What can you mix with salicylic acid (BHA)?

Salicylic acid (BHA) pairs well with moisturising, soothing ingredients such as niacinamide, panthenol, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Keep it apart from other strong actives: use retinol and AHAs on different evenings, vitamin C in the morning, and only one exfoliant at a time. Wear SPF every morning.

Quick guide: what goes with a 2% BHA

Ingredient	With a 2% BHA?	How
Niacinamide	Yes	The Glowness 2% BHA Serum already contains it. If you use a separate niacinamide serum, apply it after the BHA has absorbed.
Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, panthenol	Yes	After the BHA, then moisturiser.
Retinol (over the counter)	Not on the same evening	Alternate evenings: BHA one evening, retinol another.
Prescription retinoids or isotretinoin	Ask first	Ask your prescriber, GP or pharmacist before adding a BHA.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)	Split by time of day	Vitamin C in the morning, BHA in the evening.
AHAs (glycolic, lactic, mandelic acid)	Not on the same evening	One exfoliant at a time. If you use both, alternate them and keep some evenings free of either.
Benzoyl peroxide	Ask first	Ask a pharmacist before using both: together they can add to dryness and irritation.
Scrubs, peels and exfoliating pads	No	One exfoliant is enough.
SPF	Every morning	Wear SPF in the daytime whenever you use a BHA exfoliant.

Why some pairs are kept apart

Salicylic acid is an exfoliant. Retinol, AHAs and strong vitamin C serums also ask a lot of your skin, so stacking them in one routine makes dryness, tightness and stinging more likely, without adding much. Splitting them across different evenings, or across morning and evening, gets you the routine you want with less strain on your skin.

Moisturising and soothing ingredients are the opposite: they support your skin while the BHA works, which is why they pair well.

Brands differ here: some say their BHA can be layered with retinoids or vitamin C. Splitting them, as on this page, is the cautious approach, and the one we suggest while you are starting out.

How to layer on a BHA evening

Cleanse and pat your skin dry.
Apply the 2% BHA to clean, dry skin, focusing on oily areas such as the T-zone.
Let it absorb.
Add a moisturising serum if you use one (niacinamide, hyaluronic acid).
Finish with moisturiser.
Next morning: SPF.

A simple week, if you use BHA, retinol and vitamin C

Bring in one new product at a time, and patch test it first. Start the BHA once a day in the evening for the first week, as the product page directs, before bringing in another active. After that, if you also use retinol, a week can look like this:

Every morning: cleanser, vitamin C serum if you use one, moisturiser, SPF.
BHA evenings (for example Monday, Wednesday, Friday): cleanser, Glowness 2% BHA Serum, moisturiser.
Retinol evenings (for example Tuesday and Saturday): cleanser, retinol, moisturiser.
Rest evenings (the others): cleanser and moisturiser only.

Signs you are doing too much

Cut back if you notice any of these: use the BHA less often and keep to cleanser and moisturiser for a few evenings. If it does not settle, stop and ask a pharmacist.

Tightness, stinging or a burning feeling when you apply products.
Redness or flaking.
Products that never bothered you starting to sting.

What the Glowness 2% BHA Serum already contains

Alongside 2% plant-derived salicylic acid, the Glowness 2% BHA Serum contains niacinamide, panthenol (vitamin B5), glycerin, zinc gluconate, caffeine, aloe vera juice, and chamomile, calendula and horse chestnut seed extracts. Every ingredient is in our full ingredient list guide.

Who should skip a BHA

Skin that is only dry.
Pregnant, breastfeeding or allergic to salicylic acid: consult your GP or pharmacist before use.
Anyone using prescription retinoids or isotretinoin: ask your prescriber, GP or pharmacist before adding a BHA.
Children.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use salicylic acid and niacinamide together?

Yes. They pair well, and the Glowness 2% BHA Serum already contains niacinamide. If you add a separate niacinamide serum, apply it after the BHA.

Can I use salicylic acid and retinol together?

To keep it gentle, not on the same evening. Alternate them: BHA on some evenings, retinol on others. If your retinoid is on prescription, ask your prescriber, GP or pharmacist before adding a BHA.

Can I use vitamin C and salicylic acid together?

The cautious approach is to use them at different times of day: vitamin C in the morning under SPF, and the BHA in the evening.

Can I use a BHA and an AHA together?

Use one exfoliant at a time. If you use both, alternate them on different evenings and keep some evenings free of either.

Can I use hyaluronic acid with salicylic acid?

Yes. Apply the BHA first, let it absorb, then hyaluronic acid and moisturiser.

Do I need SPF with a BHA?

Yes. Wear SPF in the daytime when you use a BHA exfoliant.

The Glowness 2% BHA Serum (50 ml) is a leave-on exfoliant with 2% plant-derived salicylic acid, made for oily and combination skin*.

*Based on a 28-day dermatologist-assessed study of 20 women aged 18-35 when used as part of a skincare routine. Individual results may vary.