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 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 developing.
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.
