16 Best Skin-Care Products With Salicylic Acid
12 of Our Favourite Products Formulated With Salicylic Acid to Help Treat Acne
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Nailing down your skin-care basics, like what ingredients do what and how to use which products when, is important to getting the most out of your beauty products. You should know that hyaluronic acid is great for hydration, AHAs are the gateway to glowy skin, and salicylic acid is basically your BFF when it comes to treating acne — and that's just the beginning.
Let's start with salicylic acid, an acne-fighting skin-care ingredient in the beta hydroxy acid (BHA) family. Found in all matters of products, from cleansers to serums, spot treatments, toners, and even moisturisers, salicylic acid is derived from willow bark, and packs anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits, which is what makes it so great for pimples. Using products with salicylic acid in them help increase cellular turnover and break up clogged dirt and debris stuck in your pores to promote clearer skin.
There's no shortage of products on the market with this acne-banishing ingredient so to make your hunt a bit easier, we rounded up our favourite skin-care products with salicylic acid ahead.
— Additional reporting by Wendy Gould and Morgan Ashley Parker
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment
Sometimes you need to target a monster zit. For this, reach for a more potent spot treatment, such as Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment (£21), which contains two percent salicylic acid to kick acne bacteria to the curb. It also contains ginger root extract to soothe and absorb more oil and frankincense to mattify the blemish.
Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Oil
It may seem counter-intuitive to apply oil to already oily skin, but trust us on this one. If your skin is producing excessive amounts of sebum, it's very likely trying to compensate for underlying dryness. The solution is to hydrate your skin regularly. Sunday Riley's U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Oil (£34) contains one and a half percent salicylic acid to battle acne and skin congestion while milk thistle and cucumber seed oil nourish, hydrate, soothe, and plump.
Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots
Each of the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots (£17) features salicylic acid — along with soothing aloe vera — to penetrate pores overnight (or under a protective mask) and reduce blemish size and redness.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Acne Eliminating Gel
The secret ingredient in this Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Acne Eliminating Gel (£40) is monk's pepper, which addresses oil production that can lead to clogged pores, but it also contains salicylic acid to help clear skin.
Olehenriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner
The trio of acids inside this Olehenriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner (£22) includes a blend of salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids that helps unclog pores and minimise their appearance, so skin is purified and mattified as a result.
Murad Clarifying Cleanser
This top-rated Murad Clarifying Cleanser (£27) actually boasts two types of salicylic acid inside — one that starts working immediately and a second encapsulated one that can continue to work long after the cleanser is rinsed away.
The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Like many of the brand's products, The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser (£11) is a total favourite among editors, dermatologists, and beauty influencers thanks to its affordable price tag and effective formula. This cleanser works well to remove makeup (never eye makeup, though) and also general grime from the day, plus it helps control excess sebum.
Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser
If your skin is craving clarity, begin your routine with the Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser (£13.50). It's formulated with salicylic acid to combat acne and excess sebum production, plus a soothing botanical blend that includes aloe, chamomile, and thyme that calms skin and reduces redness. Because this is a mild cleanser, it can be used both morning and evening.
Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel
Another great spot-treatment option is the Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel (£16.50). It contains one-and-a-half percent salicylic acid, making it slightly less potent than the Kiehl's spot treatment, and is intended for hormonal acne and bumps.
The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment
The Inkey List Succinic Acid Blemish Treatment (£7) got a lot of hype when it first launched because it contained an ingredient we hadn't heard of before. Succinic acid has been used in medical circles for years. It's naturally found in amber, where its antimicrobial properties have been used for centuries in therapeutics. Recently, however, studies have shone a light on its amazing properties like skin reconditioning and soothing irritation, which it does in this product. Thing is, this little tube also contains salicylic acid and sulphur, two well-known spot zappers — the former by helping to clear out clogged pores and the latter by sopping up excess oil.
Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser With Salicylic Acid
A favourite salicylic-acid face wash of both beauty editors and dermatologists is the Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser With Salicylic Acid (£12). Aside from the star of the show, salicylic acid, the formula also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and ceramides to help strengthen the skin barrier.
Skingredients Sally Cleanse
The Skingredients Sally Cleanse (£12, originally £24) is strong — it contains 2% salicylic acid, which is the highest amount of salicylic acid permitted in a skin-care product in the EU. But the reason we love it so much is that whilst it's great for clearing up spots and blackheads, it doesn't feel harsh or stripping on your skin if used correctly (once or twice a week, using it alongside a gentle cleanser). The best part is you can also use it on your chest and back, or use it as a spot treatment on any particularly angry blemishes.
