You will also find that salicylic acid has a small molecular size that is oil soluble, this results in the acid having the ability to penetrate the lower layers of the skin. When reaching the pores, salicylic acid can provide deep exfoliation working in areas of the skin face scrubs are unable to reach. What kind of exfoliator should I use? Retinoids and waxing are both forms of exfoliation. For regular retinol users— who generally have fewer dead skin cells on their skin — lip, eyebrow, or any facial waxing can strip away part of the epidermis, resulting in abrasion. Hold off on waxing in your first few weeks of using retinols. Retinoids "can contribute to increased skin fragility," says dermatologist Craig Kraffert, who stresses that if you do expose skin to both retinoids and waxing, use caution — though he advises patients to stop prescription retinoid treatments for one week before waxing. Wu also asks her patients to avoid retinoids until redness has subsided. 4. Exfoliate Gently the Night Before

For sensitive-skin types, gentle chemical exfoliants that include PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) are ideal. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is also an excellent soothing ingredient for all skin types, but especially for sensitive skin. Colloidal oatmeal, chamomile extract, and shea butter make excellent additions to physical scrubs meant for sensitive skin, as they calm the skin and replenish it with plenty of moisture. When choosing a product, Del Campo recommends matching the specific products to your skin type and looking at the concentration and additional ingredients. For example, if you have sensitive skin and want to use a salicylic acid cleanser, aloe vera can help. And if you have more oily, acne-prone skin, she says a combination of salicylic acid and an alpha hydroxy acid (like lactic acid) can help. Bozzo P, Chua-Gocheco A, Einarson A. Safety of Skin Care Products During Pregnancy. Canadian Family Physician. 2011;57(6):665. Published June 2011. Scrubbing will do away with those dead skin cells that can clog hair follicles and result in ingrowns. Try a body wash with salicylic acid, such as Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit, which will clear pores and follicles. If you have a salicylic-acid facial scrub, it's fine to use around your bikini area. Lele Gomes, an esthetician at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City, sees great results with her patients who use a gentle loofah, such as Earth Therapeutics Loofah Bath Pad. 5. Know Before You Go If you are wanting to continue using your salicylic acid product as well as a physical exfoliant, such as a scrub. To benefit from these products, I would suggest alternating when you use each product. For example, using an face wash containing salicylic acid during your morning routine, followed by a physical scrub in during your evening routine. Can I use a salicylic acid cleanser and exfoliator?Another important note: Every exfoliant should include some kind of emollient (a moisturizing agent, for example shea butter) and a humectant (an ingredient that seals the moisture in, such as coconut oil). As a bonus, the best body scrub for you should not only make your skin silky smooth, but create a luxurious shower environment too. Because who couldn’t use a few extra minutes of self-care? When to avoid body scrubs Arif T. Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:455-61. doi:10.2147/CCID.S84765

Combat waxing-induced redness by holding a paper towel soaked in a mixture of half skim milk and half cold water on skin for ten minutes and repeating every few hours. The milk's lactic acid helps calm skin. You can also treat the area with a moisturizing salve (try Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment), a natural gentle gel (like one of pure aloe vera), or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. 8. Fend Off IngrownsAn anti-inflammatory effect can help skin to look less red and inflamed,’ she continues. ‘The general exfoliating effect will help the skin look brighter and smoother and allow other skincare products to penetrate the skin more effectively.’ Salicylic acid as an exfoliant 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.

González-Molina V, Martí-Pineda A, González N. Topical treatments for melasma and their mechanism of action. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2022;15(5):19-28. If you're new to the hero ingredient, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Howard Sobel says to use it in small amounts at first. "Use will vary between products, but it is important to start out using salicylic acid once every few days to make sure there is not an allergic reaction," he explains. "After that, the product can be used up to two times per day depending on the tolerance of your skin." Once you have built your skin’s tolerance to salicylic acid, you are able to use the acid twice a day in your skincare routine. This means you can use your BHA enriched products when it suits you, ensuring it’s during a routine you aren’t applying a face scrub.

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that exfoliates dead skin cells on the skin's surface and decreases oil and sebum, says board-certified dermatologist Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, MD, FAAD, owner of Vibrant Dermatology and SkinBar MD. In addition to being an exfoliant, it also works as a comedolytic and anti-inflammatory ingredient. Zasada M, Budzisz E. Retinoids: Active Molecules Influencing Skin Structure Formation in Cosmetic and Dermatological Treatments. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postȩpy Dermatologii i Alergologii. 2019;36(4):392. Published August 2019. doi: 10.5114/ada.2019.87443. Two percent is a safe and effective concentration for normal, oily, and acne-prone skin types. If you have dry or sensitive skin, opt for a less intense cleanser with 0.5% to 1% salicylic acid. Due to combination skin types having a mixture of oily and dry areas of the skin, it is suggested the best formula to use are chemical exfoliants. Physical scrubs and devices should be avoided as these can lead to increase sensitivity and irritation. No, not really, this is because the way salicylic acid works is as an exfoliant itself. As I have mentioned already, it is an ingredient that is readily found in all manner of skincare products, from face wash to serums. This results in the acid being used during your skincare routine daily providing regular exfoliation. If you find yourself using a product enriched in salicylic acid, as well as another exfoliating product, you could cause the skin to erupt into severe irritation and reaction.