Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), is one of the most popular ingredients in skin care for good reason: it neutralizes breakout-causing bacteria while cleansing pores, reducing inflammation and boosting cell turnover rate to heal skin more quickly. And, believe it or not, despite the fact that it’s a skin care superpower, salicylic acid is gentle on sensitive and compromised skin types, making it a great choice for anyone seeking a clear and clean complexion. It’s most often naturally sourced from willow bark, (just like aspirin), which is the reason behind its amazing anti-inflammatory properties. And it’s not just great for your face, either---salicylic acid is wonderful for cleansing and soothing body blemishes and troublesome ingrown hairs in the delicate bikini and underarm area.
Here are nine of our favorite ways to incorporate this wonder BHA into our skin care regimen:
