17 Products With Salicylic Acid For Treating Breakouts at Every Step of Your Routine

If your skin is craving clarity, begin your routine with the Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser ($15). It's formulated with salicylic acid to combat acne and excess sebum production, plus a soothing botanical blend that includes aloe, chamomile, and thyme that calms skin and reduces redness. Because this is a mild cleanser, it can be used both morning and evening.

Benton is a K-beauty brand that uses naturally derived ingredients to make products in small batches. This Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner ($19) is a favorite for its ability to rebalance and hydrate the skin (a must for all skin types). In addition to salicylic acid, it also contains soothing aloe and ultrahydrating snail mucin (don't knock it till you try it). Use this one after cleansing and before treatments, serums, and creams.

Sometimes you need to target a monster zit. For this, reach for a more potent spot treatment, such as the Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment ($20), which contains two percent salicylic acid to kick acne bacteria to the curb. It also contains ginger root extract to soothe and absorb more oil and frankincense to mattify the blemish.

Another great spot-treatment option is the Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel ($19). It contains one-and-a-half percent salicylic acid, making it slightly less potent than the Kiehl's spot treatment, and is intended for hormonal acne and bumps.

The Ordinary is here to save your skin — and your wallet — with this The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2 Percent Solution ($5). Because of the two percent concentration, it's recommended for spot treatments, though you could also dilute it by adding a drop to your go-to cleanser, serum, or cream to fade previous breakouts and keep acne and oil on a tight leash.

The Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream Skin Clearing Perfector ($9) doubles down on your beauty routine by combining the clarifying powers of salicylic acid with the concealing powers of a skin-evening BB cream. In addition to zapping oil, reducing acne, and hiding existing zits, it also reduces pore size, minimizes redness, and hydrates skin.

It may seem counter-intuitive to apply oil to already oily skin, but trust us on this one. If your skin is producing excessive amounts of sebum, it's very likely trying to compensate for underlying dryness. The solution is to hydrate your skin regularly. The Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Oil ($80) contains one-and-a-half percent salicylic acid to battle acne and skin congestion, while milk thistle and cucumber seed oil nourish, hydrate, soothe, and plump.

Similar to the "hydrate your oily skin" concept, we recommend using the Herbivore Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask ($48) two to three times a week. It contains white willow bark extract, which, as mentioned above, naturally contains high levels of salicylic acid. This mask also contains fruit enzymes to buff away dead cells, blue tansy oil to calm and hydrate, and aloe to soothe and smooth.

Let's get real. Acne doesn't just pop up on your face — your entire body can sprout whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples (hence terms like bacne and chestne). To zap acne anywhere, use a body wash or scrub that contains salicylic acid, such as the Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub ($8). It is mild enough to be used daily and will help keep skin clear, soft, and clean.

Each of the Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots ($19-$32) features salicylic acid — along with soothing aloe vera — to penetrate pores overnight (or under a protective mask) and reduce blemish size and redness.

Besides the concentrated dose of salicylic acid in these First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma White Clay Acne Treatment Pads 2% Salicylic Acid ($30), there's also kaolin clay to absorb dirt and oil with just one swipe. These pads are a top-rated option for anyone with sensitive skin, since they skip the alcohol and other drying agents.

The secret ingredient in this Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Blemish Solutions Acne Eliminating Gel ($40) is monk's pepper, which addresses oil production that can lead to clogged pores, but it also contains salicylic acid to help clear skin.

This Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner ($32) includes a blend of salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids that helps unclog pores and minimize their appearance, so skin is purified and mattified as a result.

This top-rated Murad Clarifying Cleanser ($12-$32) actually boasts two types of salicylic acid inside — one that starts working immediately and a second encapsulated one that can continue to work long after the cleanser is rinsed away.

These powerful Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Salicylic Acid Pore Refining Pads ($46) combine salicylic and glycolic acids to reduce the look of current breakouts, prevent future ones, and tackle uneven skin tone and texture.

Like many of the brand's products, this The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser ($10) is a total favorite among editors, dermatologists, and beauty influencers thanks to its affordable price tag and effective formula. This cleanser works well to remove makeup (never eye makeup, though) and also general grime from the day, plus it helps control excess sebum.

The e.l.f. Acne Fighting Spot Gel Treatment ($3) is not only super affordable, it's really easy to use. The rollerball is innovative and effective because it enables the product to be hands free.