How to Add a Salicylic Acid Serum to Your Skincare Routine?
Trying to figure out the order in which you should apply your skincare products can be more confusing than a Rubik’s Cube…different products, formulas, concentrations, ingredients, the list is literally endless! Don’t worry, I totally understand how difficult this can be, which is why today I’m going to show you the best ways to incorporate a salicylic acid serum into your daily routine.
How to Use Salicylic Acid in Your Skincare Routine?
Salicylic acid belongs to the beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) family and is the only truly known and commonly used BHA acid. This acid, extracted from willow bark, has a variety of antimicrobial properties, making it the best active ingredient to combat problematic and blemish-prone skin. Due to its large molecular size and oil solubility, it can penetrate deeper into the pores to help remove bacteria, product residue, dirt, and many other acne-causing impurities. For more information on salicylic acid, check out our guide to BHA skin care benefits on the blog.
You can incorporate salicylic acid into your daily routine with a variety of skincare products, such as face washes, serums, and scrubs. This will determine how you incorporate it into your daily routine. You should also consider your skin type to avoid unnecessary irritation or dryness, as salicylic acid is known for its effects and can be very drying to the skin and cause reactive symptoms in sensitive and dry skin.
As I mentioned earlier, there are many products that contain salicylic acid. Here are some examples and how they can help your skin and blemishes.
Face Wash
It is understood that using a face wash or cleanser is the best overall skin care method that can be used regularly every day. The main advantage of using a rinse-off wash is that even with a high acidity of 2%, the product does not stay on the skin for too long to cause severe dryness or skin reactions, but it cleanses the skin and unclogs impurities in the pores. A face wash or cleanser is the first and very important step in your daily routine. After cleaning the skin of makeup residue, using a salicylic acid-rich cleanser can help remove dead skin cells from the skin so that any treatment products that are applied afterwards can penetrate into the lower layers of the skin faster and see results faster.
Serum
When you use a serum, especially in your evening routine, you are giving the active ingredients the best time to work. Applying a salicylic acid serum at night, free from skin-damaging free radicals like pollution and UV rays, will fully treat any problem areas or complexions. If you have dry and sensitive skin, you should definitely avoid this product, as salicylic acid is too strong to use on your skin. However, if you suffer from some rashes, the next product I’m about to share with you may be able to help you, as long as you consult your doctor or dermatologist to make sure it’s safe for you to use on your skin.
Topical Spot Treatments
You’ll notice that these products come in small bottles, as only a minimal amount is needed to be applied topically to the area where the blemish or rash appears. The percentage of salicylic acid in these topical treatments is the highest you’ll find, so expect some dryness and flaking. To counteract this skin reaction, it’s best to follow up your topical spot treatment with a hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid, which will help restore moisture.
Professional Peels
If you find yourself with severe cystic acne, a professional peel may be the solution. The salicylic acid content is medical grade and should only be used by trained professionals. The name “exfoliation” may sound scary, but it’s actually a methodical layering of ingredients to speed up skin cell turnover. It’s no secret that a buildup of dead skin cells can wreak havoc on problematic skin, often leading to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.
Here are some examples of using salicylic acid in your skincare routine. When first introducing this ingredient into your routine and onto your skin, it’s best to do a patch test to make sure it’s safe and won’t cause irritation.
When should you use salicylic acid in your daily routine?
That depends on the products you use that contain salicylic acid. When using a skincare routine, the easiest way to think about it is to determine the order in which you apply the products: from thin to thick. Here are examples of morning and evening skincare routines and the order in which you apply the products.
Morning Skincare Routine
Cleansing Products
Toner
Serum
Eye Cream
Spot Treatment
Moisturizer
Facial Oil
Sunscreen with SPF 30 or Higher
Evening Skincare Routine
Cleansing Products
Toner
Serum
Eye Cream
Spot Treatment
Moisturizer
Retinol
Facial Oil
These are some examples of a balanced skincare routine that includes the most effective amounts of products that benefit the skin and prevent skin problems, like breakouts, and premature signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles.
Should salicylic acid be used before or after moisturizer?
Generally speaking, the most effective skin products containing salicylic acid are serums, anti-blemish products, and cleansers, all of which are used before moisturizer. If you want to use salicylic acid to improve your overall skin tone, serums and cleansers will give you the fastest results and make a noticeable difference to your skin.
Can I use a salicylic acid serum every day?
If you use a cleanser with salicylic acid, you can use it every day because it is in a lower concentration and then rinse it off your skin so it doesn’t become irritated or dry. Combine it with products that contain moisturizing ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Don’t forget the benefits of using vitamin C in your daily routine to give your skin a healthy, radiant glow.
When using salicylic acid, an important step in your daily routine is to use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day due to the skin’s increased sensitivity to UV radiation.
I hope this clarifies how you can incorporate salicylic acid serums into your skincare routine. With different products containing this BHA, you can find the best formula for your skin type. If you want to learn more about the benefits of AHA and BHA for skin, you can check out our guide on the Beauty Insiders blog.
Don’t miss out on more skincare tips and expert advice on our Instagram, so follow us!
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.