This is nothing new. A lot of brands choose to use ingredients that no one else is using – for the novelty factor, or to get people excited about the exclusivity. Like hyaluronic acid, succinic acid is hydrating, but the molecules are smaller, which means it can penetrate your skin more deeply. IS THIS PRODUCT PREGNANCY SAFE? We do not recommend this product if pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before use. Our PHA Toneris a great alternative. Your guide to pregnancy safe skincare > Folks with acne-prone skin might also be pleased to learn that succinic acid works well in tandem with other breakout-targeted products. "Combining it with salicylic acid would be synergistic because the succinic acid can kill the bacteria and offer anti-inflammatory effects, while the salicylic acid can exfoliate dead skin cells," explains Dr. Gmyrek. (Reminder: A build-up of dead skin cells, among other factors, can contribute to breakouts.) We suggest cleansing with Salicylic Acid Cleanser, followed by hydrating skin with Hyaluronic Acid before applying Succinic Acid Treatment.

As regards alternative treatments to isotretinoin and antibiotics, a study by Ahluwalia et al. in 2019 indicated that the antiseptic benzoyl peroxide (BPO), an over-the-counter acne treatment with bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and comedolytic properties, did not affect microbial diversity [ 45]. However, these data need to be confirmed as a smaller-sized study—including only five preadolescent females with acne treated with BPO—found that microflora diversity decreased after treatment [ 46]. According to a very recent Cochrane review, there may be little to no difference between treatment with long-term BPO and that with clindamycin or adapalene in terms of self-reported treatment success in mild-to-moderate acne management [ 47]. If you do not already use it, a GP may recommend the combined oral contraceptive pill, even if you're not sexually active. That being said, it’s always wise to start with a tiny amount of any new skin care product and then increase gradually once you test your reaction. You can also ask your dermatologist for advice if you’re concerned about using specific facial acids. ConclusionFirst off, this is not a bad product. It works well on me, and I think there are very few truly bad products on the market. But there is a LOT of dodgy marketing. The skin microbiome is divided into ‘normal’ commensal skin microbes, which live in homeostasis with the host and form the resident microbiome, and pathogen microbes from the environment, which temporarily live on the skin and form the transient microbiome [ 4]. In acne, the resident microbiome includes Cutibacterium acnes (formerly called Propionibacterium acnes) and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas the transient microbiome includes Staphylococcus aureus [ 5]. A microbial imbalance or ‘dysbiosis’, compared with the normal distribution in healthy tissues, has been suggested to be involved in the pathophysiology of inflammatory acne [ 6]. Tetracyclines can make your skin sensitive to sunlight and UV light, and can also make the oral contraceptive pill less effective during the first few weeks of treatment. Widely used in the food industry as a chelating agent and as a pH adjuster, succinic acid has been recognized as a safe substance for years (1). Studies also proved its antioxidant properties (2) especially for cosmetics. Succinic acid is also a fully safe intermediate to manufacture derivatives like emollients, surfactants and emulsifiers used in cosmetic formulations. Bio-succinic acid offers a wide array of cosmetic uses

Where does SA come from? It’s naturally found in some plants and even in animals tissues, much like acids such as butyric acid (found in some foods containing fat, such as butter and ghee). Topical retinoids work by removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin (exfoliating), which helps prevent them building up within hair follicles. If you’re one of those affected, it can feel like there isn’t much that you can do about it. This isn’t the case, however. Over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments are extremely effective, but a degree of patience is required to see results. Ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide all work in slightly different ways to stop your pores from becoming congested. So while they don’t work overnight, they do prevent breakouts in the long term. To explore this, the researchers put succinic acid with C acnes bacteria on a multi-well plate. They found that they needed a 5 mM concentration to kill the bacteria. (For comparison they needed twice as much lactic acid (10 mM), and 50% more acetic acid (7.5 mM) – acetic acid is the acid in vinegar.)If you have severe acne, or prescription medicines are not working, your GP can refer you to an expert in treating skin conditions (dermatologist). In most cases, a class of antibiotics called tetracyclines is prescribed, unless you're pregnant or breastfeeding. It also makes your face more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid too much sun and sources of ultraviolet (UV) light (such as sunbeds), or wear sun cream. Antioxidant activity: Bio-succinic acid is able to reduce intensity of the lipid peroxidation, and therefore may act as an anti-pollution agent (5) and improve cosmetic product stability. We researched and have everything you need to know about what succinic acid is, what it does, and who can use it. We also formulated a product with succinic acid as the start ingredient so that you can grab all the benefits in a gentle, holistic formula like only the skincare team at Rael can deliver. What Is Succinic Acid?