What is Salicylic Acid? The ultimate blemish fighting ingredient for clear skin

Get ready to say goodbye to imperfections and the stress of random breakouts with salicylic acid! This powerful ingredient has an impressive list of beneficial properties such as helping clear acne, preventing breakouts, and improving uneven skin tone. With maskne on the rise, skincare products that contain salicylic acid has been essential in our routines, and we think it should be a staple in your routine too!

What is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is the most common beta hydroxy acid, or BHA, used in beauty products. BHAs, and salicylic acid specifically work to exfoliate and clear out pores which help reduce current and future breakouts. When open pores become clogged and create pimples, salicylic acid can penetrate deep into the pores to dissolve dead cells and oils, thus eliminating the breakout. So satisfying!

Benefits of Salicylic Acid

Clearly salicylic acid is helpful for clearing acne and preventing breakouts, but it also has great anti-aging benefits such as minimizing fine lines and wrinkles! It also can aid in diminishing blackheads, and reducing redness or excess oil of the skin. Since sun exposure and aging makes it harder for the skin to naturally rid dead skin cells and built up oil, an exfoliant like salicylic acid is very important. Unlike your daily cleanser, salicylic acid is oil soluble so it can break through and dissolve excess oils collected on the skin.

How to Use Salicylic Acid

Heads up! The use of salicylic acid increases your skin’s sensitivity, especially towards sun exposure. To protect your skin and to ensure you are getting the most out of your BHAs, be sure to use SPF every day. We love the La Mer UV Protective Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ for an ultra-hydrating and protective sunscreen. It is recommended to start the usage of Salicylic Acid about 2-3 times a week on a small area of your face. If your skin tolerates it well, you can increase your application to every other day if needed.

When it comes to seeing results from salicylic acid, you should expect to see major changes within the first several weeks. It’s also important to note that a small amount of irritation, redness, or dryness is normal when starting to use salicylic acid.

Target the Tough Spots

Salicylic acid is best known for its defense against acne, and we have the best products to get the job done! We especially love the Patchology Breakout Box which is an adorable multi-purpose kit that will clear your pores. The use of salicylic acid in the nose strips is perfect for de-clogging and clearing out those hard-to-reach blackheads. The Breakout Box also includes singular acid dots that you can stick onto individual blemishes before you go to sleep for salicylic acid to work its magic overnight!

If you’re looking for an all-over product to clear current acne as well as prevent future blemishes, the Revive Reparatif Acne Treatment has you covered. And yes, you guessed it! The secret ingredient in this treatment gel is salicylic acid. In fact, the concentration of BHA in this product uniquely combines anti-acne and anti-aging properties for a two-in-one solution. We love this product because it works great for applying to a single area of concern or all over the face for complete acne-prevention and healing.

Don’t you hate it when what seems like out of nowhere a blemish appears on your face? We do too. The Indie Lee Banish Stick is a convenient stick applicator of salicylic acid that provides instant rescuing when you’re on-the-go. The clear formula and precise application won’t interfere with your makeup, so you can throw it in your purse and apply it to your imperfections any time of day! We especially love this product because the salicylic acid is perfectly complemented with Tasmanian Pepper Fruit to soothe dry skin.

Sometimes targeting the tough spots doesn’t always mean acne. We are always looking for ways to diminish those stubborn dark spots and uneven skin tone, and the Sisley-Paris Intensive Dark Spot Corrector is here to help. This product beautifully brightens skin tone and heals visible imperfections. And our trusty friend, salicylic acid in this product helps the process of clearing dark spots with its gentle exfoliating properties.

A Full-Face Effort

Along with targeting individual breakouts and imperfections, salicylic acid can be incorporated into your daily skincare routine in ways that will holistically improve your skin. In the Omorovicza Acid Solution, salicylic acid is combined with other clarifying acids to brighten and rejuvenate dull skin tone, as well as clear and prevent acne. This miracle product is one of our favorites because not only does it even out skin tone and diminish imperfections, but the unique blend of acids boosts hydration for glowing skin. This acid solution works best after cleansing, and make sure to allow time for the ingredients to absorb before moisturizing!

Maybe just a weekly application of salicylic acid is more your speed. Go for the La Prairie Cellular 3-Minute Peel. It really only takes 3 minutes! This exfoliating peel polishes and refreshes your skin so you can start off your week with a bang. The brush applicator makes it extremely user-friendly and allows for an instant full-face exfoliation.

You can also take your salicylic acid exfoliation to the next level with an over-night, full face mask. The Omorovicza Midnight Radiance Mask allows you to wake up in the morning with radiant, rejuvenated skin. The gel-like texture melts into the skin like a dream, making it the perfect bedtime companion. This luxurious mask is the perfect balance of hydration and eliminating hyperpigmentation while you sleep. What more could you ask for?

Clarity Beyond the Face

Salicylic acid is such a miracle ingredient, you can use it almost anywhere! The Lancer Skincare The Method: Body Cleanse provides the perfect blend of moisturization and exfoliation for smooth, supple skin.

Another way to bring salicylic acid into your shower routine is with the Oribe Serene Scalp Dandruff Shampoo. This formula helps cleanse your hair while also gently exfoliating the scalp, so you can say goodbye to dandruff and dryness! The concentration of salicylic acid in this miracle shampoo is your best friend when it comes to a healthy scalp and gorgeous hair.

All in all, salicylic acid is an amazing ingredient when it comes to clearing imperfections from head to toe! We love incorporating it into our skincare routine and are so grateful for the results especially in these times of maskne. We hope you can explore new ways of using salicylic acid in your routine and love it as much as we do!