Ingredients & Products

What is Salicylic acid and how to use it

Woman touching cheeks

Best known for its exfoliating and pore-cleansing properties, salicylic acid is a key player in the battle against blemishes and breakouts – but what is salicylic acid and how do you use it? Read on to discover the benefits of salicylic acid.

What is salicylic acid?  

Salicylic acid, also known as a BHA (beta hydroxy acid), is a powerful exfoliant similar to AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), but with a key structural difference. While AHAs are water-soluble and act on the surface of the skin, BHAs are oil-soluble and can not only work at the surface to aid skin exfoliation but also penetrate pores to help reduce blockage and breakout formation.

The benefits of salicylic acid

What does salicylic acid do?

A powerful exfoliator with breakout fighting properties, the benefits of salicylic acid include:

  • Helping to clear blemishes 
  • Helping to unblock clogged pores and prevent new breakouts 
  • Exfoliating away dead cells on the skin’s surface to reduce congestion 
  • Exfoliating away dirt and impurities to reveal clearer-looking skin 
  • Helping to control sebum production and restore balance to troubled skin 

Salicylic acid: How to use 

How to use salicylic acid 

How you apply salicylic acid will vary from product to product. However, it is most effective when applied topically to specific congested and blemish-prone areas.

When to use salicylic acid 

As salicylic acid can make skin more sensitive to the sun, it’s best applied as part of a night-time skincare routine. An SPF moisturiser should then be applied every morning 

How often should you use salicylic acid? 

To see how skin reacts to the BHA, introduce salicylic acid into your skincare routine gradually. Apply once a week for the first week, then increase usage to three times a week as skin grows accustomed – though be sure to read the product label and use as instructed.  

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No7 Beauty

No7 Beauty

Writer and expert