Today I've decided to write another skin science blog post.There are so many ingredients used in skin products, I feel it is so important to know what they do and more importantly are they suitable for your skin type! I'll try to keep this to the point and short! Like always, you can mail me here porcelain.lady@yahoo.com or mail me on facebook if you have any questions.!
Salicylic acid has been a magic ingredient in the Beauty Industry for quite some time now. It is a monohydroxybenzoic acid (a type of phenolic acid and a beta hydroxy acid ) a.k.a "BHA" and is mainly used in beauty and skin products for its powerful effects on acne and blemishes.
The shelves in Boots, Debenhams and other department stores are full of products which promise to minimize pores, clear blemishes. brighten the skin, lift pigmentation...etc but unless they contain the right ingredients in the correct formulation and quantity, then you are wasting your hard earned cash and valuable time!
If you care enough to read the label on a food product then you should read the label on a skin product! Don't be fooled by fancy packaging and glamorous displays in the shop- in fact, the majority of legitimate skin care companies spent their money on researching and resourcing the best ingredients rather than poring money into fancy packaging and labelling!
Right, onto Salicylic Acid...... What does it do??
Salicylic acid has potent exfoliation properties and can even be used for nail infections, psoriasis, warts and extremely hard skin. Salicylic belongs to a group of medicines called keratolytics. Your skin is made of keratin-a protein- a keratolytic ingredient has the ability to soften the keratin in the skin-hence where salicylic gets its exfoliation ability from. Now I know what some of you may be thinking..."I use a scrub on my skin which has granules in it, that surely is enough exfoliating?" No! But simply. Scrubs and physical exfoliation ingredients only scratch the surface-literally! Think of it this way...you have a blocked pore....u need to get under that pore and push the crap out of the pore so you can clean it properly! too graphic? lol! This is why whilst using salicylic acid and many other chemical exfoliators, peeling or shedding of the skin will occur- Fear not, this is normal! A scrub to a chemical exfoliator is like a spring clean to a deep clean! :-)
By promoting deep pore exfoliation-which a normal cleanser simply cannot do!- it can help unclog pores, loosen blackheads and soften acne cysts. Although it can certainly help acne and acne prone skin, it cannot prevent it! However if acne, clogged pores, or blackheads are a concern of yours, you need this in your skin care! pronto!!
Many products for hard skin on the feet, corns and ingrown toenails actually have salicylic acid present- but thats not saying you can rub a foot creme onto your face- nope, don't do that!! lol
I have listed 3 of my favourite ( tried and tested ) products which contain salicylic acid ! Like I have said before, if you are unsure how to use a product then please ask a skin care professional! Using it correctly is just as important as using the correct product in the first place! I'm happy to help if any of ye need it. Some people may only need to use a salicylic product 3 times a week so please, pretty please, use it correctly and it all depends on the level of salicylic acid used, some of you may never peel or shed while using it.....just depends of the strength you are using.
Get reading those ingredients folk!!
- Available at Boots and many supermarkets! Very refreshing on the skin, and not too drying! Not the nicest of smells but brilliant at blasting those blemishes!
- Clear Cell is a range by Image cosmecuticals, The salicylic used is quite potent and wouldn't be suitable for mild acne. If you very oily skin with prominent acne then this is the product for you!
- Excellent for those who have acne prone yet sensitive skin.
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