I don’t know what it is about my nose, but blackheads love it. It’s the only area where they show up (well, that and the skin just around it). All the time. They make my nose look like a dalmata and enlarge my pores so much, I swear you can see them from the moon. The only thing that gives them the boot and keeps them from coming back is salicylic acid (but I have to be super diligent with it).
I usually get my fix from Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant but this year, I’m cheating on it with The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution. Finally, this baby is back in stock and I couldn’t be happier with it. It’s a more basic version of Paula’s Choice (hey, for the price, you can’t really complain), but it does the job just as well. Will I switch back to my first love? Mmmm….
- About The Brand: The Ordinary
- Key Ingredients In The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution: What Makes It Work?
- The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
- Texture
- Fragrance
- How To Use It
- Packaging
- Performance & Personal Opinion
- How Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Compare To The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution?
- How Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Compare To The Other The Ordinary Exfoliants?
- How Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Compare To Other Common Salicylic Acid Exfoliants?
- What I Like About The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
- What I DON’T Like About The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
- Who Should Use This?
- Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Live Up To Its Claims?
- Is The Ordinary Cruelty-Free?
- Price & Availability
- The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
- Dupess & Alternatives
About The Brand: The Ordinary
Did you know The Ordinary is the most sought-after skincare brand? Can’t say I’m surprised. The brain child of tortured genius Brandon Truaxe, the brand was the first of its kind to bring powerful actives to drugstores for a fraction of the cost. While before you had to spend an arm and a leg to get high concentrations of retinol, now you could get your mitts on it for roughly the price of two cups of coffee. How amazing is that?
Critics said it couldn’t be done. But Brandon did it – and now the skincare world is full of copycats. The catch? Each product contains only one active. Yes, that active can fight acne, reduce wrinkles or whatever it says on the tin, but it won’t go the extra mile. I like to think of The Ordinary as a skincare supplement. If I’m missing an ingredient from my skincare routine, I’ll turn to this brand. If I’m looking for a multi-tasking product, I won’t find it here.
Key Ingredients In The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution: What Makes It Work?
SALICYLIC ACID TO UNCLOG PORES
Pretty much every exfoliant out there promises to clean your pores and rid them of the crap that’s clogging them up. But unless they use an acid that’s oil-soluble and can get through the skin’s lipid (oil) barrier, they can’t. Salicylic acid (also called BHA) is the only acid that can do the feat. It penetrates the pores and unclogs them from within.
This is essential when you’re dealing with blackheads (and other types of acne). If you just scrub away the black head of the blemish and leave the tail inside the pore, it’s only a matter of time before that little bugger rears its ugly head again.
Salicylic acid also exfoliates the surface of the skin so the dead cells that pile up on its surface can’t fall into the pores and clog them up again. Plus, surface exfoliation make skin softer, smoother and more even-toned.
FYI, this makes exfoliation a regular job. If your skin’s prone to blackheads and pimples, using salicylic acid every day can keep them from coming back in the first place. One more thing: salicylic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties. It means it can soothe irritations and reduce the redness that always comes along with pimples.
Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is The Key To Spot-Free Skin
Want a cost-effective skincare routine for acne that works? Subscribe to my newsletter below and receive The Ordinary Acne Skincare Routine Cheatsheet:
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Aqua (Water): The main solvent in the product, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
- Saccharide Isomerate: A mixture of hydrating corn-derived sugars, it has humectant properties that attract water from the air into the skin and bind it there. The result? Softer, smoother, hydrated skin.
- Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine: A cleansing agent with foaming properties. It’s used here to stabilise Salicylic Acid, so that it works better for longer.
- Hydroxyethylcellulose: A popular thickening agent in skincare products.
- Polysorbate 20: A cleansing agent that also helps the oily and watery parts of a formula from separating.
- Citric Acid: An exfoliant, it’s used here to adjust the pH of the product, so that it works its best without irritating skin.
- Sodium Citrate: Another pH-adjuster.
- Sodium Hydroxide: Yep, this ingredient helps to balance the pH of skincare products too.
Phenoxyethanol:A gentle preservative that prevents bacterial contamination and keeps your skincare products safe for longer.- Chlorphenesin: Another preservative that prevents any nasties from growing in your skincare products and spoil them.
Texture
This exfoliant has a weird texture. It’s a watery-gel that dries down a little tacky. If you apply a little too much, it also foams a little. I’ve never seen anything like that before and it’s probably due to the cleansing agent used to stabilise Salicylic Acid. This is also what you get for the price. The Ordinary doesn’t cut corners on effectiveness, like so many other brands do. But they do cut corners on texture – and that’s not always pleasant.
