Does Salicylic Acid Work?
Salicylic acid is the most commonly used beta hydroxy acid and is considered one of the most effective ingredients in skincare for fighting blemishes and acne. Salicylic acid is found in over-the-counter formulas and is often used in professional peels. It comes in different strengths. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor or dermatologist to ensure that it is safe to use salicylic acid on your skin.
Effective BHAs exfoliate by removing dead skin cells from the outer surface, which, if left on the surface, often lead to pimples, acne, blackheads, and other breakouts. They reveal a bright, radiant, and healthy complexion by dissolving the glue that holds the dead skin cells in place. Salicylic acid, in its higher concentration, has exfoliating properties that can easily resolve these skin issues.
Pimples
Acne scars
Hyperpigmentation
Dark spots
Sunspots
Age spots
Melasma
This should give you a better idea of the acid’s effects. Therefore, be careful when adding salicylic acid to your skin care routine.
Unlike its cousin AHA, salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the skin, reach the pores and remove excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities. If you want to learn more about the benefits of salicylic acid for skin care, you can find a detailed blog post about it on The Beauty Insiders.
Now let’s answer the question “Does salicylic acid work?” If you’ve ever wondered this, stay tuned because everything will become clearer by the end of today’s blog post.
How long does it take for salicylic acid to work?
Consistently use salicylic acid products without any signs of irritation or severe dryness, and you can see significant improvements in all issues such as dull, lackluster skin, dry patches, and other blemishes and rashes in about 6-8 weeks.
A common phenomenon when using salicylic acid is skin detoxification, which means that rashes and acne may temporarily worsen. This is completely normal, as it’s just the potent BHA that penetrates deep into the pores to remove dirt, bacteria, and general gunk that can lead to more pimples and blackheads. Don’t give up, stick with it and you’ll notice clearer, healthier skin soon.
If you don’t see any improvement after 8 weeks, especially if your main concern is treating acne and pimples, you should stop using the product and seek advice from a dermatologist to find a better alternative.
Can I use salicylic acid every day?
Yes, you can use salicylic acid. In fact, you can use it twice a day in your morning and night skincare routine. However, using it every day doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do it, even if it’s completely safe. You know your skin best. So if you feel that using salicylic acid every day will cause more problems, try using it less often. You can also pair salicylic acid products with products that are rich in moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and squalane to combat potential dryness.
Regardless of your skin type, you should always wear sunscreen, preferably with an SPF of 30 or higher, every day when using BHAs as it is essential for the health of your skin and complete protection against UV radiation.
Does salicylic acid make acne worse?
Not really. As I mentioned before, your acne and breakouts may get worse after about 4 weeks of using salicylic acid. Although frustrating, this is a very common problem for anyone applying this powerful ingredient to their face for the first time. You can even consider this a sign that the AHA is working and after another 3-4 weeks, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your skin tone, fewer breakouts, and beautiful, clear skin.
Does salicylic acid remove blackheads?
Yes, it absolutely does! Unlike other chemical peels like glycolic acid, salicylic acid penetrates deep into the skin. Once it reaches the pores, it clears them of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, and other impurities that clog the pores and oxidize on the surface and turn black — hence the name blackhead.
Salicylic acid cleanses the skin from the inside out. When the pores are unblocked, the acid also removes dead skin cells from the outer surface of the skin, helping to reveal new, fresh skin cells underneath.
Regular use of salicylic acid-rich products can keep pores free of dirt and bacteria, preventing the formation of blackheads, whiteheads, and other blemishes while keeping them clear and invisible to the naked eye.
Should salicylic acid be used in the morning or at night?
You can use them both morning and night! This largely depends on your skin type and whether your skin has built up a tolerance to the active ingredient. If you’ve never used salicylic acid before, I recommend going slow to avoid unnecessary dryness and irritation.
Start with a product that’s rich in toner at night, as the formula is less concentrated and therefore less irritating, but still exfoliates. You can then work your way up to a more concentrated product like a serum, which should also be used at night. As I mentioned before, salicylic acid can increase your skin’s sensitivity to light. So, be sure to apply an SPF every day to protect your skin from UV radiation.
Now that you know a little more about salicylic acid, hopefully we’ve been able to address some of your concerns about its effectiveness. If you have more skincare questions or just want to chat about skincare, check us out 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.