Why Include glycolic or salicylic acid in your skincare routine? We have chosen to cover this because we get many questions from clients about the value of these two skincare ingredients.

Simply put, you can tighten your pores and tame your sebaceous glands with the help of salicylic and glycolic acids. Many skin issues are caused by the build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and the pores. These gentle yet potent ingredients help remove the rough skin layers to reveal a smoother skin and help remove impurities that clog the pores and causes acne. With continued use, glycolic acid and salicylic acid brighten your skin and minimize the appearance of pores, leaving you with a more radiant complexion.

Glycolic acid removes the top most layer of dead skin cells and reduces inflammation related to acne and other skin issues whilst Salicylic acid penetrates deeper into your skin where they exfoliate excess oil and dead skin in your pores.

Affordable versions:

Ordinary Glycolic

https://www.myhqafrica.com/shop/beauty/the-ordinary-glycolic-acid-7-toning-solution-240ml/

Ordinary Salicylic

https://www.myhqafrica.com/shop/beauty/salicylic-acid-2-solution-30ml/

More high end versions of these belong to the Drunk Elephant family which are amazing because Drunk Elephant formulations only contain ingredients that benefit skin health and assist the formulation, keeping them safe and making them ideal for even the most sensitive skin. The brand is a supporter of IEF (International Elephant Foundation). This product is cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, and noncomedogenic.

Always remember to use sunscreens on a regular basis when using acids especially if you have sensitive skin. Acids can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn.

Glycolic acid or salicylic acid for acne – which is better?

You can also certainly include both glycolic acid and salicylic acid in your skincare routine. Because they are able to penetrate and act at different levels of your skin, you can use them in combination to deal with skin issues in a wider range. However, we do not recommend that you add both to your skincare routine at the same time. Both salicylic acid and glycolic acid are active ingredients that have immediate results and it is very easy to over exfoliate your skin by getting overzealous and starting both. We recommend adding one, using it for a few weeks, and then adding the second option. This way you’ll be able to determine which acid is showing results and how much results.

You can also alternate using salicylic acid and glycolic acid depending on how your skin is feeling that day or week. If you see an acne spot coming on, spot treat it with salicylic acid. Or perhaps your skin could use some hydration or surface exfoliation – then you can give it some glycolic acid. If you want to alternate products, again please pay careful attention to your skin and make sure that you do not over exfoliate. If your skin feels tight no matter how much moisturizer you use or you experience peeling, stinging, or redness, you may have over exfoliated and you should stop all acid use immediately and work on repairing your moisture barrier.

Our personal shopper team can help you shop for a wider range of options by the way so drop us a line at personalshopper@myhq.co.ke