Salicylic acid works best on blackheads and whiteheads.
"Salicylic acid helps with the first cause by dissolving the type of skin debris that clogs pores and causes acne," he says. Therefore, salicylic acid is ideal for treating blackheads and whiteheads.
Salicylic acid works best for mild acne (blackheads and whiteheads). It can also help prevent future breakouts.
Glycolic acid is great for helping skin to clear blackheads and other types of congestion in the skin. Clogged pores usually form because of dead skin cells and other particles lingering in pores, creating plugs that could eventually turn into active breakouts or may remain as blackheads.
Controlling excess sebum production, then, can help prevent pore blockage and zits. Research from 2017 suggests hyaluronic acid doesn't just help lock in moisture. It can also help control sebum production, which makes it a potentially useful ingredient for acne prevention.
Vitamin C is also effective in treating comedonal acne, specifically blackheads. By functioning as an antioxidant, vitamin C decreases the number of visible blackheads by reducing sebum oxidation (which causes the dark color of a blackhead).
Does niacinamide help with blackheads? Yes, niacinamide helps with blackheads, but it would not be able to get rid of blackheads single handily. It can do this by preventing blackheads from developing thanks to its ability to reduce inflammation, regulate sebum production and minimise the appearance of pores.
But in general, salicylic acid is the better choice. Unlike glycolic acid, salicylic acid decreases sebum in the skin. This is important because sebum can clog pores, which increases your risk of an acne breakout.
“While hyaluronic acid helps in hydrating your skin, glycolic acid exfoliates dead skin cells,” he explains. It's one of the safest alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) you'll find in skincare products—meaning, unlike hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid actually is an acid.
Put simply, glycolic acid is a more effective ingredient in the best skincare products for a smooth, fresh texture and to help shift old sun-damaged pigmentation. Salicylic acid is a powerful blemish and acne treatment and works best in a skincare routine for acne.
Michaella Bolder, a skincare expert, told Harper's Bazaar, "Salicylic acid 0.5 percent or 2 percent is always best for acne sufferers and oily skin types as this mild ingredient effectively regulates your sebum production while the antibacterial properties work to eliminate bacteria on the surface of the skin.
Scientific evidence shows that Azelaic acid is better at treating hyperpigmentation than Vitamin C. This review revealed that, Vitamin C is not effective enough to be used on its own to treat pigmentation issues like melasma.
Doing so will help remove surface skin issues without damaging or drying out the skin. However, for individuals with oily or combination skin, salicylic acid is often the better choice.
"If salicylic acid is an ingredient in your cleanser, it is fine to use it every day." However, if you are using an exfoliant that salicylic acid in the formula, Dr. Hu advises only using the product three times per week, to avoid over-exfoliating the skin and drying it out.
“Vitamin A derivatives help to clear acne, as they help to regulate skin cell turnover,” says Marisa Garshick, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. Unlike salicylic acid, which exfoliates dead skin cells and dissolves clogs, and benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne-causing bacteria, retinoids work from the inside out.
While hyaluronic acid is an incredible moisturizing agent, a vitamin C serum is a protective ingredient that works against sun damage and discoloration. While both ingredients can add a new level to your skin routine, one might be more essential to your skin's health than the other.
Hyaluronic acid is best if they're looking to moisturize dry skin, while retinol works better by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production. They have several benefits that can work in tandem for better results, though patients need to be careful with the exact formulations they use.
The beauty of glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid is the fact you can use both together! Quite often you'll find when there is a build-up of dead skin cells the complexion can begin to look dull, dry, and lacklustre with fine lines and wrinkles appearing to look worse than they are.
Compared with the AHA glycolic acid, salicylic acid causes less irritation. Another difference between AHAs and BHAs is that BHAs increase the skin's resistance to ultraviolet skin damage and also have antibacterial effects. The antibacterial effects of BHAs make them appropriate ingredients for acne products.
Salicylic acid is the most common BHA. Concentrations can range between 0.5 and 5 percent, depending on the product at hand. It's well-known as an acne treatment, but it can also help calm down general redness and inflammation.
Hyaluronic acid is a skin hydrator, not an exfoliant like salicylic acid. You can definitely use both. In fact, applying hyaluronic acid with your salicylic acid is a very good idea. Salicylic acid can be a little drying to the skin because it's job is to absord excess oil.
Retinol has similar benefits, but it's stronger than niacinamide. It's also known to cause irritation, redness, and dry skin. Pairing the two ingredients is safe and can make retinol easier to use. Niacinamide helps hydrate the skin, which reduces the risk of irritation caused by retinol.
Both vitamin C and niacinamide increase the natural production of ceramides in your skin which helps to strengthen your skin barrier, keep your skin hydrated, and reduce irritation. However, niacinamide is probably the better option for sensitive skin as it's usually gentler than vitamin C.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
Salicylic acid also works as an anti-inflammatory, so helps to reduce inflamed pimples. It's especially beneficial for treating blackheads, whiteheads, and pustules, so use this mask when you have a bad breakout to quickly treat active blemishes.