With so many skincare acids on offer, it can feel like you need a glossary just to keep up. One ingredient, however, needs no introduction: salicylic acid.
A long-standing mainstay, salicylic acid was one of the first acids to break into the mainstream and remains one of the most widely used to this day. Part of the beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) family—and the only BHA commonly used in skincare—it works by penetrating deeper than surface-level exfoliants, helping to unclog pores, smooth texture and reduce breakouts.
