How to Use Salicylic Acid for Skin
Can you melt your troubles away?
Salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid (BHA) popular in skin care as an ingredient effective against acne. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and concentrations in the forms of creams, gels, and balms. You can even find it as an active ingredient in certain cleansers and toners! The way that it works is by gently exfoliating the surface of the skin and cleansing out pores.
Why acne appears
Acne can appear when your pores get clogged up with dirt, dead skin cells, and excess sebum. This collection of debris causes inflammation, leading to the appearance of whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. Salicylic acid gets in there and dissolves dead skin cells, dislodging it, and making it easier to remove when you cleanse your face. It’s a slow and steady process, so it pays to have patience with it.
Who needs it?
Unless you’re a unicorn who has perfect skin all-year-round, we can all benefit from an acne calming and acne preventing ingredient. If you know you have troubled skin, it could make sense for you to look into skincare products that include salicylic acid as an active ingredient. Something like the Bija Cica Trouble Cleansing Foam, Toner, or Lotion. If your skin troubles are limited to the occasional spot or stubborn problem area, a spot treatment might be a better way to tackle the issue.
Can I use salicylic acid every day?
This depends on what you need out of it and what concentration you’re using it in. A high concentration salicylic acid exfoliating product used daily would be overkill for most people - overly drying your skin and potentially causing more problems. If it’s in a daily product like a cleansing foam it’ll be safe to use on a daily basis.
Now, I’ve got a soft spot for the Bija Trouble line because when I was starting my own skincare journey, my little routine was built around this line. I have combination skin and was struggling against regular breakouts (very likely stress related) and the simple combo of cleansing foam, toner, and lotion worked a miracle for me. Now that my skin has calmed down and cleared up, my skincare routine has evolved, but I still feel like I owe a lot to the Bija seed and salicylic acid for helpin’ a girl out. I still like to keep the Bija Cica Balm EX handy for the occasional breakout.
If you haven’t tried it yet and you deal with troubled skin, I’d recommend considering a product with salicylic acid in it. Not only does it help to clear out your pores, it can also soothe and calm the irritation that often accompanies breakouts. Do take note that some folks can find it to be a drying ingredient. If you know you have dry skin, I’d say be sure to include both hydrating products and moisturizing products into the routine to keep your moisture barrier strong.
And as always, not every single ingredient is going to work for everyone, but knowledge is power and it’s never a bad idea to know what all your options are!
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Gi