Salicylic acid is the most common BHA. Concentrations can range between 0.5 and 5 percent, depending on the product at hand. It's well-known as an acne treatment, but it can also help calm down general redness and inflammation.
Salicylic acid, which is a type of BHA, is a common ingredient in acne products. Different BHAs include: salicylic acid. beta-hydroxybutanoic acid.
Salicylic acid (BHA) is an exfoliating ingredient which penetrates deep inside the skin's pores, helping to unclog any excess oil and impurities to prevent breakouts and blackheads. Salicylic acid skincare products are also anti-inflammatory, helping to calm and minimise redness.
Salicylic acid: The most common BHA, and also the strongest. However, it is not as irritating as glycolic acid (the strongest AHA) because of its large molecule size and anti-inflammatory nature.
AHA is best for dry skin and surface-level skin concerns like acne scars. BHAs are best for oily and acne-prone skin types. You can use both by buying products with both ingredients, or by alternating products.
BHA decongests clogged pores through its oil-soluble exfoliating action, whereas niacinamide resets the pore lining back to its normal shape and size, aka what it was like before it became damaged and stretched.
“AHAs and BHAs can certainly be combined. For example, for oily skin, a salicylic-based cleanser can be used followed by a glycolic acid toner. Generally, a glycolic acid is great for dry, dehydrated or combination skin, whereas salicylic acid would be perfect for oily/spot-prone/acne skin.
Salicylic acid is the most common BHA. Concentrations can range between 0.5 and 5 percent, depending on the product at hand. It's well-known as an acne treatment, but it can also help calm down general redness and inflammation.
Salicylic acid works to treat acne by unclogging blocked pores. It does this by breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells so that they can release from the pore more easily, and breaking down oils, such as sebum. Salicylic acid also decreases the skin's sebum production, leading to fewer breakouts.
If your issues are deeper, like cystic acne or just acne in general, you'll want to use either BHA or an AHA/BHA combination, as it will likely be able to better penetrate the issue. For an issue like dry skin, however, AHA is your best bet.
Can niacinamide and salicylic acid be used together? The simple answer is yes. They complement each other well. Being oil soluble, salicylic acid can penetrate deeper into the skin layers, but it can also dehydrate and irritate skin.
Is it okay to use salicylic acid every day? While it is okay to use salicylic acid every day, it could cause irritation. Many dermatologists, therefore, recommend using the acid in moderation, beginning by applying it three times a week and working up from there.
Salicylic acid is the main ingredient in the toner. It penetrates the pores and removes dirt and sebum. The skin toner is packed with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C that boost collagen production, reverse sun damage, and minimize acne scars. This acne facial toner is suitable for dry, oily, and sensitive skin types.
Like glycolic acid, salicylic acid has an exfoliating effect on the skin. It can also remove excess sebum (oil) and reduce sebum production, making it an excellent ingredient for unclogging pores. Plus, salicylic acid has mild anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids should never be used with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an acid, too, and is unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by layering these ingredients together and might as well be useless.
So, using a face wash with salicylic acid as an active ingredient is a good way to regularly exfoliate it. I like to massage my salicylic acid face wash into my skin for at least 60 seconds, so that it has enough contact with my skin to actually work.
Salicylic acid also improves the shape of the pore lining, and once the pore is normalized, the backed-up, smaller clog can more easily come to the surface, appearing as new clogged pores (blackheads or white bumps).
Retinoids such as Tretinoin, acids such as salicylic, and benzoyl peroxide are just a few of the products that cause purging. These products contain active ingredients that increase the skin cell turnover rate, therefore causing your skin to purge.
Acne treatments — especially those that contain active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid — are drying and a bit harsh on your skin. If you use too many treatments at the same time, your skin may become irritated, and you may actually suffer more breakouts as a result.
Salicylic acid is a great ingredient for people with oily and acne-prone skin, and particularly for treating blackheads and whiteheads. If you are suffering from only minor congestion of the pores on your skin, then salicylic acid may be too strong of a spot treatment option and could potentially lead to dry skin.
Salicylic acid is the preferred ingredient for treating blackheads and whiteheads because it breaks down the materials that clog pores: excess oil. dead skin cells.
Can I use salicylic acid every day? It is safe to use products with salicylic acid every day, unless it is specified otherwise on the product usage guidelines or by your health care professional. CeraVe's SA Smoothing Cream and SA Smoothing Cleanser are suitable for daily use.
“You can use a salicylic acid–based cleanser in the morning to unclog pores and avoid acne and a glycolic acid–based cleanser at night to exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin cells,” notes Jailman.
It is considered the best idea to apply niacinamide before salicylic acid. This is because the humectant traits of niacinamide ensure the natural skin barrier contains the correct levels of water. When the skin barrier is moisturised and healthy it can keep itself protected from exposure to free radical damage.