Can I use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid with salicylic acid?

Why separate them?

Chemical exfoliants help remove a buildup of dead skin cells. Glycolic acid and salicylic acid can also help reduce oiliness, but either can be too harsh for your skin. Using too much exfoliant or applying it more often than directed can leave skin raw and irritated. Build the routine around what needs treating, not around giving every bottle a speaking role.12

How to fit both into a routine

1. 1Start with one exfoliant. Begin with one or two exfoliation sessions a week, following that product's directions. Establish how your skin handles one before adding the other.
2. 2Keep the second acid for a separate day. A conservative starting plan keeps total exfoliation at one or two sessions weekly, rather than giving each acid its own separate allowance.
3. 3Cleanse gently before a leave on treatment. Do not scrub your face to make the exfoliation more thorough.
4. 4Apply the chosen product as directed. For water based treatments, The Ordinary generally places them before heavier oils and creams. Follow your salicylic acid product's directions rather than assuming every formula works like a serum.
5. 5Finish with moisturizer. Chemical exfoliation can dry skin, and oily skin still needs moisture.
6. 6Use sunscreen daily. Choose broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours.

Should I use one in the morning and one at night?

Separate days are the more conservative starting plan because they keep the number of exfoliation sessions lower. Follow each product's instructions for time of day and maximum frequency. For compatible layers in a routine, The Ordinary sets no fixed waiting interval: let each product absorb before applying the next. Absorption is an application detail, not a reason to add another exfoliant.4

Do I actually need both?

If uneven surface texture and tone are your main concerns, The Ordinary's glycolic toner targets those concerns over time. If oiliness is your main concern, salicylic acid is one option, though glycolic acid can help with oiliness too. That overlap gives you a reason to try one first, rather than buy a second exfoliation appointment for the same face. Visible changes take time; increasing frequency to chase faster results also increases the opportunity for irritation.123

When should I stop?

If exfoliation leaves your skin too dry or irritated, stop using the exfoliant for a few days rather than continuing through it. Reduce frequency if irritation returns. Sensitive skin needs gentle products that minimize irritation, so adding a second acid is not the priority when redness or flaking is already present. If blackheads, acne or excess oil remain difficult to manage, see a dermatologist instead of repeatedly increasing exfoliation.124

What if I use Differin or Epiduo?

Avoid glycolic acid and salicylic acid while using adapalene, the retinoid medicine in Differin and Epiduo. Combining them can add drying and irritation. Simply moving an acid to another evening does not address that warning. Check with your pharmacist before adding treatments to an adapalene routine. If adapalene causes severe irritation or irritation that does not improve, stop using it and contact your doctor.5