Non Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Neemli Naturals Tea Tree & Salicylic Face Wash

If youve been scouting for a face wash that can calm flare-ups sans stripping your skin, your search ends here. Neemli Naturals Tea Tree & Salicylic Face Wash combines the strong antibacterial properties of Tea Tree Oil with the anti-inflammatory superstar salicylic acid to treat breakouts whilst imparting soothing hydration . Perfect for oily skin, the ingredients help control overzealous oil glands. Bonus points for its travel-friendly size and cute packaging. This one is definitely a keeper.

Cosrx Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser

When it comes to clearing acne, it helps to have a mild cleanser that wont strip your skin dry like the COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser. Fortified with skin purifying botanical ingredients and Salicylic Acid, it eliminates dead skin cells, excess oil, blackheads and whiteheads, whilst retaining moisture in skin. The creamy foam dissolves debris while controlling oil production to keep acne from seeing you often. Oh and did we tell you, its hypoallergenic. Cue to add to cart for sensitive skin peeps.

Using Salicylic Acid While Pregnant Or Breastfeeding

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that topical salicylic acid is safe to use while pregnant.

However, you should talk to your doctor if youre considering using salicylic acid and are pregnant or breastfeeding so you can get advice specific to your situation, especially in regard to other medications youre taking or medical conditions you may have.

A 2018 report on the use of salicylic acid during breastfeeding noted that while salicylic acid is unlikely to be absorbed into breast milk, you should not apply it to any areas of your body that might come into contact with an infants skin or mouth.

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Salicylic Acid : Face Wash & Cleansers

Refresh your skin care routine with the right face wash or cleanser for your skin type. From a hydrating facial cleanser for dry skin to a foaming face cleanser for normal to oily skin, Target has you covered. Browse your local Target or check out Target.com to find the right formula for your skin. If youre blessed with normal to dry skin, you can never go wrong with a gentle cleanser like the Cetaphil daily facial cleanser. Have combination skin with an oily T-zone or super sensitive skin? Give it a little TLC with a skin-soothing & soap-free formula or a non-foaming face wash. Take a quick look at the ingredient list to find products that help tackle specific skin concerns. Soothe acne-prone skin with an oil-free, exfoliating scrub cleanser or a gel-to-foam, acne-fighting formula with active ingredients like salicylic acid. Wash, cleanse & care for skin with a non-drying formula like the CeraVe cream to foam makeup remover & face wash with hyaluronic acid or try the La Roche-Posay purifying foaming face wash for hydrated, healthy-looking skin.

Wow Skin Science Anti Acne Face Wash Bottle

Whats better than a face wash that slays acne-causing microbes? A soothing face wash that fades blemishes of past acne. Meet: WOW Skin Science Anti Acne Face Wash Bottle. Replete with Tea Tree Essential Oil, Neem extracts, Mulberry, Liquorice, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamins B5 and E, this zit-zapping formula unclogs pores and refreshes skin. What makes it even better? Its free of toxins and makes it to the dermatologically tested list. Brb. Adding to cart.

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Doctors Recommend The Best Salicylic Acid Products For Acne

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Salicylic acid is the gold standard for treating blackheads, whiteheads and excess oil and is naturally found in willow bark, vegetables and fruits. A common skin care ingredient, youve likely come across it while shopping for acne face washes, blackhead treatments and acne spot treatments, explained board-certified dermatologist Kathleen Viscusi, MD. But what is it, and why is it so popular? A beta hydroxy acid that can penetrate the skin to help remove excess oil and unclog the pores, salicylic acid possesses keratolytic properties that enable it to exfoliate dead skin cells and improve texture and tone, noted board-certified dermatologist , MD. If youre dealing with congested pores and acne right now, you might be looking for skin care products with salicylic acid in them. To help you find the right options for you, we consulted medical doctors on the benefits and limitations of salicylic acid in skincare.

Best Salicylic Acid Products

Weve learned from our previous acne coverage that you need to be persistent with your skin care routine to see results and salicylic acid products are no different. You may notice some improvement in just a few days, but the most significant results will appear in about four weeks, noted Murphy-Rose.

To that end, salicylic acid skin care products are available at Shopping reader favorite retailers like Walmart, and . You can also find these anti-acne items at Target, Ulta and Dermstore. To help you sort through the seemingly infinite amount of face products infused with salicylic acid, we rounded up 10 expert-recommended items that range from cleansers and toners to spot treatments and serums.

