How To Dilute Salicylic Acid Powder?
If, like me, you consider yourself quite “clued up” when it comes to all thing’s skincare, you may be surprised that every now and then there is a product or ingredient around that can make you have a double take. That is exactly what happened to me when I stumbled across salicylic acid powder. I’ll admit, after feeling a little foolish, discovering that you are able to find this potent beta hydroxy acid in powder form makes perfect sense.
So, with that in mind, I wanted to share with you everything I have discovered about salicylic acid powder and what it can do for the skin, so let’s dive in together and find out more.
What is salicylic acid powder?
One of the most used beta hydroxy acids, salicylic acid is often found in a variety of different skincare products. Praised for its abilities to work deep into the pores and unclogs them from excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities. With this potent powerhouse also being available as a powder, there are more concerns that can be combatted, from treating warts, calluses, psoriasis, and dandruff.
You’ll be able to find salicylic acid powder is available to purchase, and through prescription both of which are highly potent and must be used as instructed to avoid any flare-ups in skin sensitivity and irritation. If you ever have any concerns, its best to consult with your doctor to discuss the most effective way of introducing salicylic acid powder into your routine.
How do I mix salicylic acid powder?
If you are wanting to mix your own at home salicylic acid solution using the BHA powder, there a few things you need to take into consideration. Here is a guideline on what to do and how to mix your own potent product to help combat blemishes, reduce inflammations, and provide chemical exfoliation.
Step one- Choose a carrier oil for the base of the formula
The carrier oil is the main body of the formula and not only keeps the skin hydrated, it also helps the active ingredients spread across the face and absorb into skin.
Keeping in mind what skin type you have will help you choose a carrier oil that will benefit your skin most of all. Those who are prone to oiliness and blemishes work best with jojoba and grapeseed, those who are drier will reap the rewards from sweet almond oil and avocado.
Step two- Select the best essential oil
This is an additional step you can have as essential oils are best avoided if you suffer from sensitivity. For those of you who aren’t dry or sensitive, adding an essential oil will give your formula an added boost and helping hand in targeting any concerns, tea tree for example is ideal for combating blemish and acne prone skin. Whereas lavender help calm and soothe inflammations and reduces redness. You’ll need about 20 drops of your essential oil to get the optimal results.
Step three- Time to add your salicylic acid powder
The amount of powder you add into your mixture will obviously determine its potency. If you are wanting my advice, I would suggest making your formula mildly potent which ensures if you get a little carried away and apply too much, there won’t be any unwanted side effects. Each salicylic acid powder is different so always check the instructions on the packaging. For an active level of salicylic acid, it is thought that a tablespoon of the powder is the best amount to use. Don’t forget if at any point you are worried about making your solution too potent check with a doctor or trained professional for peace of mind and no nasty side effects.
Step four- Use propylene glycol for dissolving the BHA
Before you add the salicylic acid into your oils, it needs to be dissolved. The best way of doing this is by using propylene glycol which can be found in any pharmacy.
Step five- Finding the best packaging
Once the solution is mixed decant it into an opaque bottle, try your best to keep it upright and for the first few days there may be signs of separation between the ingredients. You just need to give the formula a shake to blend the ingredients together again. Store your product in a cool, dark, place away from direct sunlight and a room that fluctuates with heat.
How do you dissolve salicylic acid powder?
Salicylic acid is notoriously difficult to dissolve. The best way of dissolving salicylic acid powder is with a mixture of alcohol, water, and propylene glycol. If you are finding this difficult to find, it is thought that vegetable oil makes a good substitute for propylene glycol.
How do you use salicylic acid powder at home?
The recipe I have described previously is the ideal way of using salicylic acid powder at home. Ensuring the salicylic acid is of active levels in you at home formulation will help combat impurities and bacteria that are found on the surface of the skin which can often build up and cause a few concerns, from breakouts, such as spots and acne to a dull and lack lustre complexion, not to mention, warts, corns, and calluses.
What is the best way to use salicylic acid?
There are many ways of using salicylic acid in your daily skincare routine. Quite often you’ll find the BHA is formulated into many skincare products, however the most effective are exfoliating toners and overnight serums. Depending on the skin type you have will also mean how often you are able to apply these products, for those prone to being oilier and blemish prone, you can use salicylic acid twice a day. Those who are drier may want to bypass using it and instead opt for a milder acid, such as lactic acid or a member of the PHA family.
If you are wanting to find out more about salicylic acid, you can check out our dedicated blog post about salicylic acid.
So, there you have it, a little information about how to dilute salicylic acid powder. Don’t forget if you have any skincare related questions, come, and find us on Instagram.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
