Picture this: You’ve been sticking to your skincare routine religiously, but just when an important event approaches, you wake up to an unexpected breakout. A couple of new zits here, a patch of blackheads there—it’s a story that a lot of us are familiar with. At times like these, we often look for something that works beneath the surface to tackle the concern in the long term.

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This is where a salicylic-spiked face serum comes into the conversation. You may have heard the buzz around the ingredient, but what exactly makes it effective?

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Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), is known to deeply penetrate pores, exfoliate and dissolve excess oil—making it a go-to for those battling acne, blackheads or oily skin. Found in lightweight, fast-absorbing serums, it unclogs pores, reduces inflammation and improves overall skin texture.

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Besides, integrating it into a skincare routine is simple: Start with a gentle cleanser, pat in the salicylic serum on clean skin, follow with a non-comedogenic moisturiser and finish with sunscreen, if it's the AM. However, if you have dry or sensitive skin, you may want to start slowly with lower concentrations to avoid irritation.

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In case you're planning to add one to your beauty regimen soon, consider these four clarifying, purifying, lightweight formulations that made it to our shortlist.