Some things in life are just made for each other. Cookies and milk, peanut butter and jelly, Salicylic Acid and acne-prone skin. You’ve probably heard of Salicylic Acid before—it’s one of the most popular skincare ingredients to help clear pores and prevent breakouts. You’ll find it infused into cleansers, headlining spot treatments, and co-starring in moisturizers—all to help blemish-prone skin stay in the clear. But did you know there are a few other additional benefits this blemish-buster is known for, aside from clearing acne? Keep reading for a deep (pore clearing) dive on Salicylic Acid and discover all the benefits of this expert-approved ingredient.

Got breakouts? Salicylic Acid in skincare sets its sights on oil to help prevent blemishes, including blackheads and whiteheads. It’s the workhorse ingredient in many acne-fighting products because of its natural ability to dislodge debris from deep within the pores. Salicylic Acid in skincare, as previously mentioned, is also an exfoliating powerhouse, which helps increase cell turnover, resurface skin texture, and kick dullness to the curb.

Skincare experts love Salicylic Acid for several reasons. As you can probably guess, the first is its blemish-busting power, followed by a few other bonus benefits.

• • Helps Clear Clogged Pores
  Salicylic Acid helps prevent acne and breakouts by helping unclog clogged-up pores. That’s because when Salicylic Acid penetrates pores, it’s oil-soluble structure allows it to easily grab the excess oil mixed with dead skin cells that can lead to blemishes.


• • Helps Prevent Breakouts
  Using Salicylic Acid in skincare not only helps deep clean pores, but over time it also reduces the amount of oil your skin produces. This can have a direct effect on the frequency of breakouts. “When you produce less oil, using an ingredient like Salicylic Acid, you’re creating an environment that is less conducive to breakouts,” says Rocky Graziose, Associate Director of Research & Development.


• • Helps Minimize the Look of Pores
  If Salicylic Acid’s full-time job is to help clear pores, then minimizing their look is its side hustle. While you can’t technically change the size of your pores (size is determined by genetics), you can help them appear smaller. “When pores are filled with dead cells and covered in oil, they can appear larger. Keeping your pores clean may help minimize their appearance,” says Graziose.


• • Reveals More Radiant Skin
  Salicylic Acid in skincare works as hard on the surface as it does deep down in your pores. How? It helps remove complexion-dulling dead skin cells through a chemical exfoliation process. “Chemical exfoliants dissolve, or loosen, the structural bond between dead skin cells, which makes the cells easier to remove,” says Graziose. This process helps pave the way for new, healthy cells—helping skin appear more youthful and radiant.

Some Salicylic Acid products are formulated for daily use – make sure you read the directions on your bottle. PRO TIP: when introducing any new skincare ingredient, it’s important to do a patch test to see how your skin reacts—especially if you’re highly sensitive. Consider using a daily sunscreen. If you experience redness or irritation when using a product, take a break and reintroduce it at a slower pace. If bothersome dryness or peeling persists, consult your doctor.

Salicylic Acid is one of skincare’s most valuable acne-fighting ingredients. “It’s an ingredient that’s been used and studied for a very long time, so we know how effective it is for acne-prone skin,” says Graziose. If you experience persistent breakouts or a blemish here and there, adding Salicylic Acid to your skincare routine can be a game-changer. And because of its ability to help clear existing breakouts and can prevent new ones from forming, it may just be skin’s pore-fect ingredient.