Salicylic Acid Cleansers Are Worth the Hype—But Only If You Know the Best Ones to Buy

While you can find salicylic acid in everything from moisturisers to serums, cleansers with salicylic acid offer particularly impressive benefits. Cleansing is an essential step in your daily skincare routine, and salicylic acid is one of the most effective ingredients when it comes to deeply cleansing and exfoliating skin.

The active ingredient is beneficial for addressing concerns ranging from congested, acne-prone skin and blackheads to active breakouts, enlarged pores and excess oiliness. "Because salicylic acid keeps pores unclogged, it helps to clear whiteheads and blackheads, and to prevent pustules and papules from forming," explains dermatologist Sonia Khorana. "It also exfoliates dead skin cells so skin feels smoother and appears brighter." In short, it's great if your skin is acne-prone or on the oilier side of the spectrum.

If you want to experience the benefits of salicylic acid, then a face wash is one of the easiest ways to do so. Below, I've rounded up my tried and tested favourite cleansers with salicylic acid.

What is salicylic acid?

"Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant known as a beta hydroxy acid or BHA," says Khorana. "It works by softening and dissolving keratin, a protein naturally found in the skin that can block pores by causing skin cells to stick together. It also helps loosen desmosomes allowing the cell to let go of the excess sebum that oily skins like to hold on to."

What should I look for in a salicylic acid cleanser?

Khorana recommends choosing gel and foaming formulas for maximum efficacy. "All skin types can use salicylic acid but it's particularly suited to oily, combination, congested or acne prone skin," she adds. "If skin is sensitive but oily, look for formulas that also contain alternative acids like lactic acid or mandelic acid."

The Best Cleansers With Salicylic Acid

1. Best Overall: Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash (£65)
2. Best Affordable Cleanser: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser (£12)
3. Best Luxury Cleanser: Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser (£79)
4. Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Micro-Peeling Purifying Gel Wash (£25)
5. Best for Combination Skin: Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel (£45)

1. Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash

2. The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

3. Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser

4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Peeling Purifying Gel Wash

5. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel

6. CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser

7. Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser

8. Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalising Cleanser

9. COSRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser

10. Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse

11. Q+A Salicylic Acid Cleanser

12. iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

Is it okay to use salicylic acid cleanser everyday?

Without a prescription, salicylic acid isn't available in concentrations higher than 2% so it's important to keep in mind that some cleansers may be more potent and therefore have more of an exfoliating effect than others.

Depending on the concentration of salicylic acid within the formula, some cleansers, for example, those with a percentage below 1%, may be suitable for daily use. Cleansers that have higher concentrations of salicylic acid (up to 2%) are probably best suited to use once or twice a week, since overuse of salicylic acid can cause sensitivity and dryness.

Why is it important to cleanse skin?

"If you don’t really wash your face daily, this could cause build-up of oil and dirt that may make you more prone to fungal or sometimes even bacterial overgrowth (over the long term), more prominent pores, and sometimes even inflammation," explains Khorana. "Washing your face before bed is recommended not only to remove makeup but also dirt and pollution that accumulates on your skin during the day. If you have oily skin or are acne-prone, you may also get more clogged pores and breakouts if you are not washing your face regularly."