Does Salicylic Acid Work?
Salicylic acid, the most used beta hydroxy acid has built a reputation for being one of the most effective skincare ingredients to help combat blemishes and acne. Found in over-the-counter formulas and often used in professional skin peels salicylic acid is available in different strengths. This is why it is important to consult with a doctor or dermatologist to ensure salicylic acid is safe for you to use on your skin.
The potent BHA provides exfoliation to the skin by ridding the outer surface of a build-up of dead skin cells which if left to sit on the surface will lead to frequent spots, acne, blackheads, and other breakouts. By dissolving the glue that holds the dead skin cells revealing a bright, glowing, and healthy complexion. Salicylic acid can be found in higher concentrations and provides peeling agent properties making light work of any of these skin concerns.
Acne
Acne scars
Hyperpigmentation
Dark spots
Sun spots
Age spots
Melasma
This should give you a better idea of how potent the acid can be so remember to proceed with caution if salicylic acid is a new addition to your daily skincare routine.
Unlike its cousins, AHAs, salicylic acid is oil soluble meaning it is penetrating further into the skin reaching the pores and unclogging them of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities. If you wanted to know more about the skincare benefits of salicylic acid there is a full dedicated blog post about it on The Beauty Insiders.
Now, let’s move on to answering, “does salicylic acid work?” if this is something you’ve thought to yourself, stick around as things will be a lot clearer by the end of today’s blog post.
How long does it take salicylic acid to work?
When using salicylic acid products consistently without any signs of irritation or severe dryness you’ll expect it to about 6-8 weeks to start to see a notable difference to any concerns, such as dull, lack lustre complexion, dry patches of skin, as well as other blemishes and breakouts.
One common occurrence that many find when using salicylic acid is that their skin can purge meaning breakouts and acne can temporarily become worse. This is perfectly normal as it is just the potent BHA making its way deep into the pores and clearing them of dirt, bacteria, and just general gunk that results in more spots and blackheads. Don’t give up, stick at it and you’ll find the skin has improved clarity and a healthy glow in no time.
If you find that after 8 weeks you have seen no improvement, especially if your main concerns have been to treat acne and spots, then you should stop using the product and seek the advice of a dermatologist to find a better alternative.
Can I use salicylic acid everyday?
Yes, you can use salicylic acid, in fact, you can apply it twice a day during your morning and evening skincare routine. Having said that, although it’s perfectly safe to use it every day doesn’t necessarily mean you have to. You are the one who understands you skin best of all so if you feel as though using salicylic acid everyday will cause more problems than try reducing how often you apply it to the skin. You can also help counteract any dryness that can occur by layering your salicylic acid product with one that is rich in hydrating skin ingredients such as, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and squalane.
No matter your skin type, when using the BHA applying a daily sunscreen, preferably with an SPF of 30 and above, as is vital to maintaining your skin’s health and keeping it fully protected from UV exposure.
Does salicylic acid make acne worse?
Not really, as I have already mentioned you may find your acne and breakouts appear to get worse after using salicylic acid for about 4 weeks. As frustrating as it is, this is a very common concern that happens to anyone applying the powerhouse ingredient to the face for the first time. You can even go as far as considering it is a sign of it acid working and after another 3-4 weeks you’ll see a marked improvement of the complexion, a reduction of breakouts and beautifully clear skin.
Does salicylic acid remove blackheads?
Yes, it certainly does! Unlike other chemical exfoliants such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid works further down into the skin. Once it has reached the pores it can unclog them of any build-up of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities that fill the pores and once surfaced will oxidised and turn black- hence the name blackhead.
Salicylic acid can clear the skin out from the inside out, with the pores unclogged the acid will also work at ridding the outer surface of the skin of dead skin cell build-up helping to reveal new, fresh skin cells underneath.
By using a product enriched in salicylic acid consistently you will keep the pores clear of any debris and bacteria preventing them from developing blackheads, whiteheads, and other spots whilst keeping pores clear and less visible to the naked eye.
Should I use salicylic acid in the morning or night?
You can use it in the morning and night! This is very much dependant on your skin type and whether your skin has built a tolerance to the potent ingredient. If you are new to using salicylic acid, then I would suggest introducing it slowly to avoid unwanted dryness and irritation.
Start by using it in the evenings when it’s enriched in a toner as this formula contains lower concentrate so is less irritating but still provides exfoliation to the skin. You can then work your way up to a product, such as a serum that contains a higher concentrate which should also be applied in the evening. As I have mentioned already, salicylic acid can increase the skin’s photosensitivity so always apply a daily SPF for full production from UV exposure.
There you have a little more about salicylic acid and hopefully we’ve addressed some concerns you have about whether it works. If you have any more skincare questions, or just fancy a skincare chat, 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.
