Ingredient
Salicylic Acid
A beta hydroxy acid that is oil-soluble, so it can work inside pores. Widely used in products for blemish-prone skin.
What it does
Exfoliant
Loosens or dissolves the bonds between surface skin cells.
Preservative
Keeps the product free of microbial growth in use.
What we tell people
- Contains exfoliating acids
This product contains an exfoliating acid. These work by loosening the bonds between surface skin cells, and are usually introduced gradually.
Why: Concentration and pH change the effect substantially, and neither is usually disclosed, so an absolute statement would be misleading.
Regulatory position
Tied to a named instrument rather than summarised. Presence in an ingredient glossary is not evidence that a substance is permitted at any concentration or for any purpose.
EU · restricted
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III / Annex V
Restricted, with different limits for its exfoliating use and its use as a preservative, and conditions on use in products for children.
Reference
- CAS number
- 69-72-7
- In our catalogue
- 20 products
Ingredient reference data © European Union, 1995–2026, reused under CC-BY 4.0. Plain explanations are BeautySignal's own. This is information, not medical advice. How we source this.