Fragrance
This exfoliant is fragrance-free – and that’s how I like my skincare products. I know it’s not for everyone. Fragrance makes your skincare products smell amazing but, it’s also one of the most irritating ingredients used in skincare. For sensitive skin, it’s a no-no.
How To Use It
Salicylic Acid is an exfoliant, so every day is a no-no – unless you have very severe acne and your doctor has told you it’s ok to exfoliate daily. Everyone else, use it every other night. It’s enough to get rid of blackheads and acne without irritating skin. You could potentially use it during the day, but the more layers you pile on in the morning, the harder it is for your sunscreen to spread evenly. So night it is. Alternate it with retinol. For most people, these two actives are too harsh to be used one after the other.
Packaging
This exfoliant comes in a small, white bottle with a dropper applicator. It looks sleek on my vanity, sort of like a little potion. It’s also very practical. It dispenses the right amount of product you need and there’s no wastage.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Ever wondered why The Ordinary is so cheap? They give you all the best active ingredients to target your skin concerns, but they compromise on textures. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution is the perfect example. While Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant has a lovely, silky texture, The Ordinary Salicylic 2% Solution is tacky and foamy.
If that’s cool with you, you’ll get the same results from both exfoliants. Within a week, The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution made all my blackheads disappear. Usually, I use salicylic acid at night only on my nose area cos that’s where the little buggers like to take up residence. But a week before my period is due, when hormones are sending my sebaceous glands into overdrive and forcing them to produce way too much oil than my skin needs, I also apply a couple of drops on my chin area, where I’m prone to hormonal acne.
It usually does the trick but on the rare occasion a pimple does spring up on my chin (because pimples are evil and if they can pop up before a special occasion, they will), I apply a drop of this on the nasty bugger a couple of times a day to make it go away a little faster. It’s not a magical potion and doesn’t make the pimple disappear overnight. But the next day, the pimple does look smaller and less red. I repeat the process a couple more days and puff, my skin’s clear again.
Keep in mind, though, that salicylic acid works best at prevention than cure. If you have a pimple that’s come to a head, waiting three days for it to disappear completely can feel like an eternity. That’s why, if your skin is prone to them, it’s best to use this stuff regularly to prevent them in the first place. I didn’t experience any dryness or irritation even though I use it daily on some areas. If your skin’s on the sensitive side, though, you may want to use it a little less often, just in case.
How Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Compare To The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution?
Anhydrous means “without water.” Unlike most exfoliants that use it as their base, The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution doesn’t use a drop of water. Usually, exfoliating acids need a low pH to work their magic on their skin. Without water, there’s no pH. One less thing to worry about. So how does it work instead?
This exfoliant has an oily base, so you need to be careful what you apply afterwards. A water-based serum or moisturiser on top won’t work and may cause pilling. It’s a good option for those who don’t mind oil-based products. But if your skin is acne-prone and already has too much oil, the non-anhydrous version is better. If you’re interested in the Anhydrous version, you can get it for £6.40 at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, Ulta.
How Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Compare To The Other The Ordinary Exfoliants?
The Ordinary has a gazillion exfoliants – and they all use a different acids. Comparing Salicylic Acid to Glycolic Acid is like comparing apples to oranges – one isn’t better than the other, they’re just different. Said that, different skin types need different acids, so you do want to know which one would better suit your needs instead of just going for Salicylic because it’s popular, know what I mean? Here’s a quick guide to help you pick the best The Ordinary exfoliant for your unique skin type and needs:
- The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (£8.40): This solution treats acne, fades away dark spots, and boosts collagen to fade away wrinkles. But it’s too harsh for most skin types. Unless your skin is used to very high concentrations of acids and you know how to use them safely, stay away! Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
- The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£11.50): A thin, toner-like exfoliant that exfoliates and brightens the complexion, but can’t fight acne. It’s best suitable for dry skin. Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
- The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA (£6.90): The gentlest and most hydrating exfoliant the. brand makes. It removes dead cells, makes the complexion brighter, and hydrates skin. I only recommend it to very sensitive skin that can’t tolerate any other exfoliant. Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Sephora, The Ordinary and Ulta.
- The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA (£7.90): Lactic acid exfoliates and hydrates skin at the same time. It’s also the gentlest of the acids, so the best choice for sensitive skin. Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary and Ulta.