Read Also: Best Facial Cleanser For Normal To Oily Skin

Best Overall Acne Cleanser

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Cleanse Your Way To A Clearer Complexion

Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based beauty writer and editor. Prior to moving to Chicago, Melanie held staff positions at Shape, Good Housekeeping, and Health. She now writes for numerous print and digital outlets, appears on television as a beauty and lifestyle expert, and consults with beauty brands. She holds a BA in Journalism and English from New York University. When she’s not writing about all things beauty, you can find her organizing her beauty closet, watching anything and everything on Bravo, or spending time with her beloved rescue dog, George.

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In the quest for clear skin, few ingredients are as invaluable as salicylic acid. A beta-hydroxy acid, it’s oil-soluble, meaning it’s able to penetrate deeper into the skin than water-soluble acids, such as alpha-hydroxy acids, explains Devika Icecreamwala, M.D., a dermatologist in Berkeley, CA. This means that salicylic acid is the choice for getting into clogged pores and removing excess oil and other gunk, grime, and impurities, adds Dr. Icecreamwala. It’s also an exfoliant by helping to dissolve the ‘glue’ that holds dead skin cells together, it can help improve the tone and texture of your skin. (

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Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser

Not all salicylic acid face washes that mean serious business have to smell clinical . Enter: Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser. . While you lose yourself in the uplifting blast of pink Grapefruits, the hardworking Salicylic Acid works behind the scenes to deeply purify your skin. Infused with Microclear Technology that prepares the skin to receive the benefits of Salicylic Acid, this cleanser with salicylic acid wipes out dead skin cells without over-drying skin.

How To Choose And Use The Best Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Experiment with textures: Generally, a gel cleanser absorbs oil and foams are great when you need something to really penetrate into the skin, says Dr. Markowitz. However, just because your skin is oily doesnt mean you wont benefit from a hydrating, creamy washespecially if you are easily irritated. Its really not a one-size-fits-all journey, but a gel texture is the most middle-of-the-road option to start with.

Pay attention to potency: Most OTC salicylic acid cleansers contain 2% of the active ingredient, which is a standard amount. But its still something to watch out for, because the stronger the percentage, the more potential for irritation there is.

Watch for oils and hydrators: If a salicylic acid cleanser contains a hydrator like shea butter or ceramides, their occlusive properties can actually increase the acids strength by trapping it into the skin, says Dr. Markowitz. Dr. Shamban says calming ingredients like green tea, aloe vera, allantoin, and niacinamide can soothe potential irritation. And, of course, stay away from oil-based ingredients that might worsen breakouts.

Extra exfoliators are a plus: Salicylic acids efficacy can be increased when combined with AHAs like lactic or glycolic acid, says Dr. Shamban.

Now that you have a better understanding of salicylic acid cleansers and how they work, heres your shopping list of the best dermatologist-recommended and top-rated picks.

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Best Salicylic Acid Face Wash For Combination Skin: Cerave Renewing Sa Cleanser

If your skin can’t make up its mind and you have both slick spots and dry patches, reach for this salicylic acid face wash from CeraVe, a top pick for both derms. “Because it contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides, it’s much more hydrating than other salicylic acid cleansers, making it a good option for those with combination skin,” explains Dr. Icecreamwala. Dr. Greenfield agrees, noting that this facial cleanser with salicylic acid won’t dry out your skin.

What Exactly Is Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that comes from bark willow, a natural substance, making it a natural ingredient, explains Dr. Cheryl Burgess, MD, FAAD and Board Certified dermatologist at the Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in Washington. It’s most commonly known “for helping clear pores of dirt, reducing acne-causing sebum production at the follicular level, and dissolving dead skin cells,” says Dr. Annie Chiu, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist and Founder of The Derm Institute in Manhattan Beach. Because it has anti-inflammatory properties, penetrates deep into the pores, and acts as a chemical exfoliant, it can greatly help reduce mild acne while working to prevent future breakouts, Chiu explains to Cosmo.

In dermatology or skincare, salicylic acid is most commonly used in a topical form. It is approved anywhere up to 2% by the FDA for over-the-counter sales and the mass market , making it readily available for purchase in many different forms. If you need a higher dosage for specific concerns, it can be prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist under their supervision and care.

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Best Salicylic Acid Face Wash For Acne

Knock out pesky pimples with this salicylic acid cleanser. Along with two-percent salicylic acid, the highest concentration you can get over-the-counter, it also has the added benefit of zinc, another powerful acne-fighter that combats oil and reduces inflammation. The Inkey List’s salicylic acid face wash foams nicely and leaves skin feeling clean, but doesn’t contain sodium laurel sulfate, a potentially-irritating ingredient, like many other foaming formulas, notes Nava Greenfield, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, who likes this product. (

Why Salicylic Acid Is Recommended For Clear Skin Too

Unlike some of the questionable acne remedies found on the Internet, an exhaustive amount of research exists to support salicylic acid as an effective acne treatment, which is why this is probably not your first time hearing about the ingredient. If you’ve ever dealt with acne, we’d be willing to bet you’ve even tried a salicylic acid-based product before. But because acne is a very complicated topic, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to treating it.

