily use.
Don't Scrub Face
Our cleansing products aren't the same as exfoliants, which even then shouldn't be aggressively rubbed on or off. Gently apply salicylic acid with slow, circular motions, and rinse with lukewarm water once you've gotten to every area you need to apply it.
Once you have cleansed your face with a salicylic acid face cleanser, apply salicylic acid-enriched face moisturizer; one enriched with tea tree or salicylic acid would be the best. Salicylic acid can make your skin sensitive to sunlight, so an SPF is necessary to prevent skin irritation.
Salicylic acid is one ingredient that may cause a temporary bout of acne. 1 Known as "skin purging," worsening acne is a short-term reaction to ingredients that speed up cell turnover. Salicylic acid helps your body quickly get rid of dead skin cells.
Salicylic acid and niacinamide complement each other and can provide synergistic results when used together. After you cleanse your skin, apply a salicylic acid product. Then, follow that with niacinamide, and finish by moisturizing and adding sun protection.
For the best beauty sleep, wash your skin and then apply your nighttime products earlier rather than later. Avoiding night cream does not benefit the skin. In fact, when your face is bare, the skin's moisture evaporates more, resulting in dry skin cell build-up. This then makes the skin look dull and tired.
Generally, it's recommended you don't mix retinol and salicylic acid in your skincare routine due to the risk of redness or potentially irritating side effects [3].
For example, for oily skin, a salicylic-based cleanser can be used followed by a glycolic acid toner.
To support the work of Salicylic acid, bookend its application with a good cleanser and a water-based, non-comedogenic moisturizer. If you've been wearing makeup or SPF, it's best to double cleanse your skin at night – once to whisk away surface-level grime, and second to really get into your pores.
Follow up with a hyaluronic acid serum to drench your skin in hydration. This step is crucial, especially since salicylic acid can be drying. Hyaluronic acid acts like a big drink of water for your skin, plumping it up and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Next, add your skin-brightening agents.
Salicylic acid is best applied to dry skin, whereas hyaluronic acid is best applied to damp skin and then sealed in with a thicker moisturizer/occlusive. Damp skin is more porous, allowing skincare components to enter the skin's barrier more easily.