Can these products be used at the same time?

[sparkles0913]

Hello everyone! I use Paula’s choice 2% BHA serum every night and 2-3 times a week I use Paula’s Choice Azelic acid booster (AHA) on top of the BHA. I recently purchased the Volition Hibiscus unstoppable correcting oil to address some very stubborn acne scars. My question is can the oil be used on top of the BHA serum or should I only use one at a time? The oil has licorice root extract (which I believe is a BHA but please correct me if I’m wrong) so I am unsure if it is too much to layer on top of the BHA serum. I would NOT use the oil on nights when I use the BHA and AHA. I don’t have sensitive skin and my skin can typically tolerate a lot I just don’t want to do any damage. Thank you!

[WinglessOne]

Hi @sparkles0913 ! Couple of quick clarifications: 

Azelaic acid is not an AHA. It does act as a gentle exfoliant, though, so it’s good that you’re pairing it with BHA. My skin hates azelaic acid; funny enough (well, funny now; it wasn’t funny at the time :D), I learned that the hard way during my test of the Paula’s Choice booster last year. I was bummed because I wanted to pair it with my AHA exfoliant. Anyway, I’m glad it plays nice with your skin! 

The Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid Booster also contains licorice root. It’s a very good skin soothing ingredient, often used in products to buffer the harsh effects of other ingredients like glycolic acid (which is an AHA) and retinol. It can also help balance uneven skin tone. It’s good stuff. 🙂 

I hope the Volition product works for you! 

[sparkles0913]

@WinglessOne thanks for the clarification! Just when I think I have agood knowledge about the ingredients in my skin care it turns out I have 50% of it wrong lol 🤦‍♀️ I appreciate you both taking the time to help me understand the products I am using better 🙂 hopefully this oil is another winner to add to my skincare routine! Can I ask you a question based off the info you gave? If azelic acid is not an AHA should I incorporate an AHA into my routine? I do have the ordinary AHA but haven’t opened it yet as I thought I was already using one.

[WinglessOne]

@sparkles0913  You don’t really need to add an AHA, but there’s also no reason not to if your skin tolerates it. 🙂 A lot of folks (myself included) use both AHA and BHA when honestly, we probably only need one. They both exfoliate the skin surface. It’s just that one of them (BHA) can also degunk pores. (There are other differences between AHAs and BHA, but that’s the main one.) But as long as you don’t over-exfoliate—maybe don’t use an AHA 5+ times a week—there’s nothing wrong with adding an AHA to your routine and seeing how your skin responds. Go for it! 

The Ordinary makes a few different AHA products, including a couple of lactic acid exfoliants and a 30% glycolic/lactic/tartaric/? acid peel. (I don’t recall what the 4th AHA is... either mandelic or citric.) I have a bottle of the 30% AHA but still haven’t tried it, but I will soon. I normally use FIRST AID BEAUTY - FAB Skin Lab Resurfacing Liquid 10% AHA 1-3 times a week and it works great for me. 

[RGbrown]

@sparkles0913 

Licorice root is not a source of BHA; you are good to add this to your routine 😊

(And just for future reference: I think you are thinking of willow bark. While BHA can be synthesized from willow bark, if the ingredient listed is just willow bark extract or willow bark water or willow bark anything really, there's no measurable BHA in it...there are steps in between "willow bark" as an ingredient and BHA as a final product. I've seen the "source of BHA" claims on products, and sure, willow bark can be processed into it, but it's not quite the same thing, like they want you to think it is.)

[sparkles0913]

@RGbrown Yes you are right it is willow bark I am thinking of, not sure why I keep confusing the 2 lol. Thank you! And thanks for the info on willow bark as a BHA that is interesting 🙂