Is your skin being bombarded with acne breakouts? Rather than concealing it with makeup, we have brought you a long-term and effective solution in the form of a salicylic acid serum.
A salicylic acid serum is known to treat acne by unclogging blocked pores and removing all the dirt from the skin. Moreover, it also inhibits sebum’s production to prevent further acne breakouts.
However, do all salicylic acid serums works? Sadly not. Several companies and brands mix their serums with harmful chemicals that can potentially harm your skin. But you can steer clear of those products by referring to the following reviews of the 10 best salicylic acid serums.
Best Salicylic Acid Serum in India 2024
The following products are thoroughly researched and tested by our team of dermatologists and skin experts. This brings forward authenticity and trustworthiness to our article.
Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Serum
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Overall Score: 4.1/5
The Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Serum ticks all the boxes for us. For starters, this serum is dermatologically-approved. This also denotes that all the ingredients used are 100% safe.
The presence of salicylic acid ensures complete rejuvenation of the skin. It prevents acne breakouts and also works on acne scars. This gives you clear and clean skin.
The 2% BHA helps clean the pores. It removes the dirt and oil from the pores, thereby minimizing the pore size. Along with that, it also works on blackheads and exfoliates dull skin.
It treats sebum production on the skin and keeps your skin oil-free.
Since this serum is water-based, it can be used on all skin types, including oily skin. Moreover, it also balances the pH level of the skin.
Additionally, this serum can be used to enhance your skin’s texture. It treats any bumpy texture and completely replenishes it.
As this serum is made without any synthetic fragrances or chemicals, it is completely safe to be used on a daily basis.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% Salicylic acid
- Hypoallergenic
- Non-comedogenic
- Water-based
- Cleans the pores, removes blackheads, and treats acne
- No chemicals or fragrances
- Removes oil from the skin
- Suitable for all skin types
Pilgrim Oil Control Serum with Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide
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Overall Score: 4.1/5
The Pilgrim Oil Control Serum with Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide is specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin.
It is infused with salicylic acid, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
Salicylic acid helps prevent acne and blackheads. It cleans the pores and makes your skin oil-free. This further prevents more acne breakouts. Along with that, you can also use this serum on dry and textured skin to make it smooth and flawless.
Niacinamide rejuvenates the skin by making it firm and healthy. It reduces the appearance of pores and blackheads. Moreover, this serum will also protect your skin from sun damage due to the presence of niacinamide.
Lastly, hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and keeps it nourished and moisturized. This also prevents the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This serum effectively controls sebum production and keeps your skin oil-free. Moreover, it also removes any dullness from the skin and gives it an instant glow.
It is made without any chemicals like sulfates, mineral oil, paraben, etc. This makes it suitable for oily and acne-prone skin.
Highlights:
- Made with salicylic acid, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid
- No chemicals or fragrances
- Controls sebum production
- Prevents acne
- Hydrates the skin
- Cleans the pores
- Suitable for oily and acne-prone skin
The Derma Co 2% Salicylic Acid Face Serum
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Overall Score: 4/5
The Derma Co 2% Salicylic Acid Face Serum is best for acne and the scars that come with it.
It contains nothing more than 2% salicylic acid. This helps directly target acne and other related skin issues.
This serum exfoliates acne-prone skin without irritating it. Moreover, it cleans the pores and removes excess sebum from the skin.
With its anti-inflammatory properties, this serum penetrates through the skin layers and clears the skin. This will make your skin clearer and smoother.
You can also use this serum to treat blackheads and whiteheads.
As it is made without mineral oil, sulfate, paraben, etc., you can use this serum on all skin types.
It is not at all sticky. Instead, this serum is extremely lightweight and non-greasy.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% salicylic acid
- Cleans the pores
- No chemicals
- Treats blackheads
- Controls sebum production
- Treats acne and its scars
- Lightweight
- Suitable for all skin types
Deconstruct Pore Control Serum
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Overall Score: 4.1/5
The Deconstruct Pore Control Serum is infused with 2% Salicylic Acid and 3% Niacinamide.
Salicylic acid helps enrich your skin by working on the oiliness. It tightens the pores and treats acne and other skin problems.
Along with that, this element also fights blackheads and whiteheads. It clears your skin completely to give it a flawless and radiant glow.
Niacinamide majorly regulates the production of sebum on the skin. This feature makes this serum suitable for all skin types, especially oily skin.
This serum is made with 100% safe ingredients. They are carefully chosen after proper scientific research and formulation.
It is made without chemicals or fragrances.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% Salicylic Acid and 3% Niacinamide
- No chemicals
- Fights blackheads, whiteheads, pores, and acne
- Inhibits the sebum production
- Suitable for all skin types
Disrupt 2% Salicylic Acid Serum
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Overall Score: 4.1/5
The Disrupt 2% Salicylic Acid Serum comes in a creamy form, thereby working well as a moisturizer for dry and damaged skin.
