Salicylic Acid
FOR YOUR SKIN
What is
SALICYLIC ACID?
Salicylic Acid is an active skincare ingredient that exfoliates your skin, controls excess sebum (oil) production, and keeps pores clear. It's great for blemish-prone skin and can refine and refresh your skin in as little as 7 days with daily use.
You'll commonly find it in cleansers and spot treatment products, but it can also be found in acne-friendly make-up products and anti-dandruff shampoo.
Salicylic Acid is available in different concentrations, with each concentration designed for a specific purpose. Higher concentrated Salicylic Acid is used as a peeling agent, which can reduce the appearance of acne, melasma and dark spots, while lower concentrations can be used on a daily basis in cleansers and toners.
If you've clicked on this article then there's a high chance you've wondered: what is Salicylic Acid and what does Salicylic Acid do for your skin? This guide covers a wide range of Salicylic Acid-related topics, including how to use Salicylic Acid, whether Salicylic Acid is a BHA, whether Salicylic Acid makes acne worse before it gets better, and much more.
Read on to discover the benefits of this wonderful active ingredient, and find out if Salicylic Acid can help boost your own skincare regimen.
Frequently asked questions about
salicylic acid for your skin:
It's fine to use Salicylic Acid as part of your daily skincare routine. Doing so will help to keep your skin clarified and refreshed while limiting excess oil production. However, when beginning with any new exfoliant or skin peeling ingredient, we'd recommend easing into it by limiting use to twice a week for the first few weeks.
Purging, in a skincare sense, means an increased rate of skin cell turnover. This process can occur when an active ingredient such as Salicylic Acid comes in contact with your skin, exposing a new layer of skin cells beneath. With this, all manner of other pimple-causing things are brought to the surface along with the skin cells, including excess oil and dead skin cells that would otherwise clog pores.
As a result, a fresh wave of pimples may appear. However, unlike a bad reaction to a new product – which can cause breakouts in areas of skin where they typically don't appear – purging pimples form in the usual areas and tend to fade away quicker than normal.
Although purging may not occur, it's completely understandable to be alarmed if it does. You may even wonder: does Salicylic Acid make acne worse before it gets better? Read on to learn more about this topic.
One of the more common skincare-related questions focuses on the combined use of different products. Ever asked yourself, “can I use Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide together?”. Well, we can safely say yes – it's fine to use Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide at the same time.
In fact, the two ingredients complement each other and can be especially effective for oily skin. Salicylic Acid handles the task of penetrating deep into your skin to clear excess oil and dead skin cells, while Niacinamide provides a wave of nourishing hydration. Together, these two ingredients can leave your skin feeling purified, clearer and moisturised, making them an ideal choice for a daily skincare routine.
Although Salicylic Acid works well against acne and the bacteria that causes it, the purging process may initially worsen symptoms of acne. This potentially alarming process shouldn't last any longer than 6 weeks, and it's worth the wait as your skin should appear clearer and brighter than before.
If it does last longer than 6 weeks, or you think you may be experiencing a bad reaction instead of purging, stop using the product and consult a dermatologist right away.
Rounding off your
SALICYLIC ACID SKINCARE ROUTINE
The NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range can be used in both your morning and night care routine, and like all routines, it's best to round off with a nourishing moisturiser.
The NIVEA Mattifying Day Cream is the perfect compliment, as it intensely moisturises your skin while removing any excess oil to leave it looking refreshed and shine-free for the day ahead. For night time, apply the NIVEA Hydra Skin Effect Regeneration Gel Night Cream for up to 72 hours of hydration, leaving your skin feeling supple, smooth and regenerated.
You might notice some very light stinging when using Salicylic Acid for the first time, but this is completely normal and to be expected. However, when using any new product for the first time, we'd recommend seeking a professional opinion, and only testing a small area of skin before applying any larger amounts. And of course, always avoid using Salicylic Acid on irritated skin.
NIVEA
DERMA SKIN CLEAR RANGE
The innovative NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range is formulated with clearer, refined skin in mind, especially if you're dealing with blemishes. It harnesses the clarifying combination of Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide to unclog pores and reduce the appearance of whiteheads & blackheads with regular use. If your skin is prone to blemishes and breakouts, this high-quality range might be the solution you've been looking for.
As always, consult a dermatologist before trying any new skincare product, and always follow the instructions on the label.
