What is Salicylic Acid and How Does it Improve Your Skin?

Salicylic acid is a common and effective ingredient in skincare products. 

It is classified as a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) and its main function is an exfoliant. Despite being a naturally occurring ingredient that derives from the bark of plants like willow trees, it’s usually synthesized in a laboratory before being used in skincare products. 

Whether you’re looking to enhance your skincare routine or simply make more informed choices, here’s everything you should know about salicylic acid.

Understanding salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is soluble in oil. This means it can penetrate deeper into the pores in your skin, especially when compared to water-soluble alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid. 

It works by dissolving the bonds that form between oil and dead skin cells, which are responsible for causing blockages in our hair follicles when they combine. On the complexion, this appears as blemishes and uneven skin tone. 

By unblocking pores, salicylic acid also works to rebalance the flow of natural oils in your skin and reduce the chances of further blockages. 

What are the benefits of using salicylic acid?

Salicylic acid could be hugely beneficial for you if you have oily or combination skin, or if you often experience stress acne breakouts.

Blemishes like whiteheads and blackheads are formed by blockages. These usually contain a mixture of oils and dead skin cells, and they sometimes get infected with bacteria too. 

Thanks to its oil solubility, salicylic acid powers through oily skin and clears pores, leaving your skin clear and ready for a cleanse. This invaluable ingredient appears in the following forms:

• Toner – ideal for cleansing once or twice daily.
• Cleaner – depending on skin sensitivity, for use once or twice daily.
• Moisturizer – for daily application to clean skin.
• Serum – to smooth onto freshly washed skin, not layered with other products.
• Blemish treatment – as targeted skincare, paired with moisturizer.

What are the benefits of salicylic acid?

This powerful ingredient boosts skin health in several ways. Along with its ability to unclog pores, it boasts several clinical and holistic benefits. These include:

• Reduced inflammation – by exfoliating the skin, this BHA suppresses certain pathways in cells that work to reduce inflammation.
• Acne treatment – salicylic acid is known to control excess oil and sebum production, which keeps skin clear of blemish-causing bacteria. 

Experiencing acne breakouts can be stressful and isolating, so it’s worth taking the time to find a treatment that works. With a wide range of expertly formulated salicylic acid skincare products on the market, this ingredient could be the key to clearer skin.

Using salicylic acid safely

Finally like many other ingredients used in skincare, salicylic acid can cause a reaction. 

Skin type and sensitivity varies immensely from one person to another, so there’s no guarantee that this is the right ingredient for you. The only way to find out is to try it, so we recommend only treating a small area at first – this is a technique known as patch testing.

A few of the potential side effects include dryness, irritation and skin peeling. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s always worth talking to a doctor before using any new products in your healthcare routine.

Start out with lower concentrations to avoid the risk of irritation and only increase the volume and frequency over time.