The vast selection of skincare acids that are available can get overwhelming for even the most experienced of skincare junkies! There are numerous pros and cons when comparing azelaic acid and salicylic acid which can make it difficult to figure out which is the right tool for treating your skin concerns.
Let’s Break It Down!
Azelaic acid is gentler than salicylic acid because it is water-soluble and does not penetrate as deeply into the skin. This also means that azelaic acid does not carry as great of a risk of increased sun sensitivity. This makes it a great option for sensitive skin types. Salicylic acid penetrates deeply into the skin because it is oil soluble and it can get deeper into the pores to break up excess sebum and trapped dead skin cells. If you have very oily skin or struggle with congested pores SA will be a lifesaver in your skincare routine.
All chemical exfoliants slightly increase sun sensitivity because they are removing a layer of dead skin cells that protect the skin from UV rays. When you thin out that layer of skin by chemically exfoliating it naturally increases the risk of sunburn. It’s very important that everyone use an SPF daily whether or not you are exfoliating your skin, but it becomes even more important that you never skip out on the sunscreen when you start incorporating acids into your skincare routine.
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Azelaic Acid vs Salicylic Acid – Which Should You Use?
Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of these two awesome acids.
| Benefits: | Azelaic Acid | Salicylic Acid |
| Exfoliates | X | X |
| Anti-Inflammatory | X | X |
| Dark Spots | X | |
| Kills Acne Bacteria | X | |
| Risks: | ||
| Dryness | X | X |
| Sun Sensitivity | X | X |
Can You Use Azelaic Acid & Salicylic Acid together?
It’s not advisable to use both azelaic acid and salicylic acid at the exact same time. Simultaneously combining the two would be very drying to the skin and could cause irritation. But there are ways to safely create a skincare routine using both azelaic acid and salicylic acid! You could for instance use one in the morning and swap in the other at night, or you can alternate using each acid every other day.
The only situation I would give a green light on using both acids simultaneously is if you have found a single product formulated with low percentages of both acids like on the products below.
Skincare Product Recommendations Formulated with both Azelaic Acid & Salicylic Acid:
- Paula’s Choice Antioxidant Pore Purifier $11-$31 Serum – Clear your pores + brighten skin with a blend of azelaic acid, salicylic acid, centella asiatica, niacinamide, and other skin-fortifying ingredients.
- Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Moisturizer $10-36 – This gel-cream reduces the appearance of blemishes, smooths uneven texture, combats redness, and fades uneven skin tone and acne scars.
- PCA Skin Acne Gel $42.50-$50 Moisturizer – Reduce and prevent breakouts with this formulation of 2% salicylic acid and azelaic acid. A lightweight gel that balances excess oil with ginger and cinnamon bark extracts that reduce acne-causing bacteria.
- HydroPeptide Redefining Serum $112-$132 Serum – 1% Salicylic Acid & 2.5% Azelaic Acid encourages healthy cell turnover while combating excess oil. Also formulated with Vitamin E, honey, shea butter, and peptides!
Is Azelaic Acid or Salicylic Acid Better For Treating Acne?
If you are targeting active breakouts salicylic acid should be your go-to acid. It is one of the most highly researched treatments for acne and it penetrates deeper into the pores than AA. This helps break up trapped oil, dead skin cells, and dirt which prevents future breakouts.
Azelaic acid is very helpful for treating active breakouts but it’s even better at helping reduce pigmentation and acne scars from past bouts with acne. It is gentler on the skin so it’s a great option for those who have gotten their blemishes under control and need a product to keep it that way + treat old acne marks.
Budget-Friendly Azelaic Acid & Salicylic Acid Products That I Love
I always try to keep things frugal and accessible in my product recommendations here at GirlChickBetty. I’ve tried countless products formulated with these acids over the years and these are the favorites that I have repurchased time and time again!
1. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% $7.90
This is a simple azelaic acid formula in a dimethicone base. If you’re not familiar with skincare ingredient textures, dimethicone gives a thick pasty gel feeling. It feels similar to applying a makeup primer and should be used as a serum before your moisturizer. A little goes a long way with this product and it’s best used on damp skin to help make sure that it’s evenly distributed.
2. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid Masque $12
This multitasking product from The Ordinary combines salicylic acid with kaolin and charcoal. It can be used as an all-over face mask or you can use it as a spot treatment on problem areas. I like to apply it to just my most breakout-prone areas. The charcoal and kaolin help pull excess oil from the pores which makes it a wonderful treatment for acne-prone skin. It can be a tad drying so I would not recommend it for extremely dry skin types. It’s a wonderful option for oily skin!
3. First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma BHA Acne Spot Treatment Gel $26
This is a super fast-acting spot treatment with 2% salicylic acid to fight breakouts and visibly improve blemishes by the next day. It’s also formulated with colloidal oatmeal to soothe irritated skin and licorice root extract which helps treat acne scars.
4. Althea Milk Peel Cream Mask $8.50
This is a cleanser despite the name! This Korean cleanser applies like a cream and then bubbles into a frothy texture that you massage back into the skin before rinsing off. You can actually hear the bubbles popping when you massage it into the skin! From the brand:
Containing both AHA and BHA extracts, this gentle but effective exfoliator transforms from a clay to a whipped cream lather, whisking away dead skin cells to prevent flakiness. It’s also formulated with casein protein from milk to revitalize and moisturize the skin.
I keep this ready to go in my shower to gently exfoliate my skin a few times a week and it has greatly helped with keeping my breakouts at bay.