It contains 2% salicylic acid that effectively targets acne and sebum production. It cleans the pores and controls the oiliness of the skin. This automatically reduces the chances of getting acne breakouts.
It also works on inflammation and redness.
Not only is it toxin-free, but it is Australian Allergy Certified, vegan, cruelty-free, and GMO-free.
Since it is non-comedogenic, you need not worry about this serum clogging your pores.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% salicylic acid
- Non-comedogenic
- Targets acne and oiliness
- Prevents inflammation
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Australian Allergy Certified
- Suitable for all skin types
Luxura Sciences Salicylic Acid 2% Face Serum
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Overall Score: 4.2/5
The Luxura Sciences Salicylic Acid 2% Face Serum is enriched with salicylic acid and niacinamide.
While salicylic acid works to prevent acne, niacinamide targets the pore appearance. This gives your skin a vibrant and even texture.
This serum also contains aloe vera and tea tree to fight other skin problems like inflammation, redness, blemishes, etc.
You can use this serum to even your skin tone, exfoliate the skin, open clogged pores, and make your skin more radiant.
It controls the production of sebum to keep your skin non-greasy.
Other features include hypoallergenic, halal, vegetarian, and free from harmful chemicals.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% salicylic acid and niacinamide
- No chemicals
- Targets acne, blemishes, skin tone, and clogged pores
- Vegetarian
- Halal
- Hypoallergenic
- Non-greasy
- Suitable for all skin types
StBotanica Bha Salicylic Acid 2% Face Serum
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Overall Score: 4.6/5
The StBotanica Bha Salicylic Acid 2% Face Serum also contains hyaluronic acid for overall results.
This serum targets acne, blemishes, oil production, and clogged pores. It works towards the complete rejuvenation of the skin by removing oil and dirt from the skin.
It prevents acne and treats acne scars. It also improves the texture of the skin by reducing any bumps or marks.
This serum is free from all kinds of harmful chemicals. It is also cruelty-free and vegan.
Along with these powerful ingredients, this serum also contains glycerine, watermelon extract, strawberry extract, and bark of willow extract. The combination of such ingredients ensures moisturization and hydration of the skin.
Highlights:
- Made with salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid
- No chemicals
- Contains glycerine, watermelon extract, strawberry extract, and bark of willow extract
- Targets acne and its scars
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Suitable for all skin types
Dr. Sheth’s Neem & Bha Spot Clarifying Serum
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Overall Score: 4/5
Dr. Sheth’s Neem & Bha Spot Clarifying Serum is a vegan option made with 2% salicylic acid, niacinamide, neem oil, and tea tree oil.
Salicylic acid helps treat acne and its scars. It cleans the pores and removes any excess sebum production on the skin.
Niacinamide has a soothing effect on the skin. Due to this component, this serum soothes dry, inflamed, and irritated skin.
Neem oil has anti-bacterial properties that prevent acne and other problems. Lastly, tea tree oil replenishes your skin by leaving behind a calming effect.
Since it has been well-crafted with the help of experts, this serum brings effective and visible results in a few weeks.
It is suitable for normal, combination, sensitive, and oily skin.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% salicylic acid, niacinamide, neem oil, and tea tree oil
- Soothes irritated skin
- Fights acne
- Reduces inflammation and redness
- No chemicals
- Suitable for normal, combination, sensitive, and oily skin
Fantraa 2% Salicylic Acid Serum
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Overall Score: 4.1/5
The Fantraa 2% Salicylic Acid Serum also contains aloe vera extract for the best results for sensitive skin.
The concentrated BHA guarantees the complete removal of acne and oil from the skin. It unclogs the pores by removing dirt and excess oil.
It has an exfoliating formula that helps improve the texture of the skin.
With its non-comedogenic formula, you can use this serum on all skin types.
Not only does it spread easily on the skin, but it also gets absorbed in no time. This is done so due to the presence of Pro-Vitamin B5 with deep absorbing technology.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% salicylic acid and aloe vera extract
- Pro-Vitamin B5 with deep absorbing technology
- Spreads easily
- Improves the skin’s texture
- Removes oil and acne
- Suitable for all skin types
Azani Acne Clarifying Serum
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Overall Score: 3.6/5
The Azani Acne Clarifying Serum is made with 2% Salicylic Acid and 1% Glycolic Acid.
Salicylic acid works on acne and clarifies the skin by cleaning the pores.
On the other hand, glycolic acid fights acne, reduces hyperpigmentation, exfoliates the skin by removing the dead skin cells, and hydrates the skin. All such benefits can be obtained from a single serum.
This serum has a non-sticky formula through which you can use this serum on a daily basis.
