Skin Care
7 Secret-Weapon Ingredients For Making Your Skin GlowAcid-based products are the key to radiant skin. Here, find the right acid for your skin type |
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Comes from: willow bark
Strength: 3/5 or 4/5, depending on concentration
Why: Salicylic acid is the gold standard in acne-clearing acids and the active ingredient in acne treatments from drugstore aisles to department store counters. Not only does it dry out pimples, it encourages cell turnover to more quickly fade post-acne marks and generally brighten skin.
Most alpha hydroxy acids do their work on the skin's surface, loosening the glue that holds skin cells together so dead cells are more easily swept away. As a beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid "penetrates the pores while exfoliating," says Tanzi, so it actually helps break up the sebum plugs that cause a pimple. If you have acne, says Tanzi, "look for two percent salicylic acid for the highest concentration in an over-the-counter product." You can also find it in higher concentrations in professional-grade chemical peels.
Buy: Alba Botanica Good & Clean Gentle Acne Wash, $9
SEE NEXT PAGE: The Sensitive Skin Acid
