10 Best Salicylic Acid Serums to Clear Skin in 2024
If you want a “clearer and brighter” complexion, you’re going to want to add this iconic serum to your skincare routine.
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If you’ve been blindly using chemical exfoliants – thanks TikTok – without knowing what they actually do, allow me to help.
One that’s commonly used, salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that is commonly derived from willow bark and other plants.
It’s also oil-soluble, which means it has the power to penetrate the deepest levels of your skin, removing dead skin cells, unclog pores and leaving you with a totally radiant complexion.
Want to give it a go, but not sure where to start?
Keep on scrolling to see our selected roundup of the very best salicylic acid serums, including the TikTok viral and cult-fave 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant from Paula’s Choice. It’s so popular that one bottle sells every six seconds globally!
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICK: BEST SALICYLIC ACID SERUMS
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $49 at Paula’s Choice
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Why we love it: It’s a lightweight toner that absorbs quickly and really helps with exfoliating the skin’s surface.
What to consider: Can be irritating for some, especially if you use too much, too often.
Formulation: Liquid toner | Skin type: All skin types | Size: 118ml
What You Need To Know
The iconic Paula’s Choice formula is a daily leave-on exfoliant that sits at an optimal pH and promises to cause no irritation.
Featuring the star of the show, salicylic acid, to clear congestion and clogged pores, as well as green tea to calm redness and soothe your skin barrier.
It’s received rave reviews online – with happy customers calling it a “game changer” and their “holy grail” – while also winning a few beauty awards and even going viral over on TikTok.
”You can see the actual results within days”, said one user, with another noting their skin looks “clearer, brighter and less red”.
And since a bottle of this stuff sells every six seconds, we spoke to Desiree Stordahl, the Director of Applied Research and Education at Paula’s Choice Skincare, to understand what makes this product different from the rest.
“It’s all thanks to the perfectly balanced formula crafted with skin physiology expertise. This allows our 2% BHA to deliver peak results without irritating or compromising skin’s barrier.”
BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
Medik8 Blemish Control Pads, $64 at Adore Beauty
Medik8 Blemish Control Pads
Why we love it: The ready-to-go pads are super easy to use and ensure you’re not using too much product.
What to consider: Creates a single-waste product, thanks to the pad.
Formulation: Pre-soaked pads | Skin type: All skin types, especially sensitive skin | Size: 60 pads
What You Need To Know
If you’re struggling with breakouts, but also need to be cautious of your sensitive skin, these blemish control pads from Medik8 are a great pick.
They’re super soft and easy to use, can be used on all parts of your body (great if you have body acne), and the pre-portioned amount means it’s pretty hard to overuse chemical exfoliants and irritate your skin barrier.
The handy pads are soaked in 2 per cent maximum strength salicylic acid, which works hard to exfoliate and deeply penetrate the skin.
“My skin’s new best friend … they actually work”, said one five-star Adore Beauty customer, with another noting they are “super gentle” on the skin.
BEST FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN TYPES
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Salicylic Acid Serum, $49 at Adore Beauty
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Salicylic Acid Serum
Why we love it: Also features niacinamide and postbiotic ferment to reduce redness, which can sometimes occur with salicylic acid.
What to consider: May not be suitable for dry skin types.
Formulation: Serum | Skin type: All skin types, especially acne-prone skin types | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
If you’re really struggling to calm angry, red, blemish-prone skin, the Bye Bye Breakout Serum from IT Cosmetics may just be one to try.
This is a powerhouse serum, featuring 2 per cent off salicylic acid and 3 per cent lactic acid to gently exfoliate the skin, while niacinamide and postbiotic ferment are included to reduce redness and overall calm the skin.
It’s got an impressive five-star average rating on the Adore Beauty website, with one commenter noting it “works wonders on the skin”.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum, $63.95 at Adore Beauty
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum
Why we love it: This ultra-concentrated formula features a powerful blend of LHA’s, AHA’s and BHA’s.
What to consider: Some users felt it was too strong for their skin.
Formulation: Serum | Skin type: All skin types, especially acne-prone skin types | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
Part of La Roche-Posay’s successful Effaclar line, this ultra-concentrated serum is highly recommended for those with acne-prone skin types.
The expert blend of LHA’s, AHA’s (also known as alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA’s works overnight to exfoliate the skin, reduce the appearance and redness of blemishes and blackheads, as well as speed up collagen production to totally renew the skin.
Five-star reviews on Adore Beauty say it’s “worth it’, with another calling it the “best product ever … this works like magic”.
BEST FOR OILY SKIN TYPES
Cosmedix Clarity Skin-Clarifying Serum, $79 at Adore Beauty
Why we love it: This high-strength serum helps to mattify the look of the skin, while also gently exfoliating.
What to consider: May be too hard for dry skin types.
Formulation: Serum | Skin type: All skin types, especially those with oily skin | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
Acne-prone and oily skin types – it’s hard to find a serum your skin truly loves.
But this one from Cosmedix is formulated with a powerful blend of salicylic acid, tea tree oil, retinol and niacinamide to fight bacteria, gently exfoliate, mattify the skin, absorb excess oil and improve the look of pigmentation. It truly is an all-in-one!
And don’t just take our word for it – it’s racked up an impressive average rating of 4.8 out of five on the Adore Beauty website, with rave reviews commenting it’s “cleared my acne” and calling it a “life saver” for their skin.
BEST AFFORDABLE SALICYLIC ACID SERUM
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, $10.70 at Adore Beauty
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Why we love it: Super budget-friendly.
What to consider: May be irritating for some, so need to also apply calming and hydrating serums over the top.
