Glycolic Acid and Niacinamide are a combo made in skincare heaven. Since you already know about our #1 favorite, let’s learn more about this new ingredient. Glycolic Acid is a game changer when it comes to clearing out pores and getting that fresh exfoliation. This chemical exfoliant is highly effective and there’s a lot of misconception about whether or not you can mix glycolic acid and niacinamide. We are here to tell you why your skin will benefit greatly from pairing these 2 together! Before we get ahead of ourselves, we first have to get to know glycolic acid a bit better.
100% Natural Glycolic Acid- No Chemicals Here!
Natural glycolic acid is found in inherently acidic foods like apples, grapefruit, oranges, sugarcane, grapes, honey, and kiwi. All natural glycolic acid serves as a chemical exfoliant and can be highly effective.
By gently exfoliating the surface of the skin, this acid removes dead skin cells that can block pores and lead to breakouts, leaving your skin brighter and more radiant. Glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in comparison to all other AHA’s, meaning it has the highest rate of absorption. This smaller molecular size allows GA to penetrate deeper into your skin than most other AHA’s, this increase in absorption makes it a more effective chemical exfoliant than most other acids in its class.
Through the exfoliating process, this powerful ingredient speeds up cellular turnover by signaling to your skin to increase the production of collagen.
Physical vs Chemical Exfoliation
Physical exfoliants like loofahs and scrub brushes are a good option, but they make it easy to damage the skin if you’re not careful. If you don’t pay attention to the frequency or even the manner you exfoliate, you could over-exfoliate the skin which spells unique troubles for all skin types. Physical exfoliants can be too harsh on dry skin types and lead to a heavily disrupted skin barrier which disrupts the skin’s ability to regulate oil and moisture production- further drying out skin.
More oily skin types by nature produce excess oil and sebum which the over-exfoliation can further magnify, leading to more oily skin! Many different skincare tools used for exfoliation can also end up as breeding grounds for bacteria that can then be transferred to your face if not cleaned often.
If you choose a chemical exfoliant, you may opt for a chemical exfoliant like an AHA or BHA depending on your goals. Chemical exfoliants can provide further added benefits other than simply getting rid of dead skin.
If you’re looking for a deeper and more gentle exfoliation than BHA’s would be a good choice, whereas AHA’s would be better suited for a little stronger surface exfoliation to address common surface skin concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, uneven tone/texture.
Now..What are AHAs?
AHAs, formally known as Alpha Hydroxy Acids, are a class of hydroxy acids that chemically exfoliate the skin and increase its natural exfoliation process. These acids are found in certain natural foods like milk, sugarcane and many different fruits. The key characteristic of AHAs is that they are water soluble and work on the surface of the skin. Typically they don’t penetrate deep into your skin and are incapable of dissolving oils due to them being water soluble. However, AHAs are still extremely effective at exfoliating your complexion and treating a number of skincare concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, and reducing signs of aging.
Benefits of Glycolic Acid
There are many benefits of glycolic acid for the skin in both the short term and long term like:
- Reversing sun damage done to your skin
- Reducing acne via deep exfoliation and pore cleaning capabilities
- Dissolving unproductive dead skin cells that dull your complexion
- Minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Improving the appearance of pores (makes them less noticeable)
- Reducing texture and evening out skin tone (helps a ton with hyperpigmentation)
Not only can you expect more youthful skin in the short term, but because of the increase in collagen production and cellular turnover, you will be actively fighting against signs of premature aging such as wrinkles and fine lines. You can use glycolic acid in your skincare routine to fight acne, reduce signs of aging, reverse sun damage, and fade acne scars and dark spots.
Testing out Glycolic Acid Concentrations
Ensure that you are using a product containing a concentration of glycolic acid 10 percent or lower, because concentrations higher than 10% can cause adverse effects if improperly used. If you wish to try out a higher concentration of glycolic acid 10 percent or higher, make sure the treatment is administered by a knowledgeable provider such as a dermatologist or reputable licensed esthetician.
However, you should only use estheticians for glycolic acid treatments of concentrations 30% and under, anything stronger should be administered by a board-certified dermatologist.
How you use glycolic acid also depends on how well your skin tolerates it. If your skin tolerates the AHA well, you can use it more frequently and re-evaluate every 1-2 weeks.
How to use Glycolic Acid and Niacinamide Together
A few information sources advise you against using niacinamide with glycolic acid, but if you use them correctly it’s perfectly fine! The key to using both niacinamide and glycolic acid together is to use your product containing niacinamide at least 20-30 minutes prior to using the glycolic acid product. This wait-time between applications of the two ingredients allows the niacinamide to absorb fully into your skin and not disrupt the glycolic acid. You can also plan your skincare to where you use niacinamide and glycolic acid on different times of the day, or even totally different days. For example, you can use niacinamide in the morning and glycolic acid at night.
Benefits of using Glycolic Acid and Niacinamide Together
Glycolic Acid is an effective, deep-penetrating ingredient with a history of having the potential to cause skin irritation resulting in flakiness, redness, irritation, and dryness, especially for new users. Glycolic Acid and Niacinamide work in perfect harmony because the antioxidant helps to strengthen and thicken your skin barrier to greatly reduce the side effects of using this chemical exfoliant. By strengthening the skin barrier, your skin will be less sensitive and will retain more moisture, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of glycolic acid with a much lower chance of irritation! Using glycolic acid and niacinamide together results in a safer experience that will minimize sensitivity- your skin will thank you later.
- reduced hyperpigmentation
- increased cellular turnover leading to brighter, more youthful skin
- smoother and more even skin texture
- reduced signs of fine lines and wrinkles
- decreased sensitivity to the introduction of an AHA on the skin
Final Words of Wisdom regarding Formula Concentrations
Concentrations of glycolic acid 10 percent and higher are treatments that are especially helpful to those who suffer from acne scarring. You should never apply concentrations higher than what’s available over the counter at your local beauty supply store or wherever you purchase your skincare.
Even if you come across a formula over 30%, it’s no time to get froggy and end up with chemical burns-leave it to the professionals! More concentrated glycolic acid treatments can help immensely at getting rid of acne scars and hyperpigmentation, so consult with your dermatologist if you wish to try a higher concentration treatment.
*Tip: If you have breakouts on your back or other areas of your body, you can even find glycolic acid body wash or glycolic acid lotion to clear your skin in no time!
