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Salicylic acid in your skin-care routine
The number one enemy of spots and pimples is salicylic acid. Derived from willow bark, it’s a powerful beta hydroxy acid that is absorbed into the pores and clears out infected cells to help heal and dry out spots fast.
When you have a problem skin it’s tempting to use as many products as possible to get rid of them.
Salicylic acid also works on the skin’s surface to detach and get rid of the top layer of skin cells that are often dry or dead, revealing smoother, glowing skin underneath.
When you have a problem skin it’s tempting to use as many products as possible to get rid of them.
But, use too much of skin-care products with salicylic acid and your skin could become dry and irritated. In some cases, you could even experience a mild peeling and redness – a sure sign of sensitivity or over-use.
Here are some tips to avoid this happening:
Always use a new product with caution. Try a patch test on the inside of your arm to check that there is no reaction. Our Purifying Starter Kit is an affordable way to try out the range.
Start slowly with the basics – Spot Control Face Wash, Purifying Toner and, if your skin is excessively oily, then use the Dual-Action Moisturiser once daily. If your skin seems too dry, scale back and use the Toner or the Moisturiser every second day.
Apply Spot Treatment Cream to the top of an actual spot or pimple several times a day. (If your skin isn’t particularly oily but you have spots, then you should use the Classic range for normal/combination skin and use the Spot Treatment Cream on spots.)
Once your skin is used to the salicylic acid, you can use the Pore-Clearing Scrub for blackheads and clogged pores, or the 3-in-1 Wash, Scrub and Mask once a week – but be gentle with scrubs, especially if you have irritated, acne-prone skin or tend to develop dark marks when your pimples disappear.
The Vanishing Cream prevents moisture loss and will give your skin a nice matte finish – but it doesn’t have salicylic acid so won’t cause excessive dryness.