Formulation: Serum | Skin type: All skin types | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
Who says you have to break the bank to build a stellar skincare routine? The Ordinary is a go-to budget-friendly option, with the Salicylic Acid 2% Solution ringing in at just under $11. Bargain!
The formula is simple but gets the job done – the salicylic acid works hard to penetrate deep into your pores, clear congestion, loosen dead skin cells and even out your skin tone.
“Amazing stuff”, said one five-star Adore Beauty customer, with another calling it their “favourite skincare product”.
Why we love it: Gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin types.
What to consider: May be too strong for some.
Formulation: Serum | Skin type: All skin types | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
Another great affordable buy is this unique charcoal serum from Garnier. For $37, but you can usually find it on sale at Amazon, it’s formulated with an expert blend of niacinamide, AHA, BHA and charcoal.
The serum promises to be lightweight, fast absorbing and despite the colour, will rub in clear immediately.
It’s also racked up over 2200 ratings on Amazon, with one five-star reviewer noting it is “very hydrating and brightens your skin as well”.
BEST HIGH-END SALICYLIC ACID SERUM
Blemish and Age Defense Salicylic Acid Serum, $145 at Myer
Skinceuticals Blemish and Age Defense Salicylic Acid Serum
Why we love it: Especially good for those who suffer with adult acne.
What to consider: May not be ideal for dry skin types.
Formulation: Serum | Skin type: All skin types, especially those with adult acne-prone skin | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
An expertly formulated serum from the brains over at Skinceuticals, the Blemish and Age Defense Serum is an oil-free formulation that does double the work – controlling blemishes while also correcting signs of ageing.
It features diocic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and cirtric acid, and it’s racked up loads of rave reviews over on Myer, with customers noting their skin looks “more youthful and radiant”.
BEST VEGAN AND CRUELTY-FREE SALICYLIC ACID SERUM
AHA/BHA Resurfacing Serum, $39.95 at Dope Skin Co
Why we love it: It’s non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free, and made right here in Australia.
What to consider: May feel too strong for some users.
Formulation: Serum | Skin type: All skin types | Size: 30ml
What You Need To Know
If organic hemp skincare and all natural ingredients are important to you, this oil-free resurfacing serum from Dope Skin Co is a must-try.
The Aussie made beauty brand offers this serum that’s specifically great for those with acne prone skin. The formula features five fruit AHA’s, BHA’s (salicylic acid), as well as hemp, hyaluronic acid, blue tansy and niaciamide.
Your skin is left feeling soft and smooth, with an improved skin texture.
BEST SALICYLIC ACID SERUM/TONER HYBRID
Medik8 Press & Clear, $69 at Adore Beauty
Why we love it: This toner/serum hybrid has rave reviews online for its ability to transform the skin.
What to consider: Some users felt it was too harsh.
Formulation: Toner | Skin type: All skin types, including those with acne-prone skin | Size: 150ml
What You Need To Know
Those dealing with acne-prone skin, this is sure to be your new favourite daily toner.
The Medik8 Press & Clear offers a gradual release of 2 per cent BHA to clear congestion, brighten the skin and overall support your skin barrier.
The toner is water-based, so it’s super lightweight and gentle enough for daily use.
Five-star rating Adore Beauty customers said it “transformed my skin” and called it a “holy grail” and “game changer for my hormonal acne”.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A SALICYLIC ACID SERUM
When choosing salicylic acid products to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Price: Don’t think you have to break the bank to get high-quality skincare – we’ve made sure to include picks in a range of different price points.
Skin type: Specifically if you’ve got oily and/or acne prone skin, you are going to love incorporating salicylic acid into your routine.
Sensitive skin: If you’ve got sensitive skin, you may want to opt for a lower strength salicylic acid serum – something around the 1 per cent mark.
Area of concern: While most of the serums on our list are specifically designed for the face, if you do suffer from body acne, a salicylic acid body wash is sure to be your best friend.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, analysing thousands of customer reviews and also testing a wide range of products ourselves, all at different price points.
We also spoke to Desiree Stordahl, the Director of Applied Research and Education at Paula’s Choice Skincare, to give us the lowdown on what exactly salicylic acid is, what it can do for your skin and how to fit it into your routine.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY SHOULD I USE SALICYLIC ACID?
Thankfully, anyone and everyone can benefit from salicylic acid, also known as BHA.
“While it’s most well-known among the blemish-prone community for unclogging
pores and minimising breakouts, there’s so much more it offers in terms of overturning
dull, uneven skin tone, as well as other visible signs of ageing skin,” Desiree told news.com.au checkout.
If you want a smoother, clearer, younger-looking complexion, salicylic acid is
a great option.
WHAT PERCENT OF SALICYLIC ACID IS MOST EFFECTIVE?
Desiree confirms “a 2 per cent concentration is the sweet spot for most people.” But if you’re super sensitive, you might want to go down to 1 per cent.
CAN I USE A SALICYLIC ACID SERUM EVERYDAY?
You can, but you also may not need to.
At first, you’re going to want to introduce it to your routine slowly – so just a few times a week and increase from there.
You may find you only need to use it a few times a week, or daily application might be better suited for those with pesky breakouts and blackheads.
WHAT SKIN TYPES ARE BEST SUITED TO SALICYLIC ACID?
Any skin type can benefit from using salicylic acid, but oily and/or acne prone skin types should see “the most dramatic difference in terms of oil control and pore decongestion”, said Desiree.
WHAT SKINCARE CAN’T BE USED WITH SALICYLIC ACID?
Because salicylic acid is so powerful, you’re going to want to be careful mixing it with too many active ingredients. We recommend alternating your PM skincare routine, so one night use the salicylic acid, the next night use your retinol and flip between the two.
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