Salicylic Acid is found in many body products indicated for soothing irritated scalps, or inflamed, acne-prone skin. It’s used in blemish control face washes, anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners, soothing face masks, moisturisers and much more.

Most commercially available Salicylic Acid is made using a chemical process called the Kolbe-Schmitt method. This process starts by combining phenol (a petroleum derivative) and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) to make sodium phenoxide. This product is then reacted with carbon dioxide to produce sodium salicylate. The sodium ion is removed in an acidic solution and the product is Salicylic Acid. Alternatively, methyl salicylate - naturally occurring in Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens - can be converted into Salicylic Acid without the use of petrochemical derivatives.

Salicylic Acid is approved for topically-applied medicines by the USFDA at concentrations not exceeding 12%.

Salicylic Acid is approved in the EU for leave-on cosmetics at concentrations not exceeding 2.5%.