- The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA (£6.50): It exfoliates skin, brightens the complexion, and even helps treats acne. It’s a larger molecule than Salicylic Acid, so it doesn’t penetrate skin as well. Translation: it gives you results much slower. I only recommend it to oily, sensitive skin that can’t tolerate Salicylic Acid. Available at Beauty Bay, SpaceNK, The Ordinary and Ulta.
How Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Compare To Other Common Salicylic Acid Exfoliants?
Wondering how The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution compares to other popular alternatives on the market? Let’s find out:
- FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 (£18.00): A 2% Salicylic Acid formula enriched with antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties to treat acne and prevent wrinkles. Available at FaceTheory.
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (£35.00): I know this is a lot more expensive, but there’s a reason for that. It’s a more hydrating formula that also contains green tea to soothe skin and provide antioxidant benefits to fight free radicals and keep skin young. If you want a more complete formula that goes the extra mile, this is it. Available at Cult Beauty, Net-A-Porter, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, SpaceNK.
- The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum (£12.99): Enriched with Hyaluronic Acid, it exfoliates, hydrates, and has a better, lightweight texture that doesn’t foam. Available at Cult Beauty and Sephora.
What I Like About The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
- Fragrance-free.
- Removes blackheads and whiteheads.
- Treats acne and pimples.
- Reduces the redness that comes along with acne.
- Practical and sleek packaging.
- Doesn’t irritate skin (unless you use it too much).
- Cost-effective.
What I DON’T Like About The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
- Texture foams a little.
Who Should Use This?
Like all Salicylic Acid exfoliants, this is most suitable for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin. If your skin is producing excess oil or you have blackheads, this is the only exfoliant you need.
Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This 2% treatment solution helps exfoliate the inside walls of pores to fight the appearance of blemishes and for better visible skin clarity with continued use. | True. |
| Use in the AM and PM. | I don’t recommend exfoliating twice a day every day (unless you use it on pimples only) because that’s too much for skin and can cause dryness and irritation. |
Is The Ordinary Cruelty-Free?
Yes, The Ordinary is cruelty-free. They don’t test on animals and don’t allow their products to be tested either.
Price & Availability
$5.30/£4.20 at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for a cheap BHA exfoliant and you don’t mind the foaming texture, this is worth checking out.
Dupess & Alternatives
- FaceTheory BHA Exfoliating Serum S3 (£18.00): Enriched with antioxidants to treat wrinkles and acne. Available at FaceTheory.
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (£35.00): Hydrating, soothing, and acne-fighting. Available at Cult Beauty, Net-A-Porter, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, SpaceNK.
- The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum (£12.99): Hydrating and non-foaming. Available at Cult Beauty and Sephora.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Saccharide Isomerate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
Gio, in the light of the recent mounting controversies surrounding the brand, what’s your take on ‘voting with your wallet’ – both in their case, and in general?
Ana, I think that voting with your wallet is like voting in a political election. It’s a deeply personal issue and everyone should be left free to make the choice they think is best for them and their conscience.
For example, I don’t buy from Primark and H&M anymore because I really dislike their fast fashion policies. They hurt the people who make their clothes and the environment. Yet, until a few years ago, fast fashion was all I could afford. I knew that my money was supporting policies I didn’t agree with but when you’re on a tight budget, what can you do?
Or, take the iPhone. From all accounts, Steve Jobs wasn’t a particularly nice person but he revolutionized his industry. I don’t like him but Android is SO bad that I had to bite the bullet and buy a phone I can trust will last me more than a few months before slowing down to a crawl and freezing every 5 seconds. It’d be amazing if all geniuses were nice people but in real life, sometimes, it takes a jerk to make something the world needs.
On the other hand, though, if we all keep buying what’s cheap/convenient without making companies accountable for their policies, workers’ rights, environmental issues and other problems will only get worse. That’s why I don’t think there’s any clear cut answer: each and everyone of us should consider all the factors involved in a purchase and carefully select the product that best fits both our needs and values, knowing that sometimes we’ll have to compromise one or the other.
The Deciem situation is also complicated by the fact that it’s clear something is wrong with Brandon. Yes, you can be a jerk and have a mental illness but I can’t imagine anyone without a mental illness treating a brand account as a personal account and insulting their customers in front of all the world. Even jerks know that’s bad for business. I really hope he gets the help he needs but, having a history of mental health in my family, I know that almost always people don’t realise they need help until they reach rock bottom.
