gentler salicylic acid formulations for sensitive skin?
hey all,
i’m a long-time sca lurker, but it’s been a few years since i kept up to date with the skincare community. i’m on the hunt for a salicylic acid product that won’t dry the ever-loving fuck out of my skin, to put it gently.
i had pretty severe acne for several years, and hopping on accutane for 2 years was the only thing that got rid of it. my skin was very oily, and in terms of acne i mostly dealt with a lot of blackheads, whiteheads and some cystic acne. really swell mix.
i’ve always had very sensitive skin. i’m prone to dehydration and eczema flare ups, which is worsened by the dry climate i live in. i’ve had eczema flare ups on my eyelids and cheeks before, which were a nightmare to get rid of.
before accutane, i had a lot of success with TO’s salicylic acid, and various benzoyl peroxide products. but since accutane, my skin is normal-dry.
so, i switched to TO’s glycolic acid 7% toner as my chemical exfoliant. i mainly used it to slowly reduce the PIH scarring left over from years of severe acne.
i do like glycolic acid, but second puberty is starting to give me more acne again. blackheads have been cropping up over the last few months, and glycolic acid simply isn’t effective enough. they only leave my face when i physically extract them myself. the hormonal acne i get around my period now is also not being dealt with by glycolic acid as effectively.
does anyone have any gentler salicylic acid products they recommend? a BHA is definitely the move here to tackle blackheads and hormonal acne, but i’m scared of using something TOO harsh and compromising my skin barrier.
my routine focuses a lot on hydration, and i’ve managed to strike a balance where my skin is nice and hydrated and happy. i don’t use any other actives other than glycolic acid, due to how sensitive my skin can be.
thanks!