The Ordinary

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum.

Body & Tan

About this product

A lightweight, water-based serum containing 2% salicylic acid designed to exfoliate and treat acne, blackheads, and oily or textured skin on the face and body.

Full ingredients

Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Sarcosine, Water

Guru Score

69%

Mixed

4 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

This serum earns consistent praise for clearing blackheads, smoothing texture, and controlling oil without harsh dryness, making it a standout value at its price point. Most gurus recommend starting with once daily application rather than twice, as jumping straight to morning and night can over-dry skin, though the serum itself is gentle enough that one reviewer found it difficult to overdo. One reviewer experienced a purging reaction with visible whiteheads after first use, a sign the product was actively working but worth knowing going in.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take February 2025

What they liked

Thin, watery texture spreads easily
Absorbs without stickiness or film
Large 240 ml bottle lasts well

What they flagged

Needs a moisturiser on top

Best for

Oily skin Acne-prone skin

Type

Body & TanLiquid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Breakouts and acne2 experts

“I've been using this on the chest and on the back, just minimizes any breakouts, prevents any blackheads that might form in those areas, smooths everything out for me.”

Mad About Skin, watch at 15:46

Rough or uneven texture2 experts

“I've been using this on the chest and on the back, just minimizes any breakouts, prevents any blackheads that might form in those areas, smooths everything out for me.”

Mad About Skin, watch at 15:46

Clogged or visible pores1 expert

“I've been using this on the chest and on the back, just minimizes any breakouts, prevents any blackheads that might form in those areas, smooths everything out for me.”

Mad About Skin, watch at 15:46

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Mad About Skin

734k subs

~Yay

"I've been using this on the chest and on the back, just minimizes any breakouts, prevents any blackheads that might form in those areas, smooths everything out for me. [...] You get so much, you get 240 ml, you can use this all over the body head to toe for that great exfoliation, get rid of that dead skin cells, get the skin and the body smooth. Great on the hands if you've got quite rough hands, particularly in winter."

Abbey Yung

887k subs

~Nay

"This serum is basically like water, so it slips through your hands as you try to apply it [...] to different spots, and slips off before you get there. You could [...] saturate a cotton round or towel with it to prevent that, [...] but then you waste product [...] and it's more of a hassle. [...] I would rather just continue with the spray, which for me is no hassle, no mess and easy, instead of this one."

Sincerely Miss Ash

196k subs

~Yay

"I really do like this. During my time testing this I didn't have any breakouts on my chest or on my body, but it did a really good job to smooth out everything on my chest and I was really pleased with that. You can use this every day, or if you choose to use this twice a day you could do that as well. I would probably start with once a day and see how it goes. [...] This is very thin and watery [...] and it does spread nicely. It does not dry down sticky or tacky."

Nipun Kapur

413k subs

~Yay

"The salicylic acid body serum [...] is a 0.5% concentration, so it's not a 1%, it's not a 2%, it's not a watered down formula. This is something that I have been using, and obviously I'm going to use it and finish it off."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum?

A lightweight, water-based serum containing 2% salicylic acid designed to exfoliate and treat acne, blackheads, and oily or textured skin on the face and body.

Is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 69%.

What is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum holds a Guru Score of 69%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum best for?

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

What is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum is good for breakouts and acne (2 experts), rough or uneven texture (2 experts) and clogged or visible pores (1 expert).

Is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum good for breakouts and acne?

2 experts who reviewed The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum say it is. Mad About Skin put it this way: “I've been using this on the chest and on the back, just minimizes any breakouts, prevents any blackheads that might form in those areas, smooths everything out for me.”