The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution: a Guru Score of 77%

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 acne5 experts

“The Ordinary Salicylic Acid [...] is fantastic for acne prone skin.”

Dr. Somji Skin, watch at 4:31

Clogged or visible pores3 experts

“It is best for clogged pores, blackheads, or textured skin.”

Dr. Aleksandra Brown, watch at 10:55

Excess oil and shine3 experts

“It helps reduce blackheads, whiteheads, and oily shine.”

Dr. Aleksandra Brown, watch at 10:55

Dark spots and post-acne marks2 experts

“we put in green tea extract which is your gentle tyrosine inhibitor that will help with any underlying hyperpigmentation as well.”

Dr. Vanita Rattan, watch at 9:44

Rough or uneven texture1 expert

“It's got keratolytic properties to soften and exfoliate that dry rough stuff.”

Dr Dray, watch at 6:21

Keratosis pilaris (bumpy arms)1 expert

“This is really good as a leave-on salicylic acid for blackheads, acne, hyperpigmentation, if you get keratosis pilaris on the face, for some people they find that salicylic acid helps.”

Dr Dray, watch at 6:21

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

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

✓Nay

"The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution scores 45 out of 100, rated poor by the Yuka app, because of phenoxyethanol."

All 10 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

BRIDAL SKINCARE MISTAKES

"If you have oily skin use two percent salicylic acid exfoliator. I would also recommend anyone who tends to get spots just for their period like me use salicylic acid the week before your period and you'll notice that you are a lot less likely to break out. The ones I like are from The Ordinary."

ACNE THE ORDINARY AM/PM LAYERING

"This is fragrance free, and I do love fragrance free. Salicylic acids do tend to have quite a strong smell, but this is non-irritating to the skin, and this is what's going to help unclog your pores."

ACNE ROUTINE - LESS THAN £20

"I'd recommend The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution because you want to unclog the pore."

BEST & WORST ACNE SERUMS

"The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution is simple and effective. It's £51. It's one of the cheapest salicylic acids on the market, so definitely purchase."

SHRINK PORES fast | Dr Vanita Rattan

"The Ordinary does a very good one. [...] This is a 2% salicylic acid. Remember I told you before salicylic acid can be very drying to the skin, so it sprays onto the skin like this and we put in a high percentage glycerin to ensure that your skin doesn't feel dry, plus we put in green tea extract which is your gentle tyrosine inhibitor that will help with any underlying hyperpigmentation as well."

What's the BEST Exfoliating Acid for Skin of Colour in 2024?

"The Ordinary has done another good 2% salicylic acid solution."

WATCH if your HYPERPIGMENTATION is getting worse- Dr Vanita Rattan

"I also like the 2% salicylic acid from the [...] ordinary. So 2% salicylic acid will basically just help to unclog the pore and it just keeps doing it. So you can't really stop using salicylic acid if you have oily acne prone skin because what happens with your pore is it will continue to fill up and every time it fills up you're likely to have a breakout."

Acne + Dark Marks Dr Vanita Rattan SkincarebyDrV.com

"I was, but I've swapped to the Mi Plus BHA. That's fine. Both very similar. Is it helping you or is it doing anything for you? I feel that it is helping"

How To Treat Acne & Dark Marks

"The most affordable is the Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution. It's around £6. Use it as a spot treatment or apply it to oily areas a few nights a week."

Yuka App Is Wrecking Your Skin

"The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution scores 45 out of 100, rated poor by the Yuka app, because of phenoxyethanol."

Hyram

4.33M subs

✓Yay

"I used to absolutely be obsessed with that serum. The Ordinary is great for basically doing exactly what he's doing right now, targeting specific skin issues, and they're straightforward, effective, and affordable. It's at 2%, which is the highest percentage of salicylic acid you can have in a non-prescription formula. I would say that serum is best used as a spot treatment for any areas that are experiencing breakouts or blocked pores."

All 2 takes from Hyram

Reacting to "Heated Rivalry" Star Hudson William's Skin Care Routine 👀

"I used to absolutely be obsessed with that serum. The Ordinary is great for basically doing exactly what he's doing right now, targeting specific skin issues, and they're straightforward, effective, and affordable. It's at 2%, which is the highest percentage of salicylic acid you can have in a non-prescription formula. I would say that serum is best used as a spot treatment for any areas that are experiencing breakouts or blocked pores."

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"The Ordinary Salicylic Acid Serum is a great gentle formula if you want a daily treatment, to make sure you're getting that daily salicylic acid prevention without over exfoliating your skin or drying it out."

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

153k subs

✓Yay

"The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution is a [...] lightweight serum that exfoliates inside the pores to keep them clear. It helps reduce blackheads, whiteheads, and oily shine. Because it doesn't increase sun sensitivity as much as retinoids, it can be used morning and night. It is best for clogged pores, blackheads, or textured skin. [...] The key ingredient is the 2% salicylic acid which clears pores, helps prevent breakouts, and minimizes oil."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

✓Nay

"When I woke up for work the next morning and I looked in the mirror, I wondered what was all over my face. My initial reaction was that it was loads of spots. It kind of looked like I had 100 whiteheads on my face. I touched my chin and that's when something popped and I realized that they were blisters. All this clear and yellow liquid came out. It was horrible. [...] It felt like a throbbing pain on my face."

