Beauty / Society

Skincare science: what is salicylic acid and how does it benefit oily skin?

By Fiona Embleton

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If you suffer from acne, salicylic acid is your new best friend

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A cursory glance at the skincare shelf in your nearest beauty hall throws up a mystifying number of ingredients ending in the word ‘acid’. But if you suffer from acne or an oily complexion blighted by blocked pores, you should reach for cleansers, toners and serums laced with salicylic acid, here's why.