Salicylic Acid FOR THE SKIN

Salicylic Acid is an active skincare ingredient that exfoliates skin, controls excess sebum (oil) production, and keeps pores clear. It’s great for blemish prone skin and can refine and refresh skin in as little as 7 days with daily use.

It’s commonly found in cleansers and spot treatment products but 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? This guide covers a wide range of Salicylic Acid-related topics, including: how to use Salicylic Acid, is Salicylic Acid a BHA, does Salicylic Acid make 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 skincare regimen.

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 skin, exposing a new layer of skin cells beneath. With this, all manners 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 the skin to clear excess oil and dead skin cells, while Niacinamide provides a wave of nourishing hydration. Together, these two ingredients can leave 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.

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 skin while removing any excess oil to leave skin 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.