If you’re prone to breakouts and blemishes, or frequently compare your pores to moon craters, then we pinky promise you’ll love a salicylic acid serum.
A beta hydroxy acid (otherwise known as BHA), salicylic acid, has an array of skills up its sleeve. It helps to gently dissolve dead skin cells, it regulates excess sebum production, purifies and refines pores, and minimises the frequency of breakouts and blemishes too.
The beauty of salicylic acid is that it’s a relatively inexpensive ingredient to integrate into your routine, and depending on your skin’s resilience, it’s gentle enough to use once a day, every day.
Keen to clear your skin and enjoy the peace of mind only a salicylic acid serum can promise? We don’t blame you. Here are six salicylic acid serums marie claire recommends.
2024’s top salicylic acid serum
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, $49, Sephora
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrate Serum, $49.49, Amazon Australia
- The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, $10.70, MYER
The best salicylic acid serum 2024
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant
from $49 at Sephora
Best for: Face & Body
Even though it’s technically a toner, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention this viral formula. Perfect for smoothing texture, unifying skin tone, minimising the appearance of blemishes and frequency of breakouts, this water-light pick can be slathered onto the face or body.
Sizes: 118ML / 30ML
Key features:
- Suitable for face and body
- Unclogs pores
- Controls oil production
- Enriched with soothing green tea
- Lightweight formula
Available at:
- $49 from Sephora
- $49 from Paula’s Choice
- $49 from Amazon Australia
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrate Serum
from $49.49 at Amazon Australia
Best for: All skin types
If you’ve always believed that salicylic acid was an ingredient only to be used by the acne-prone, then let us introduce you to this pick from La Roche-Posay, which has partnered the BHA with glycolic acid and lipo hydroxy acid. It effectively unclogs pores, minimises the appearance and regularity of breakouts and blemishes without drying out the skin, as well as smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
Sizes: 30ML
Key features:
- Suitable for all skin types
- Contains a blend of salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lipo hydroxy acid
- Unclogs pores
- Minimises breakouts and blemishes
- Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
Available at:
- $49.49 from Amazon Australia
- $54.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- $63.95 from Priceline
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
from $10.70 at MYER
Best for: Teens
Trying to build a skin care routine for the blemish-prone teenager in your life? No problem. The Ordinary’s infused this serum with two per cent salicylic acid and hydrating saccharide isomerate to simultaneously resurface and purify the skin, without drying it out or causing irritation.
Sizes: 30ML
Key features:
- Contains a blend of two per cent salicylic acid and hydrating saccharide isomerate
- Smooths texture
- Removes pore-clogging dead skin cells
- Promotes a bright and clear complexion
- Suitable for teen skin and blemish-prone skin
Available at:
- $10.70 from MYER
- $10.70 from Priceline
- $10.70 from Adore Beauty
Sunday Riley UFO Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil
from $53.86 at Cult Beauty
Best for: Banishing breakouts and blemishes
Sunday Riley has paired salicylic acid, tea tree oil, black cumin seed oil and liquorice extract to work on banishing breakouts and blemishes on multiple levels. The serum unclogs pores, exfoliates, and minimises the inflammation, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and dullness associated with acne-prone skin.
Sizes: 35ML / 15ML
Key features:
- Exfoliates skin
- Unclogs pores
- Minimises inflammation
- Reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation and scarring
- Enhances radiance
Available at:
- $53.86 from Cult Beauty
- $65.33 from Revolve
- $66 from MECCA
Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Salicylic Serum
from $46.96 at Amazon Australia
Best for: Purifying and refining pore size
This lightweight serum has been enriched with salicylic acid, niacinamide and polyphenols to address pore size and congestion, whilst working to improve the appearance of blemishes in just two weeks.
Sizes: 30ML
Key features:
- Lightweight gel serum formula
- Contains a blend of salicylic acid, niacinamide and polyphenols
- Minimises pore size
- Clears congestion
- Improves the appearance of blemishes
Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum
from $40 at Amazon
Best for: Unifying skin tone and smoothing texture
As the name might suggest, this pick contains strawberry extract alongside salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and an AHA blend, and when combined, these ingredients aid to resurface, clarify and calm the complexion.
Sizes: 30ML
Key features:
- Strawberry extract resurfaces, hydrates and brightens dark marks
- Salicylic acid clears pores, regulates oil production, and minimises breakouts
- Hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps
- AHA blend exfoliates and smooths texture
What does a salicylic acid serum do?
A salicylic acid serum helps to slough away dead cells from the top layer of the skin, as well as minimising the appearance of redness and inflammation. It can also help to minimise the frequency of breakouts, and refine and clear pores. Plus, it promotes a radiant and glowing complexion.
Is it okay to use salicylic acid everyday?
Salicylic acid is generally considered to be an ingredient that is suitable for daily use, and can be used in combination with most skincare ingredients, making it easy to layer and integrate into your skin care routine.
Looking to save money on a salicylic acid serum? Check out our coupon codes for MECCA, Sephora and more.
Main image credit: @emrata
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
