Understanding the benefits of salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid in skincare

Yes! Salicylic and hyaluronic acids provide complementary actions, particularly for acne-prone skin. Addressing blemishes and the first signs of aging, including both acids in one product lightens your skincare routine while clearing up and smoothing your skin. You can find skincare products adapted to your skin that include both acids.

Treat your skin to the benefits of salicylic and hyaluronic acids

Salicylic and hyaluronic acids work in different ways. Naturally present in skin, hyaluronic acid is a humectant, collecting water and vapour which helps to keep your skin hydrated. As for salicylic acid, in skincare products it’s an ingredient known especially for skin renewal. Combined in a single skincare product, such as a serum, the two acids bring four main advantages.

Pictogram of a face with blackheads and imperfections being removed using an exfoliant.

1 - Exfoliating and cleaning pores

Salicylic acid exfoliates skin, removing dead skin cells, which helps to unclog pores and reduce their size.

Illustration of a woman's inflamed face, showcasing salicylic acid's benefits for addressing skin inflammation.

2 - Reducing inflammation

By exfoliating and keeping pores clean, salicylic acid also helps to reduce inflammation.

Depiction of a woman's face benefiting from acid's anti-aging action, emphasizing hyaluronic acid for skin

3 - Anti-aging

Both hyaluronic and salicylic acids act on signs of aging, helping skin to stay smooth and giving it extra volume.

Illustration of a hand pouring moisturizing cream, an essential step in a clear skin routine.

4 - Hydrating

More than simply moisturising skin, hyaluronic acid helps skin retain moisture, so that it stays hydrated and in good health.

Adults who suffer from acne also deal with the first signs of aging. Oxidised sebum and Cutibacterium acnes bacteria are largely responsible for producing blemishes such as blackheads, papules and pustules. These are compounded by fine lines. Combining salicylic and hyaluronic acids together in one product makes perfect sense – they complement each other. An adult with acne-prone skin needs to apply just one product to provide skincare for two different problems.

Illustration of a woman's face with acne-prone skin, highlighting the use of hyaluronic acid for skincare benefits.

A beta-hydroxy acid that is used in dermatology to treat a number of skin disorders, salicylic acid dissolves into a skincare product’s aqueous phase to work on the skin’s surface. Dead skin cells tend to amalgamate together and build up on the skin’s surface when you have acne. This thickening of skin, called hyperkeratinisation, is one of the reasons why pores become blocked. Salicylic acid helps to unstick these cells from each other, so that they fall away. Unblocked pores mean that sebum can circulate freely. It doesn’t oxidise, which means C. acnes don’t colonise it, and this helps to reduce inflammation. No more excess skin cells stick to each other, new cells move to the skin’s surface. Residual marks are removed, the skin becomes smoother and more even, for a more uniform complexion.

Hyaluronic acid plays a key role in maintaining and restoring the skin’s moisture levels. Able to absorb up to 1,000 times its weight in water, hyaluronic acid helps skin maintain all its vital structures. It is also involved in the production of collagen, making skin supple. The amount of hyaluronic acid naturally present in skin gradually reduces over time. Including it in a skincare product therefore helps to lift and smooth skin. Finally, hyaluronic acid also helps the skin’s protective barrier remain intact, preventing stressors from irritating your skin.

Salicylic and hyaluronic acids have complementary actions in a skincare routine. Both can be included in a product such as a serum.

Illustration of a woman applying a serum to her face, emphasizing the use of hyaluronic acid for skincare benefits.

A salicylic and hyaluronic acid serum, absorbed into the skin and help to exfoliate, reduce inflammation, hydrate and protect the skin barrier, and improve your overall complexion and tone. Combining the two acids in one serum provides all the effectiveness of each, without necessarily affecting tolerance in skin.

The benefits of including both acids in a single product are numerous, not least that a skincare routine needs just one product to achieve so many welcome results. Bioderma’s ecobiology approach, we use the minimal amount of ingredients in our products, and only those that are necessary, to ensure their complete tolerance and effectiveness. As more products are added to a skincare routine, the greater the risk that something will make skin react.

A smiling woman benefiting from the use of Bioderma hyaluronic acid serum

If you’re interested in incorporating a skincare product that includes both salicylic and hyaluronic acids in its formula into your routine, take the time to find the right one. You want a product that meets your skin’s specific needs. Products can differ in the proportions of each acid, to better respond to individual skin conditions. What is sure is that you’ll see improvement in your blemishes and complexion, a reduction in fine lines, while also avoiding all potential irritation.