Personally, this whole situation is very difficult for me. I’ve unfollowed Deciem on Instagram and plan to use/review what I have (still quite a lot). If I’ll buy more from them for my personal use, it depends on how this situation unfolds (I don’t judge people and brands on the mistakes they make but on how they fix those mistakes – and unfortunately Brandon doesn’t seem to even acknowledge them *sighs*).
But I also don’t want anyone to feel bad or left out for supporting Deciem cos The Ordinary is all they can afford. I get so many requests from people to feature more drugstore/cheap products and the sad truth is that some of the best ones are from The Ordinary. Most drugstore brands are great at moisturizing but they don’t really feature all the actives The Ordinary has or they have the actives but in concentrations that are too low to work or at a pH that makes them ineffective. 🙁
Hence why I’m talking about their products from a scientific perspective only. I’ll let each of you make up your own minds if you want to keep supporting them or not.
A very, very belated thank you for your thoughtful answer, Gio.
My pleasure, Ana. This is an important issue, thanks for raising it.
Hi Gio, thank you for this review! Maybe this is a silly question, but when it comes to preventing clogged pores and blackheads on normal skin, is this solution comparable to The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution?
I’m looking for a chemical exfoliant for my 20-something-year-old normal/combo skin and your article made me think if there’s any possible comparison between both product’s purpose, if you know what I mean…
p.s.: I’m a long time reader but this is the first time I comment! I really appreciate the work you put onto beautiful with brains!
Mariana, thank you so much for all your support. It means the world to me. 🙂 So happy you’re enjoying my little blog and find it helpful.
Glycolic acid and salicylic acid are slightly different. They both remove dead cells on the surface of your skin. This prevents the extra dead cells from ending up in the pores and causing clogs. Salicylic acid goes a step further because it also gets inside the pores and removes all the other crap, like excess oil, that’s already clogging them up.
If your skin isn’t prone to pimples, then glycolic acid is working fine for you. I’d recommend switching to salicylic only if you’re starting to get pimples regularly.
Hi Gio,
I have been reading your blog a lot and enjoying it immensely. I have found most of your advice spot on and have seen an improvement in my skin with the use of retinoids, vitamin C, niacinamide, and antioxidants. Despite this, I STILL have some stubborn little blackheads and congested pores on my nose and chin, the kind I can squeeze and get teeny tiny satisfying sebum tails out of (I know I should not be picking at my skin, I don’t do it often now). I began using Paula’s Choice BHA formulation about a month ago, twice per day, and have seen literally no difference. I use retinoid at night (tried both the Ordinary Granactive 5% and retinol 5%) and niacin amide in morning. I use vitamin C about an hour before that to avoid reactions. I’ve used AHA masks several times a week. What else can I do?? Thanks!
Megan, if you’ve had blackheads for quite a long time, you need to go to a derm for extraction. You can also try Cosrx BHA Blackheads Liquid Power. For some people, it works better than Paula’s Choice. You can find a comparison here: http://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/dupes-paulas-choice-skin-perfecting-2-bha-liquid-exfoliant-vs-cosrx-bha-blackhead-power-liquid/
Hello Gio!
Last month I started the whole ‘double cleansing’ method and unfortunately, it didn’t work out too well for me. I started having breakouts around my jawline (badly) as well as congestions and they are killing me! I also have scars from old pimples and I have blackheads on my nose and chin. I have been thinking of trying the ordinary’s chemical exfoliation, but have no clue which to go for.
I read about The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, but I have fear that it might irritate my skin more. I believe I have sensitive skin (because I break out easily if I use the wrong product) correct me if I’m wrong. I’ve been reading reviews on The Ordinary’s salicylic acid, mandelic acid and lactic acid, but is completely unsure of which to go for.
Currently, my skincare routine consists of a toner/lotion with 0.2% salicylic acid (this helps keep my pimples at bay, but maybe because of the low concentration it barely does anything else),The Ordinary Niacinamide and cetaphil moisturiser. I’ve been using physical exfoliator (twice a week) but I feel like it’s not doing anything for me aside from leaving my skin feel fresh.
Can I get some advice on this?
Hasya, you definitely need a higher concentration of salicylic acid. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid is currently out of stock for reformulation, so try The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid or Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid instead.
What’s happened to this product; it’s about a year since I was last able to buy any, I’ve been on the wait of several stockists for months now for a new version, but no sign of it – I love T’O, hope it’s not disappearing.