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Retinol and salicylic acid

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Retinol and salicylic acid: keep them apart

Keep them apart

Use retinol and salicylic acid on alternate nights, because combining them causes severe dryness and irritation. Both ingredients speed up skin cell shedding, which can easily strip the skin barrier and cause redness or peeling when used together. To fix this, use a lower concentration or space them out over more nights.

Photocarcinogenesis study of glycolic acid and salicylic acid (CAS Nos. 79-14-1 and 69-72-7) in SKH-1 mice (simulated solar light and topical application study)Novel retinoid ester in combination with salicylic acid for the treatment of acne

Retinol products

Salicylic acid products

Questions and answers

Can you use retinol and salicylic acid together?

Keep retinol and salicylic acid apart because layering them may cause over-exfoliation and irritation. Instead, alternate them by using salicylic acid in the morning or every other night, and apply your retinoid on alternate evenings.

Which goes first, retinol or salicylic acid?

Keep retinol and salicylic acid apart by using them on alternate evenings or separating them into different routines to avoid over-exfoliation and irritation.

Are retinol and salicylic acid good for sensitive skin?

No, retinol and salicylic acid should be kept apart in a skincare routine because combining them may cause over-exfoliation, irritation, or peeling on sensitive skin. You can use them safely by alternating evenings or using a moisturizer in between.

Research on retinol and salicylic acid

Behind this pairing advice

Lovi checks every pairing with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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