I get a lot of questions from friends and family about chemical exfoliants and what skincare acids would suit their skin. I want to address one today that keeps my combination skin breakout free.
Salicylic acid is a BHA that works by penetrating the pore and dissolving the substance that binds sebum into it. This makes it a great tool to attack acne, specifically blackheads. So, those pesky bumps on your nose might benefit tremendously from a SA treatment. Not only will it help eliminate current blackheads, but it will also prevent them in the future if you keep it in your routine.
I use an acid treatment nightly but I switch between a few products containing different acids. But because I have acne-prone skin, I keep salicylic acid on heavy rotation. If you, too, are acne-prone and want to incorporate an acid or two into your routine, the first thing to decide is what category of product you should use. Serums and cleansers are the most likely to contain salicylic acid. However, there are also plenty of moisturizers on the market that contain it.
If you have sensitive skin, a moisturizer might be your best bet. It keeps the actives away from the skin when it is layered on top of the rest of your routine, additionally, they usually have a lower concentration of salicylic acid in them so there is less chance of irritation. Try Blume’s Whirl cream if you’re interested (click here for $10 off)! If you have combination or oily but non-sensitive skin, a serum would be great. This will give you a high concentration of the ingredient and allow for the best absorption as well as the fastest results. I would recommend either Drunk Elephant’s TLC Framboos if you’re looking for a serious treatment and you’re familiar with acids OR The Ordinary’s 2% SA treatment. Finally, someone with dry skin might benefit from a cleanser, this is because the acid will only be on the skin for a minute or two, not giving it a chance to irritate or further dry the skin, but still reaping the sebum-loosening benefits. My favorite is Derma E’s Acne Deep Pore Cleansing Wash.
What other acids are you interested in? Do you use salicylic acid? Has this information made you want to? Let me know more on Instagram @show.your.glow