So to find out if salicylic acid will work for you, your skin type, or your type of acne, you first have to understand how it works. We took all our questions about salicylic acid straight to the experts to find out what makes the ingredient so impressive and how it contributes to clear skin.

Meet the Expert

• Ellen Marmur, MD, is a dermatologist at and MMSkincare in New York City.
• Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD, is a dermatologist based at Mudgil Dermatology in New York City.

Keep reading to see what they had to say about all things salicylic acid.

Salicylic Acid

Type of ingredient: Exfoliant

Main benefits: Sloughs off dead skin, removes excess oil, and reduces whiteheads and blackheads.

Who should use it: In general, those who have oily skin and are looking to treat superficial acne, like whiteheads, blackheads, and small red pimples, according to Mudgil.

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Mamaearth Tea Tree Foaming Face Wash With Tea Tree & Salicylic Acid For Acne & Pimples

If you are looking for a budget-friendly way to target breakouts and drive em away overtime, opt for Mamaearth Tea Tree Foaming Face Wash With Tea Tree & Salicylic Acid For Acne & Pimples. Heres why. Fortified with the antibacterial goodness of Tea Tree and acne-fighting benefits of Salicylic Acid, it helps decongest skin, regulate oil production, heal acne and reduce blemishes. Plus, its infused with Aloe Vera extracts to keep hydration in the loop. Also, we love how its so easy to use just pump, massage and wash!

How To Use It

The recommended concentration of a salicylic acid product varies from person to person and should be discussed with your dermatologist, and the same applies to how often you use a salicylic acid treatment. In general, Marmur says to use salicylic acid in moderation until you know your skin can tolerate it. Start off applying it every few days, and take note of how your skin reacts after each application. “The key is to listen to your skin,” Mudgil advises. “If it’s getting irritated, you’ll need to take a day or two off and perhaps be a bit more vigilant with moisturizing.” As far as the amount used, Marmur stresses the importance of following the direction of your doctor. “Dont do more or less, and dont use it for longer than recommended,” Marmur says. “Apply just enough salicylic acid to cover the affected area and rub it into the skin gently.”

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Precautions To Be Aware Of Before Using Salicylic Acid

Even though salicylic acid is available in OTC preparations you can pick up at your local grocery store, you should talk with your doctor before using it. Considerations to discuss include:

• Allergies. Let your doctor know if youve experienced allergic reactionsto salicylic acid or other topical medications before.
• Use in children. Children may be at more risk of skin irritation because their skin absorbs salicylic acid at a higher rate than adults. Salicylic acid should not be used for children under the age of 2.
• Drug interactions. Certain medications do not interact well with salicylic acid. Let your doctor know what medications youre currently taking.

You should also tell a doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions, as these may affect their decision to prescribe salicylic acid:

• increase in breathing depth

The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Face Wash Is A $10 Acne

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The reason the Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser has quickly become a skin care icon is right there on the bottle: Of all the ingredients that acne-prone individuals should prioritize, salicylic acid sits at the top. It is a beta hydroxy acid that flushes oil and grime from the pores, and dissolves dead skin cells that might get trapped inside there, too. In dissolving dead cells, it also helps keep surface texture smooth and bright, promoting faster turnover so that you heal the dark spots left behind by past blemishes. It also helps temper oil production in the skin, to prevent the accumulation of excess sebum.

You can get your dose of salicylic acid a few different ways. First, there are high-concentration creams, serums, peels, and spot treatments that you let absorb into the skinapplied uniformly or targeting the precise blemish. These are often reactionary instead of preventative, although the uniformly applied ones will also help prevent nascent breakouts.

One of my favorite face washes, salicylic acid or otherwise, is The Inkey Lists Slaicylic Acid cleanser. It combines a 2% salicylic acid formula with soothing allantoin and sebum-tempering zinc, and is gentle enough for those twice-daily cleansings.

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Salicylic Acid Vs Benzoyl Peroxide

One ingredient that rivals salicylic acid’s popularity in the OTC acne treatment department is benzoyl peroxide. But this ingredient takes a different approach when targeting breakouts. While salicylic acid removes pore blockage, benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial ingredient that kills the acne-causing bacteria inside the pores. Infamous for bleaching pillowcases and towels, benzoyl peroxide is also less suitable for sensitive skin than salicylic acid, as its drying properties can lead to flakiness and irritation.