WHat is it for:

Salicylic Acid is a BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) which means it provides gentle chemical exfoliation to help improve skin texture and unclog pores for clear skin.

When to use:

PM – daily

Active ingredient benefits:

A Chemical Exfoliator 

-    Salicylic Acid exfoliates the skin to tackle the build-up of dead skin cells in pores and hair follicles which can lead to blemishes forming. Don’t let the term ‘chemical exfoliator’ scare you!

A Keratolytic Agent

-   The ‘Kera’ part refers to keratin and ‘lytic’ means breakdown. Salicylic Acid breaks down Keratin to make the skin more susceptible to cell turnover (shedding of dead skin cells and replacement with new cells), helping to encourage a brighter complexion.  

Oil Soluble

-   Salicylic Acid can travel further into oily pores to help with deeper decongestion and dissolving skin debris

Ingredient origin:

Synthetic, but it can also naturally occur in Willow bark

Works well with:        

Niacinamide/ Vitamin C (when used at different times of the day)

Doesn't work well with:        

AHAs e.g. Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid, can lead to over-exfoliation if paired in the same routine, so rotate for best results.

Time to see results:

After 6-8 weeks of consistent use, you should start to see the benefits of Salicylic Acid, but this can vary from person to person

Impact on sun sensitivity:

Salicylic Acid is limited to up to 3% in cosmetic products. This means it won't increase your skin's susceptibility to sun damage, making it safe for morning use. Salicylic Acid doesn't provide any protection against UV rays, so we would still advise applying an SPF every day. it's important to protect your skin and avoid potentially undoing the positive effects of your Clear Skin journey.