Salicylic acid (BHA) in skincare: Everything you need to know
If you struggle with blemishes such as pimples, blackheads or sebaceous filaments, read on. Help is at hand from the active ingredient salicylic acid (BHA), which gently exfoliates the skin’s surface, deeply cleansing it and helping it renew itself - stronger and cleaner than before.
Before you get started with products containing salicylic acid, we’ll equip you with everything you need to know about salicylic acid in skincare. Read about how salicylic acid works in the skin and find helpful advice on how to use it here.
What is salicylic acid?
Salicylic acid, or salicylic acid, is an active ingredient often used in skincare to combat blemishes and acne. Salicylic acid can be extracted naturally from willow bark, but in skincare it is most often produced synthetically.
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), which means that the acid is oil-soluble. It can therefore penetrate the pores and help prevent clogging, making it effective against oily skin, breakouts and blackheads.
When used in skincare, salicylic acid acts as a chemical exfoliant that promotes skin regeneration and makes room for new cell growth. Salicylic acid exfoliates accumulated sebum and dead skin cells from the skin’s surface and pores, leaving skin more even and clear.
What is salicylic acid good for?
Salicylic acid effectively reduces blemishes and evens out skin texture. It dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells, reducing clogged pores, inflammation and bacterial growth. When the skin’s surface is exfoliated, the skin is stimulated to begin regenerating.
This gives skin a soft texture and a glowing surface right away, while reducing blemishes and unevenness over time.
Who can benefit from using salicylic acid?
Salicylic acid is particularly suitable for skin types prone to oiliness and blemishes. But salicylic acid can also be beneficial if you don’t struggle with blemishes.
Salicylic acid reduces oiliness, inflammation and redness, helping to balance your skin and allowing your makeup to sit better on its even surface.
ECOOKING recommends: Serum with salicylic acid
By choosing a serum with salicylic acid, you get an effective product specially developed to reduce blemishes through deep cleansing.
Our ECOOKING Acne Serum contains both salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid, so the serum both cleanses deeply and boosts hydration.
In this way, the serum effectively prevents and treats blemishes, redness and breakouts.
Acne Serum
Fragrance-free serum for blemishes and large pores, which deeply cleanses por...
How to best use salicylic acid in your skincare routine
Salicylic acid is generally tolerated by most skin types, but always start slowly to build up your skin’s tolerance. For example, start by using your serum, mask or cream with salicylic acid 1-2 evenings a week, and let your skin get used to it.
Generally, skin that is used to active ingredients will often tolerate more frequent use of skincare containing them, so pay attention to your skin’s signals if you have younger or sensitive skin. If your skin tolerates it, you can gradually increase use until you are using your salicylic acid skincare every evening.
Whether you choose a serum or a cream with salicylic acid, make sure to apply it to clean skin and protect your skin with a nourishing night cream afterwards.
GOOD TO KNOW:
It’s a good idea to apply skincare with active ingredients in the evening before going to bed. This gives your skin time to renew itself - and you can wake up with a healthy glow.
AHA, BHA and PHA in skincare
Salicylic acid is a BHA and is often found in skincare products alongside its two counterparts AHA, alpha hydroxy acid, and PHA, polyhydroxy acid.
These three acids fall under the category of chemical exfoliants because they all help exfoliate the skin’s surface and promote cell renewal. AHA and PHA acids work primarily on the skin’s surface, while BHA also cleanses deep inside the pores.
Using a chemical exfoliant in your skincare routine gives you a smoother, more even surface and also increases the effectiveness of your subsequent products by preparing the pores to absorb nourishment and care.
Read more about AHA, BHA and PHA acids here
Effective exfoliation with salicylic acid
If you want to give your skin a little extra care a couple of times a week, use our effective Peeling Mask, which gives your skin an intense boost from the AHA acids lactic acid and glycolic acid and the BHA acid salicylic acid.
The peeling mask improves the skin by promoting cell renewal. This gives skin a smoother surface, reduces fine lines and diminishes the appearance of pigmentation spots.
Peeling Mask
Fragrance-free peeling mask with AHA acids that exfoliates with lactic acid a...
Shop effective skincare at ECOOKING
To achieve the best results, choose effective skincare products that improve your skin through targeted care. This requires both active and nourishing ingredients, which together can create the best conditions for your skin to be strengthened and protected at the same time.
At ECOOKING, all our skincare products are dermatologically tested, which means that our products are tested on a group of volunteers before they reach the shelves. Only products that do not cause skin irritation make it through.
In this way, we can create effective skincare that delivers both noticeable and visible results for you and your skin.
