Salicylic acid - does it work?

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Has anyone personally managed to reduce clogged pores with it and if so, which product did you use, how, how often and how long? Thank you.

Clogged or enlarged?

First I would suggest regular face masks to clear the skin.

But if you have enlarged pores this works brilliantly with consistent use. Pour a little onto your palms and pat /push onto your face after cleansing.

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/paula-s-choice-skin-perfecting-2-bha-liquid-exfoliant-118ml/11174178.html

I also use an enzyme cleanser beforehand and a facial oil afterwards. (You need sun protection with the Paula’s Choice if you’re outside.)

Others may suggest more complicated regimes but I’m satisfied with mine.

I’ve used both Garden of Wisdom and Pai successfully.

The key thing for me is to use them like a treatment, so I slick on a reasonably generous amount and leave for a bit, 5 minutes or so, then follow with a clay mask. Basically the salicylic acid dissolves sebum etc and the clay pull it out.

Once or twice a week is fine.

For the clay mask, one that contains kaolin as the only type of clay will be too gentle amd it won’t be effective really. So pink clay, green clay, yellow clay, charcoal, rhassoul etc are all good. I like Cattier Green Clay paste in a tube.

I have had good results with the superdrug me+ salycilic acid face wash and serum.

Salicylic (and other BHA solutions) work on oily skin, so if pores are blocked due to sebum, as unlike AHAs) they penetrate deeper.
2% is the sweet point for a SA and Paula's Choice, The Ordinary, Nip and Fab all do 2% solutions.

Acid toners like the above are probably best used at night as they can make skin more sensitive to sun. Obviously if you do use them in the morning, you'd have an SPF on anyway. Avoid using them together with other actives though. So if you use a retinoid, use an acid toner on alternate nights.

I use salicylic acid 2% each morning as I use tretinoin at night and unfortunately it doesn't really work for me. My pores are still huge and oily 😭