I already use salicylic acid or retinol. Can I combine them with this soap? — NK toilet soap Tar 4x100 g

It is possible to combine this soap with exfoliating acids, retinoids or other active skincare, but you need to think about the overall load on your skin. This tar soap has a purifying cleansing effect, while active ingredients themselves are often drying or irritating. If you combine a strong cleanser with strong actives, the skin can become red, tight, flaky or uncomfortable.

Practical ways to combine them:

• Use this soap only in the evening or only in the morning, so your skin is not washed with a strong cleanser twice a day.
• On days when you use strong actives, wash with a milder cleanser and use tar soap on other days.
• If the skin feels dry or tight, pause one of the products until the skin feels comfortable again.
• Rinse with lukewarm rather than hot water and follow with a moisturizer.

Everyone’s tolerance is different, so there is no universal schedule. Start with a low frequency, for example tar soap a couple of days a week, and increase only if your skin stays calm. If you use prescription skincare or the reaction is strong, ask a dermatologist how to structure your routine.