All 2 takes from James Welsh

Are The Ordinary's Products Actually Dangerous? The Truth About The Chemical Burn Claims

"When I woke up for work the next morning and I looked in the mirror, I wondered what was all over my face. My initial reaction was that it was loads of spots. It kind of looked like I had 100 whiteheads on my face. I touched my chin and that's when something popped and I realized that they were blisters. All this clear and yellow liquid came out. It was horrible. [...] It felt like a throbbing pain on my face."

The Truth Behind The Tragic Downfall Of The Ordinary - When Beauty Turns Ugly 💜 James Welsh

"You could argue the exfoliant. People were paying attention."

Dr. Somji Skin

361k subs

✓Yay

"The Ordinary Salicylic Acid [...] is fantastic for acne prone skin. [...] If you've [...] got slightly darker skin type and you've got really a lot of congestion then salicylic acid is going to be a good option."

Caroline Hirons

250k subs

✓Yay

"I'm not being funny most of the people I've called got on here are mates and I take care of most of my mates so it's fine don't worry or Barber steim enzyme yeah then I love the control acid or osia floral water I'm using what a brand yeah it's great when I'm not using the control cuz obviously I don't use it every day of course"

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

✓Yay

"Salicylic acid, remember that's a BHA, that's oil soluble. The Ordinary has some fantastic ones that are really good."

All 3 takes from Cassandra Bankson

How To Get Rid Of Sebaceous Filaments

"Salicylic acid, remember that's a BHA, that's oil soluble. The Ordinary has some fantastic ones that are really good."

5 Best Serums From The Ordinary

"If this is not available in your area, my second favorite for acne would probably be the Salicylic Acid in oil. That one's great if you have dry skin and acne, which can be really hard to treat, but if you have blackheads, if you have oily skin, especially if you have acne scars and uneven texture, retinoids are really helpful."

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ORDINARY'S SALICYLIC ACID?! VS THE NEW SALICYLIC ACID ANHYDROUS SOLUTION

"The salicylic acid from the ordinary was one of my favorites as someone who is very oily and acne prone, but [...] this product is not for the faint of heart. It [...] will dry out your face, and I have found myself liking to spot treat with this because of how well it works [...] on my t-zone as someone who is very oily. However, for those who are dry, you can't use this."

Dr Sam Bunting

240k subs

✓Yay

"Those on a budget might want to layer more affordable serums to get the combination of salicylic acid and azelaic acid. The Ordinary's 2% salicylic acid solution is a good one to try."

Nipun Kapur

413k subs

✓Yay

"You get a Salicylic Acid 2% which is amazing"

Translated from the guru's original language.

All 2 takes from Nipun Kapur

The best serums for glow & anti aging | Ordinary vs Minimalist | Nipun Kapur

"You get a Salicylic Acid 2% which is amazing"

Translated from the guru's original language.

My routine made Affordable! Dupes & Swaps for my favorite skincare products

"You can literally get your salicylic acid at any price point and you can get your niacinamide at any price point."

Translated from the guru's original language.

Sincerely Miss Ash

196k subs

✓Yay

"Although I have combination skin I can break out from time to time, sometimes when I use salicylic acid this ingredient can be a little bit sensitizing on my skin and I do experience dryness and a little bit of redness. When I use the in Hydrous solution I never ever experience that. If you are more that sensitive skin type but you have acne, I would say go with the in Hydrous solution. It is a little bit thicker but it's still very very thin and lightweight."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"This is really good as a leave-on salicylic acid for blackheads, acne, hyperpigmentation, if you get keratosis pilaris on the face, for some people they find that salicylic acid helps. [...] It's got keratolytic properties to soften and exfoliate that dry rough stuff. [...] This one is like just a liquid but it's not drying."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"I like this product and I think [...] a lot of people will benefit from salicylic acid. To me it doesn't necessarily stand out against anything else, [...] but I think that's where The Ordinary made its name. It's just [...] affordable and easy to get. [...] I don't think you can find a salicylic acid solution of this quality at this price point other than this option, so I still think it makes it stand out in that way."

What the evidence says.

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

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution?

A lightweight 2% salicylic acid serum designed to exfoliate pores, reduce acne, blackheads, and oily shine.

Is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution worth it?

Mostly yes. 10 of the 12 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 77%.

What is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution holds a Guru Score of 77%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 12 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution best for?

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

What is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution is good for breakouts and acne (5 experts), clogged or visible pores (3 experts), excess oil and shine (3 experts), dark spots and post-acne marks (2 experts), rough or uneven texture (1 expert) and keratosis pilaris (bumpy arms) (1 expert).

Is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution good for breakouts and acne?

5 experts who reviewed The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution say it is. Dr. Somji Skin put it this way: “The Ordinary Salicylic Acid [...] is fantastic for acne prone skin.”