Can someone help with exfoliation advice?

[Demebb]

Hey everyone, I’ve always had either underexfoliated or overexfoliated skin. I wanted to try out The Ordinary’s 30% AHA/ABA mask, but I live in Canada so I couldn’t get it. I did manage to get my hands on their Azelaic Acid, which I loved for masking redness. Now I’m on vacation in San Francisco, tried out the mask, and loved it. I’ve heard to only use it once a week, and not really exfoliate for the rest of the week. Would using the Azelaic Acid daily on top of the peeling mask cause overexfoliation?

[TrysBeautyItems]

I've used Azelaic acid, but not the Ordinary's, mine may be a different strength and formulation though. I don't use it with other actives. Mine can be used 1-2x day and can have a sensation when applied, I've had it with a non active moisturizer. 

How long have you been using azelaic acid? @Demebb

[Demebb]

I used to use it daily, but haven’t been able to get my hands on it in a while so lately I haven’t at all. Thanks for telling me about how it works with you though

[RGbrown]

@DemebbUnidentified

I'm not terribly familiar with azelaic acid either, but did a super quick recon. From what I can tell from your your post, you are looking to use the 30% aha/BHA mask once a week, and the azelaic acid daily? Did I interpret that correctly? In any case, yes, you can use aha + azelaic in a routine; the biggest question will be how much your skin can tolerate. I would definitely not use the 30% aha/BHA mask more than once a week, but you can add in the azelaic acid as tolerated (which may or may not be nightly).

Love her or hate her or disagree with everything she says, I think Paula Begoun at least gives us all a basic understanding of what azelaic acid is with these excerpts:

[Demebb]

Thank you, that’s exactly what I meant (mask weekly, azeliac daily) and this was super helpful!

[alexasteph]

@Demebb I'm not familiar with that sort of acid, and 30% in a pretty high proportion. I'd think combining them both plus using it daily would be waaaaay too much though. Is that what you're asking about? Using them both together daily? What other products are you using? For cleansing, moisturizer, etc. And do you use any sort of scrub or physical exfoliant? 

[Demebb]

I only meant the 30% mask being used once a week and using azeliac daily but I think it’ll be okay tbh. Thank you though

[adrz]

I am not in knowledge area abt Azelaic acid cuz it seems to be first time I heard abt it. I only hear abt aha/bha. Anyway I found out it is as chemical exfoliation as aha that must be prevented using daytime during to sun. Answer is yes once and it will overexfoliation. So try something gently like lactic acid that natural exfoliating coming from milk or papaya and honey. Look up at "Earth Science" it has facial cleanser that has little gently grainy of exfoliating from beeswax. Something you can use daily