Anti-blackhead salicylic acid
Blackheads, pimples, fine lines... there are so many imperfections on the face we want to get rid of. To free ourselves from these, each of us creates our own beauty routine according to our skin type and needs.
One of the bathroom's must-have products is salicylic acid, an active ingredient with numerous virtues. Ideal for fighting blackheads and enhancing skin tone, salicylic acid is your best ally. You'll find various anti-blackhead care with salicylic acid on Beauty Decoded, to get rid of blackheads for good.
What is salicylic acid?
Derived from willow bark, salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA). Centuries ago, salicylic acid was used to treat pain, which is why its acetylated form was preferred in the manufacture of drugs such as aspirin.
Today, its keratolytic action encourages the elimination of dead cells (desquamation). Its use is therefore recommended to treat various types of blemishes, including blackheads.
Today, salicylic acid is an active ingredient found in numerous FACIAL CARE and body care products to free you from potential impurities: lotions, serums, creams... combined with other ingredients, these cosmetics will help you regain smooth, flawless skin.
The effects of salicylic acid on the skin
If salicylic acid is so successful in the cosmetics industry, it's because of the many benefits it offers users. We can distinguish various virtues.
Keratolytic properties
Salicylic acid's keratolytic properties soften the epidermis' stratum corneum while eliminating dead cells from pores. Skin tone is brightened and signs of fatigue disappear thanks to improved cell renewal.
Astringent and regenerating properties
Blackheads and acne can provoke inflammatory reactions that can be painful as well as unsightly. To prevent these, salicylic acid helps limit the arrival of fungi and other bacteria that can lead to the appearance of blemishes.
Soothing properties
While skin inflammations are a frequent occurrence in our lives, certain active ingredients can really help to soothe potential painful symptoms.
Sebum-regulating properties
Blackheads form when excess sebum clogs the skin's pores. The seboregulating properties of salicylic acid effectively combat the appearance of blackheads, thanks to its unclogging properties.
Salicylic acid: which products to choose?
Salicylic acid is an active ingredient found in many cosmetic products, making your beauty routine a real moment of relaxation.
Particularly effective in the treatment of blackheads, it is becoming increasingly popular. We refer you here to three products highlighted by Beauty Decoded, for supple, blemish-free skin.
Paula's Choice: Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Lotion
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Lotion
Paula's Choice exfoliating lotion is ideal for combination to oily skin, prone to the appearance of imperfections such as blackheads, dilated pores or redness. Mainly composed of salicylic acid and green tea, it will help you regain toned skin and a radiant complexion. o be used daily as part of your beauty routine, Paula's Choice exfoliating lotion is a product that combines practicality and effectiveness. It is very easy to use: apply after your make-up remover or cleanser with a cotton pad or your fingers, and there's no need to rinse.
Skin type
All
Price
30 – 36€
More
An effective product for eliminating blackheads
Minus
No
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
An unpretentious product containing 2% of salicylic acid, the maximum percentage permitted in Europe. It does the job by fighting pore congestion, and that's the main thing.
Skin type
All
Price
6,10€
More
A low-cost cosmetic product that goes straight to the point
Minus
A simple yet effective formula
COSRX: Two in One Poreless Power Liquid
For the lotion to integrate optimally into your routine, it's best to incorporate it gradually, starting with every other day, to make sure your skin can handle it.
Two in One Poreless Power Liquid
Increasingly popular, the COSRX brand sets itself apart with innovative products such as its two-in-one poreless lotion. Its immediate action tightens pores for a more even complexion that limits excess sebum and the appearance of blackheads. COSRX's Two In One Power Liquid can be used in a number of ways to fit perfectly into your beauty routine: as a toning lotion in the morning, or as a mask in the evening, depending on your skin's needs.
Skin type
All
Price
19,76€
More
A BHA-based lotion that reduces skin pores for a sublimated complexion.
Minus
Not easy to find in the shops
SVR : SEBIACLEAR Micro-peel
Sebiaclear Micro-peel
Recommended for combination to oily, acne-prone skin to combat various imperfections such as blackheads and pimples, this lotion combines the properties of salicylic acid and lactobionic acid for a clear reduction in imperfections. u Micro-peel by SVR acts on pores and blackheads.
Skin type
All
Price
10,89€
More
A good product from a French parapharmacy
Minus
No
Salicylic acid: an ideal active ingredient to combat blackheads
Blackheads, as we all know them, appear on the face and body, particularly in areas such as the nose, shoulders, chin and back. These benign microcysts can appear in large numbers and quickly take hold, resulting in the appearance of numerous tiny, dark, unsightly but theoretically painless spots.
Blackheads are the result of excess sebum and dead cells accumulating in the skin's pores, which eventually become clogged. In the majority of cases, they remain in this harmless form. Occasionally, however, they gradually transform into a pimple, causing inflammatory pain. Whatever the situation, salicylic acid is sure to benefit skin prone to these imperfections.
Initially, salicylic acid will have preventive and curative properties by deep-cleaning pores, especially when you opt for an exfoliant that includes BHA.
Its soothing properties also help reduce inflammation caused by acne blemishes.
When to use salicylic acid-based products?
Salicylic acid-based products are many and varied. They can be lotions, serums, creams... Whatever format you choose, it's essential to use it as recommended in the instructions.
As a general rule, these products are preferable when you want to prevent the appearance of blackheads, or when you want to eliminate them while relieving the potential inflammation caused by them.
As for the use of salicylic acid during the day, this will depend on the product chosen. Some recommend using it in the evening, at the end of your beauty routine, once your skin has been cleansed; while others can be applied morning and night.
How to use salicylic acid to get rid of blackheads effectively?
As previously mentioned, salicylic acid is an active ingredient found in many cosmetics due to its numerous beneficial properties. As such, its mode of use will vary according to the product chosen: whether as a serum, lotion or exfoliant, its characteristics are likely to vary.
As a general rule, whatever product you choose will be applied to the areas of the face and body most prone to the appearance of blackheads. We're talking about the T-zone, including the chin, nose and forehead, but also the shoulders and back.
To fully benefit from the beneficial effects of salicylic acid, it's essential to complement your use with certain essential reflexes for your skin, which we detail here.
Regular skin cleansing
We're all prone to blackheads, but certain skin types are more prone to the appearance of imperfections. In fact, oily skin and the excess sebum it produces tend to lead to the appearance of more blackheads, which is why regular and assiduous cleansing is strongly recommended.
Rather than using particularly greasy, comedogenic products, it's best to cleanse your face properly with products suited to your skin type. The right care will prevent potential aggressions and, in turn, limit the appearance of these benign micro-cysts.
Mistakes to avoid
To keep your skin looking its best, it's important to take care of it every day. Your skin deserves all your attention, so here are a few basic tips for perfect skin.
To begin with, you should avoid touching your face too regularly, as many bacteria are deposited on your hands. Then, as far as possible, you should avoid popping your pores, as this is not a lasting solution. Your fingers could deposit more germs on your skin, leading to inflammation. Last but not least, we recommend avoiding the use of skin-extracting devices, which can be very harsh on the skin.