What is Salicylic Acid

What is Salicylic Acid?

If you’re looking for an acne-fighting formula, chances are it contains salicylic acid. Clever BHA, also known as beta hydroxy acid, is one of the most commonly used and effective blemish-eliminating ingredients. Whether it’s an over-the-counter product or a professional concentrate, this powerful product will easily remove spots, pimples, or blackheads that were long gone.

If you want to learn more about its skincare benefits, we have a dedicated blog post on the full benefits you can reap when you incorporate the powerful acid into your daily routine.

What is Salicylic Acid?

Understanding what salicylic acid actually is can be a little overwhelming, but understanding what it does on the skin is important in figuring out how to incorporate it into your daily routine. So let’s first get a better understanding of why the acids of choice are called alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. This essentially has to do with the structure of the acid and how often the molecule breaks down. For example, if it splits into one carbon atom, it becomes an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), and if it splits into two carbon atoms, it becomes a beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

Both groups of acids exfoliate the upper layers of the skin. The main difference is that salicylic acid and other BHAs are oil-soluble, which means they can penetrate deep into the pores and reach areas of the skin that other AHAs, like glycolic and lactic acids, can’t. By exfoliating and clearing excess sebum, dirt, and bacteria from your pores, your complexion will be refreshed, firmer, and more radiant. You’ll also find that it absorbs other active ingredients quickly, allowing them to work faster.

If you’re still a little confused about the main differences between AHAs and BHAs, you can find out more about this at The Beauty Insiders.

What are the main uses of salicylic acid?

Salicylic acid is considered a highly effective active ingredient for fighting skin blemishes. It is able to remove dead skin cells and penetrate deep into the pores to fight active acne and blemishes while preventing further breakouts from forming.

Because of the exfoliating properties of medical-grade salicylic acid, BHAs are included in more than just anti-acne skincare products. You’ll also find that people with dry skin issues like psoriasis and dandruff can use specially formulated products to treat them. However, this also comes with a caveat: you should definitely consult a doctor or dermatologist to see if adding salicylic acid to your routine would be beneficial and avoid unnecessary irritation.

Finally, there are some issues like corns, calluses, warts, and more that can also be removed and treated with high concentrations of salicylic acid. This should only be used by medically trained professionals and should not be attempted at home, as the effectiveness of BHAs can cause severe irritation, skin reactions, severe dryness, and discomfort.

Does lemon juice contain salicylic acid?

Not really, although it does have similar properties to salicylic acid, such as: B. Antioxidants that help fight skin-damaging free radicals, such as UV radiation, pollution, and other environmental aggressors.

As for lemon juice, you’ll find that it contains citric acid and vitamin C, both of which can exfoliate the outer layer of skin and treat signs of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. The downside to using lemon juice on your face to fight acne and blemishes is that it can overly dry out the skin, especially if you opt for pure lemon juice, as it lacks moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Although it may be tempting to use lemon juice on your skin, I advise against it because the pH of lemon juice is too acidic and can disrupt the skin’s natural pH. An imbalance can lead to acne breakouts, dry skin, redness, itching, and general discomfort.

How to make a salicylic acid peel at home?

Making a salicylic acid peel at home is easier than many people think. However, if you want to try it, always check with your doctor beforehand. Once you’ve gotten your GP’s approval, here’s how to use a salicylic acid peel at home.

Step 1: Cleanse your skin and pat dry

Step 2: Take your bottle of salicylic acid, preferably no more than 15%, and mix them in a bowl with a base oil of your choice, such as B. Sweet Almond or Olive Oil

Step 3: Apply the salicylic acid and oil mixture to your skin using a fan-shaped brush, avoiding the eye area

Step 4: Pay close attention to how your skin feels and do not leave the mixture on your face for more than 2 minutes

Step 5: Rinse the mixture off your skin

Step 6 – Let your skin slightly dampen and then apply a serum containing hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture to your skin.

Step 7 – Next, apply an SPF 50 sunscreen in the morning for extra UV protection.

As I mentioned before, you should not try this at home without consulting your doctor first. Salicylic acid is a very potent ingredient that needs to be slowly introduced into your daily routine. Therefore, you should only perform an acid peel at home once your skin has developed some tolerance.

Can I use salicylic acid every day?

Yes, you can, but be careful as this depends a lot on your skin type and whether your established skincare routine contains other effective skin ingredients. This doesn’t mean you should avoid salicylic acid, but you should be careful about how and when you apply it to your skin. Our dedicated blog post provides more details on how to use salicylic acid on a daily basis, so check it out there.

Here you can find some answers to questions we receive about salicylic acid and its expected skin benefits. Don’t forget to visit us on Instagram if you have any other skincare questions.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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