Highlights:
- Made with 2% Salicylic Acid and 1% Glycolic Acid
- No chemicals
- Non-sticky
- Works on acne, dry skin, hyperpigmentation, etc.
- Clarifies the skin
- Prevents future acne breakouts
- Suitable for normal, dry, combination, and oily skin
What is a Salicylic Acid Serum?
Salicylic acid is a common name in the skincare industry. It is highly known for its high effective rate and low side effects.
Basically, it penetrates the skin and dissolves the dead skin cells that clog your pores. This helps treat acne, oiliness, and redness on the skin.
Salicylic acid is available in several types of forms like lotion, gel, ointment, etc. However, if you are dealing with acne, it is best to invest in a salicylic acid serum.
You can include such a serum in your skincare routine to keep your skin acne-free and flawless. Since it is an FDA-approved component, it is completely safe.
Benefits of a Salicylic Acid Serum
The following are some of the benefits of investing in a salicylic acid serum:
- It treats present acne and prevents future acne breakouts.
- It cleans the pores and removes dirt from the skin.
- It improves the texture of the skin.
- It removes excess oil from the skin by inhibiting sebum production.
- It exfoliates the dead skin cells and prevents inflammation and redness.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Salicylic Acid Serum?
The following comprehensive buying guide will help you choose the best salicylic acid serum for yourself:
1. The Proportion of Salicylic Acid
The ideal proportion of salicylic acid in serum is 2%. This composition targets acne, oiliness, and other skin issues without irritating the skin.
Moreover, serums with 2% salicylic acid are suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
2. Other Components
If you want to target several other skin problems, we suggest buying a salicylic serum mixed with other components like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, etc.
These additional elements will hydrate the skin, clean the pores, prevent acne, and treat inflammation.
So, if you want faster results, we suggest buying a salicylic acid with additional ingredients.
3. Tested by Dermatologists
Another great way to verify the authenticity is by checking whether the serum in question is tested by dermatologists or not.
This factor also ensures that the serum is suitable for all types of skin.
4. Non-Comedogenic
If you have oily skin, invest in a serum that is non-comedogenic in nature. Such serums will not clog the pores. Instead, they will clean and open the pores to avoid acne breakouts.
5. No Harmful Chemicals
Do make sure that the serums are free from paraben, sulfates, mineral oil, etc. They must also not contain artificial fragrance or color.
6. Lightweight Consistency
Invest in a lightweight and non-greasy salicylic acid. This will nourish your skin without making it oily or greasy.
How to Use a Salicylic Acid Serum?
Some people complain about getting pimples even after using a salicylic acid serum. One of the main reasons behind it can be the wrong application.
The following tips will help you use a salicylic acid serum in the best possible manner:
- Wash your face with mild soap and water. You can also use a salicylic acid face wash.
- Pat your face dry with a clean and dry towel.
- Apply a few drops of the salicylic acid serum all over your face.
- Gently rub it with your fingers to help your skin absorb the serum.
- Avoid touching your face for a few minutes after applying the serum.
Tips for Keeping your Skin Acne-Free
Apart from using a qualitative salicylic acid serum, you can also undertake the following tips to avoid getting acne:
- Wash your face twice a day with cold water and face wash or soap.
- Always use a clean towel to dry your face.
- Maintain a proper skincare routine.
- Improve your sleep schedule and avoid staying up till late.
- Regularly change your pillowcases.
- Avoid touching your face frequently.
- Quit smoking and excess intake of alcohol.
- Reduce stress levels. You can also try yoga or meditation for the same.
- Reduce your screen time.
- Always check your skincare products.
FAQs
1. How often can you use a salicylic acid serum?
If the serum is free from chemicals, you can use it once or twice a day for best results. Since acne-prone skin is dangerous ground, we suggest trying a patch test or using it thrice a week to understand its effects.
2. Does salicylic acid serum work on dark spots?
Apart from working on acne and its scars, you can also use a salicylic acid serum on dark spots. It fades away pigmentation and clears the skin.
3. Does salicylic acid serum remove acne scars?
Along with acne, you can also use a salicylic acid serum to remove acne scars. It also lightens any marks and wounds and makes your skin clear and radiant.
4. Can I use a salicylic acid serum to exfoliate my skin?
Since salicylic acid helps remove the dead skin cells from the skin, it leaves behind an exfoliation effect on the skin. You can use it to bring a radiant glow to your skin and get rid of any dullness.
Final Note
So, have you made your decision yet?
If you are still getting confused, we suggest making a safe choice by going with our #1 recommendation- the Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Serum.
This hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic serum has helped millions of people worldwide with its effective composition. Moreover, since dermatologists test and validate it, it can be used without any worries.
Hence, quit trying to live with your acne and get an effective solution today!
