Whether you’re battling breakouts, dealing with oily skin, or just looking for a way to keep your complexion clear, you’ll want to ensure salicylic acid is an ingredient in your skincare! But what exactly is salicylic acid? And how does it transform you skin? Keep reading for everything you need to know about salicylic acid—why it’s so effective, how to use it, and why it deserves a spot in your skincare routine. What is salicylic acid? Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) known for its exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties, commonly used in skincare. it penetrates deep into the pores, dissolving excess oil and exfoliating dead skin cells. This helps prevent and treat breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads. Unlike some harsher acne treatments, salicylic acid is gentle yet effective, making it suitable for frequent use (we are talking 2-3 times a week). Incorporating salicylic acid into your skincare routine can lead to clearer, smoother skin! How does salicylic acid work? By breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, salicylic acid encourages their shedding, which helps to prevent pore blockages that lead to breakouts. Is salicylic acid suitable for all skin types? Salicylic acid is ideal for those with oily or acne-prone skin, as it helps control excess oil production and prevents the formation of new pimples. However, it can also benefit other skin types, particularly those who are susceptible to the occasional breakout or congested skin. Can salicylic acid cause skin irritation? Salicylic acid can sometimes cause skin irritation, especially if you use it excessively or tend to have sensitive skin.  Common signs of irritation include redness, dryness, peeling, or a burning sensation. Just before you test the product first before applying all over your face. How often should you use salicylic acid? How often you use skincare formulated with salicylic acid really depends on the product itself as well your skin specific skin type. If you are new to salicylic acid, we recommend you start with using it once or twice a week and gradually increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it. It's also important to follow up with a good moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated. Can you use salicylic acid with other skincare ingredients? Yes, you can use salicylic acid with other skincare ingredients, but it's important to be cautious. Combining salicylic acid with soothing and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, can work wonders for your skin. However, be careful when combining it with other exfoliants like glycolic acid or retinol, as this can increase the risk of irritation. It's best to introduce these ingredients gradually into your routine or use them on alternate days to avoid over-exfoliating your skin. How to incorporate salicylic acid into your skincare routine Start with a cleanser containing salicylic acid, using it slowly to allow your skin to adjust. If your skin tolerates it well, you can gradually increase usage or introduce additional products like serums or spot treatments. Always follow with a moisturiser and sunscreen, as salicylic acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. The best salicylic acid products Vie Collection Cleansing Gel with Glycolic, Lactic and Salicylic Acids - This foaming cleansing gel combines glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids to stimulate cellular activity, break the intercellular glue between dead cells and thoroughly cleanse skin. Medicalia Clarifying Cleanser - Specifically created for those with breakout prone and sensitive/oily skin, this clarifying cleanser is formulated with both Salicylic and Lactic acids. Its potent foaming suds work very quickly to eliminate surface bacteria, toxins, impurities and makeup while combatting inflammation too! Hubislab A.C Clearing Active Control Solution - Ideal for sensitive, congested, and oily skin, this exclusive solution provides skin with comfort, deep moisturisation and anti-inflammatory properties effectively treating acne and facial redness. Formulated with salicylic acid, portulaca oleracea extract, tea tree oil and niacinamide, it provides natural exfoliation eliminating sebum while hydrating skin and tightening pores. Medicalia Spot Treatment - This potent professional-grade targeted treatment diminishes follicular build-up, controls bacteria, and reduces inflammation with noticeable improvement in skin healing. It infuses skin with high performing ingredients including; Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid Mucor Meihei, Phytic Acid, and Sea Whip to effectively control, combat, and clear blemishes and acne lesions. What’s more it effectively decreases the risk of scarring and prevents post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.   By incorporating salicylic acid into your skincare routine you really can achieve clearer, healthier skin and keep breakouts at bay, we promise!

