The skincare ingredient world is packed with players. It seems as though every day a new one hits the already crowded scene, promising to be the next big thing. Still, despite the newbies that come and go with predictable regularity, there are a handful of skin-gredients that remain tried and true. These are the staples with scientifically proven effects. That said, if you’re one of the folks who regularly experience breakouts, you’re no stranger to salicylic acid. Whether you are looking to exfoliate dead skin to reveal glowing skin underneath or prevent blackheads and breakouts – the hero ingredient can do it all.
Ready to try this superstar ingredient? Find below the best salicylic acid uses and benefits for skin.
Salicylic Acid Uses For Face & Acne
To know what makes the ingredient so impressive and how it contributes to clear skin, we dived deeper to know all things salicylic acid. Keep scrolling to know salicylic acid uses for skin.
Helps In Reducing Inflammation
Salicylic acid belongs to the same class of drugs as aspirin. Its anti-inflammatory property helps in reducing irritation and redness related to breakouts. This is one of the best salicylic acid uses.
Exfoliate Dead Skin Cells
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, and as such, it encourages the growth rate of cells. The increased cell turnover helps in sloughing off dead skin cells, which in turn makes the skin brighter.
Prevent Blackheads And Whiteheads
Not only does salicylic acid help in treating breakouts, but the miracle worker also targets whiteheads and blackheads. Salicylic acid use includes preventing acne from returning to the surface level of your skin.
Removes Excess Oil
As aforementioned, salicylic acid is oil-soluble which means it can penetrate beneath the skin’s surface to clean excess sebum from the pores and decrease oiliness. This can, inturn, also lead to an improved complexion and appearance of pores which is a salicylic acid benefit.
Softens Clogged Pores
Salicylic acid is an oil-soluble ingredient which can penetrate the pores, loosen the glue that causes the dirt and impurities to stick together. Thus removing the content of clogged pores that lead to superficial acne like blackheads, whiteheads, and small red pimples.
How To Use Salicylic Acid On Face
The recommended concentration of salicylic acid products varies from person to person and should be discussed with your dermat. However, if you’re looking for over-the-counter products to reap the benefits of the hard-working ingredient, here are some of the ways to use it.
Use A Salicylic Acid-Infused Cleanser
If you’ve oily skin and you’re looking for a pocket-friendly option to avail salicylic acid benefits, we recommend using this cult-favourite cleanser, which uses 2% salicylic acid to wash away dead skin cells while controlling excess sebum production. Dealing with back acne? You can also use this face wash to treat those pesky body breakouts.
Use A Salicylic Acid-Infused Exfoliator
Exfoliators or scrubs are a good buff that comes with the promise of purging dull skin and dead cells, revealing a newer, glowing complexion underneath. However, grainy exfoliators and face scrubs often get a bad rep for causing redness and burning. They can feel like the enemy to folks with sensitive skin. But not all hope is lost as a salicylic acid-based chemical exfoliator will do the trick for you. This cult-loved formula can treat a number of skin concerns including dullness, acne, and wrinkles.
As An Acne Treatment
For days when you wake up to find a spot has popped up on your face, turn to this acne spot treatment gel. It contains 1.5% salicylic acid to not only fight blemishes but also fade the spots. Salicylic will give you a visibly clearer complexion while niacinamide will pave your way to brighter, youthful-looking skin.
As A Key Ingredient In Your Moisturiser
If you’ve super sensitive skin, we suggest using a moisturising cream, which also contains vitamin B3 and aloe vera extracts. The creams helps in injecting a hefty dose of hydration to dry skin while improving your skin texture and preventing breakouts. Seriously, what’s not to love?
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Now that you know how to use salicylic acid on face, incorporate it into your beauty routine to get a bright, clear, and glowing complexion.
Featured Image: Pexels
