They’re two ingredients that are often recommended for acne-prone skin, but is it ok to use azelaic acid and salicylic acid together?   Here’s everything you need to know… Azelaic Acid Azelaic acid is a dicarboxylic acid found in grains like wheat and barley. It’s suitable for even the most sensitive, rosacea prone skin and offers a wide-variety of benefits. It reduces inflammation It improves redness and rosacea It removes dirt, bacteria, and oil from pores It’s antibacterial It can improve the appearance of acne and acne marks (post-inflammatory erythema/hyperpigmentation) It prevents melanin synthesis which helps brighten skin and reduce dark marks/hyperpigmentation It reduces skin sensitivity It improves skin texture…

They’re two ingredients that are often recommended for acne-prone skin, but is it ok to use benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid together?   Here’s everything you need to know… Benzoyl Peroxide Benzoyl peroxide is an acne medication that can be found over-the-counter or by prescription. When you apply it to your skin, it breaks down into benzoyl radicals and benzoic acid.    Benzoyl radicals are a type of free radical that create oxygen in your skin. The bacteria that cause acne (c.acne) prefer an oxygen free environment (which is why they only really become an issue when your pores are clogged).   No oxygen = Increased c.acnes growth   By…

One of the most common questions I get asked on my Instagram account is whether it is ok to layer certain skincare ingredients and, if so, what’s the best way to do it. For example, should you use hyaluronic acid before or after retinol?   The short answer is that it depends mainly on what type of products you’re using.   However, here’s the longer answer…   In order to understand whether you should use hyaluronic acid before or after retinol, it’s important to understand what each ingredient is, what it does, and how it’s best used.   Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) – a type of…

One of the big no no’s of skincare layering is combining benzoyl peroxide and retinol together. However, it’s not quite as simple as it’s made out to be. There are a few ways that you may be able to layer these two acne-fighting ingredients together despite what you may have read.   So, what’s the truth? Can you layer benzoyl peroxide and retinol together? Or will your face fall off?   Let’s find out…   Benzoyl Peroxide Benzoyl peroxide is an acne medication that can be found over-the-counter or by prescription. When you apply it to your skin, it breaks down into benzoyl radicals and benzoic acid.    Benzoyl radicals…

They’re two ingredients that can help treat acne but which is better – niacinamide vs benzoyl peroxide? Can you use niacinamide and benzoyl peroxide together or will they ‘cancel each other out’?   It can sometimes feel like layering skincare ingredients together effectively requires a chemistry Phd but it’s a lot simpler than you may think.   Niacinamide Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 that acts as an antioxidant and has a wide-range of benefits for your skin, including:   Reducing the appearance of enlarged pores Controlling oil production Reducing hyperpigmentation (dark marks, age spots, melasma, etc.) Brightening skin Reducing inflammation and redness Improving acne Improving skin barrier…