Got a breakout? Suffer from acne but nothing seems to be improving it? The professionals at BC are here to help!First port of call is understanding acne, as mistreating the type you suffer from can actually have an adverse effect on the health of your skin. Sound familiar?Acne is one of the most common and frustrating beauty concerns and unfortunately there's no one-size-fits-all approach to treating it. The skin condition comes in many forms and is triggered by a variety of causes - from oily skin types, to hormone imbalance, bad diet, to simple genetics (thanks parents!) As a result each acne breakout has its own symptoms and therefore needs to be treated in a specific way. By arming yourself with the correct product for your particular breakout, will enable you to not only combat the problem head on, but prevent future breakouts too!Now read on for our guide to the six most common types of acne and how to best treat them.Blackheads Blackheads - technically called 'open comedones' - are small bumps that appear on your skin due to clogged hair follicles. They are one of the more mild types of acne and are often experienced by those with oily skin.TreatmentUsing a clay purifying mask once or twice a week will help draw out impurities in the skin. We highly recommend the Phytomer Citylife Radiance Reviving Mask, it instantly draws out impurities, unclogging pores while countering the effects of pollution (dehydration, signs of fatigue, dark spots and dull complexion.)“I used to suffer from annoying blackheads on my nose and forehead until this became my go-to product. I LOVE it. It reduces the size of my pores (I have oily skin with large pores), eliminates my blackheads and skin looks soo much healthier and glowy after application.” Siobhan WhiteheadsSimilarly to blackheads, whiteheads (also known as ‘closed comedones’) occur when pores on the skin become clogged with dead skin cells, oil and bacteria, however the two forms of acne produce different skin reactions. While blocked pores that stay open form blackheads, a whitehead is a blocked pore that closes, meaning they should be treated quite differently.TreatmentThe most effective ingredient used to treat whiteheads is salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that works to open up your pores.We LOVE the Pevonia Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. Formulated with Salicylic Acid, Jojoba Seed Extract and Grapefruit oil, it provides gentle but effective exfoliating action to open and clear pores, combatting acne-causing bacteria.“BEST CLEANSER EVER! I've tried so many cleansers with salicylic acid, glycolic acid or a mix of both to help my blemished skin but they are all too drying. This cleanser is by far the best I have ever found. It thoroughly cleans my skin of all makeup and impurities and my skin feels so smooth afterwards. This is a winner!” ShelleyPapulesA papule is technically a small, raised bump on the skin, red in colour and swollen with inflammation. Like most forms of acne, papules are the result of an increase in oil and bacteria trapped inside the pore by dead skin cells. However papules occur when the clogging causes a hair follicle to become inflamed.TreatmentYou can effectively treat papules with drying lotions or spot treatments. They respond specifically well to the ingredient Benzoyl Peroxide. Our customers rave about the Pevonia Spot Treatment rich in Glycolic Acid, Aloe Vera and Benzoyl Peroxide. The Fast-acting and healing treatment combats blemish-causing bacteria and clears pores keeping breakouts at bay.“This product works WONDERS! It is a dry-it-up product that will zap up those lumpy, red pimples overnight - I have never seen anything remove a pimple so fast. Can’t get enough of it!” StellaPustulesIf a pore becomes extremely clogged, the skin begins to swell and a pustule is formed. Pustules are essentially infected pores which appear as a white dot surrounded by inflamed, red skin that swells into a bump.TreatmentNot dissimilar to other forms of less severe acne, pustules are best treated with key ingredients Salicylic Acid and Panthenol. The Phytomer Oligopur Blemish Target Gel is formulated with both key ingredients and effectively reduces existing blemishes while preventing new ones from forming. It also soothes the redness and inflammation to promote a more even complexion.“This product works almost overnight! It cleared up the tough break outs I had along my jawline that nothing else would.” AnnaCystsOne of the more extreme forms of acne, cystic breakouts (or cysts) lie deep within the layers of the skin and occur when the pores become blocked and severely infected. They appear as swollen (often painful) lumps under the skin, filled with pus that has nowhere to go. Because they are deep-rooted in the skin tissue they don’t always come to a head and can reappear in the same place and often leave scars.TreatmentCystic breakouts call for the big guns! A powerhouse of ingredients to work deep within the skin. We couldn’t recommend the Medicalia Spot Treatment more highly. This potent professional-grade targeted treatment formulated with Mucor Meihei, Phytic Acid, and Sea Whip, diminishes follicular accumulation of keratin, controls bacteria, and reduces inflammation with noticeable improvement in skin healing. Comedolytic and Keratolytic, this product decreases the risk of scarring and prevents post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.“At the first sign of a breakout, I dab on the treatment and the blemish goes away before it comes to an ugly outcome. I have recommended this to all my friends who are in need. Would recommend it to everyone!!!!” Rose NodulesLike cysts, nodular pimples (nodules) are one of the most severe forms of acne.They're slightly different to cysts in that they never form a head, instead just a hard bump under the skin’s surface which tends to be very painful.TreatmentNodular acne usually needs pretty intensive treatment so visiting your local salon or spa will be your best bet to finding a solution, however ingredients such as zinc and sulfur can definitely reduce the size of the nodules. Our top pick is the Pevonia SpaTeen Blemish-B-Gone, an alcohol-free targeted treatment which helps to heal all types of blemishes through a Micro-Matrix advanced time-release delivery system with Sulfur, Organic Benzoyl Peroxide and Organic Salicylic Acid.“I am not a teen but this product works great for my blemishes! It reduces the size of the spots in only one application. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from acne, even the big lumps!” Sarah