Salicylic acid is the  hero ingredient in our new Super Glow Mask and our Blemish Rescue Oil. I thought you might want to know a little more about this brilliant ingredient and why it’s so good on blemished, congested or dull skin.

Where does salicylic come from?

Salicylic acid can be derived from the wintergreen plant and from the bark and leaves of the willow tree. It’s been used as part of natural medicinal remedies for many hundreds of years and is the key ingredient in aspirin.

How does salicylic acid work?

Salicylic is a clever, natural exfoliant. It penetrates the stratum corneum and breaks down the excess sebum which has caused the skin cells to clump together. The outer layers of the skin are sloughed off and shed. They literally flake away. Blocked pore content is dissolved and the sebum flow is unobstructed once more. Skin is calmed and soothed.

Salicylic acid also helps reduce scarring and redness once the blemishes have disappeared. It sloughs off the damaged skin and encourages new, fresh skin to emerge. Ongoing use of salicylic acid means that the compacted skin doesn’t build up in the first place, so sebum production isn’t blocked. That’s why our new Super Glow Mask works brilliantly twice-weekly on an oily t-zone.

How does salicylic acid improve the way skin looks?

Salicylic can help three things to happen:

1/ Used regularly on blemished or oily skin, it stops the build-up of compacted, dead skin cells so the skin doesn’t get blocked or congested. Dead skin is shed promptly as part of a healthy skin cycle.

2/It helps regulate the natural flow of sebum to the skin’s surface. The skin then has the correct levels of oils/lipids to be moisturised, protected and comfortable.

3/ It clears and refines pores  so they don’t become blocked again. Its naturally anti-bacterial properties also mean everything is kept super-clean which avoids secondary infection or inflammation.

How can I use it in my skincare routine?

There are two ways to use salicylic acid as part of your Votary skincare routine. Both formulas contain 2% salicylic acid and are suitable for all skin types.

Our new Super Glow Mask is a brilliant way to give your skin a weekly treatment.  Super Glow Mask works in three ways. It exfoliates, deep cleanses and nourishes to leave skin radiant and smooth.  It’s the salicylic acid content which gently exfoliates and smooths to reveal fresh new skin. Super Glow Mask is fantastic on skin which is a little congested or ashy, and is perfectly balanced to deliver luminosity. It also includes lightweight watermelon and passion fruit oils to cleanse and give dewy radiance, and avocado and peach oils  to nourish and condition. 

The second option is Blemish Rescue Oil. This is a targeted treatment to be applied directly to spots and can be used multiple times daily. The salicylic acid in it works to unblock pores and to remove compacted skin. Additionally, tamanu oil is naturally antiseptic and antibacterial and helps keep everything super clean and accelerates healing. Blemishes heal with minimal marking or scarring and fresh, soft, smooth skin appears more speedily.

Salicylic acid is a hero ingredient.  I love it that so many remedies for skin issues are solved with the power of natural, pure plant oils. Salicylic acid is a brilliant solution for blemished, congested and dull skin. Get glowing…

Love, Arabella x

Read more about why plant oils are the logical solution for oily, blemished skin here.

Read more about our new Super Glow Mask here.

Read more about our cult, award-winning Blemish Rescue Oil here.

Read what the press think about Blemish Rescue Oil here.

Read more about salicylic acid here and here.