Review of The Ordinary’s New Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution Pore Clearing Serum

I’ve always been a fan of The Ordinary’s products and therefore as soon as their new Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution Pore Clearing Serum came out, I had to try it! If you are a fan like me, you will easily notice that this is not their first venture into using the ingredient salicylic acid. They used to have a product with just salicylic acid, however it has been discontinued recently and therefore this one takes the place of the previous one. 

As someone who is often plagued with acne, I decided to give this product a try. The first thing I noticed was that it was a bit oily due to the squalane used. It gave off a dry oil sort of feel, which I’m not a huge fan of. The actual product is oil free, but squalane naturally feels oily and therefore people might assume that it is oily. Because there is squalane, I would suggest this product for those who have drier skin types or new to skincare (especially acid based ones). 

Because this is an anhydrous product, I used only 2 drops for my whole face as it spreads much easier than water based products. If I were to use more drops, I felt like it would make my face feel oily and since it takes longer to absorb than water based products I would not feel too comfortable sleeping in it. After using it for a few weeks, I think my pores seem to have reduced and I do notice that my skin has broken out less. I seem to have good results on my forehead and chin with this product. 

Salicylic acid is a hydroxy acid, specifically it is part of the beta hydroxy acid family. It is a common hydroxy acid that is found in many skincare products that help treat different skin conditions and features. Beta hydroxy acids specifically helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while also improving your skin’s overall texture. In particular, salicylic acid is commonly used for those who have acne. It works as an exfoliant by helping your skin peel off the surface while having antibacterial actions. Salicylic acid is a relatively gentle ingredient that does not cause much irritation while also being able to increase your skin’s resistance to skin damage and bacterial effects. Because of the antibacterial effects, it is widely used for acne products. 

Salicylic acid is able to get deep into your skin to work, this makes it pretty good for targeting acne. Once it enters your skin, it helps dissolve the debris that causes your skin to clog pores and is anti-inflammatory while helping your red agitated pimples to go away faster. Because it is able to go deep into your skin, it helps dissolve the stuff that keeps your skin and cells together. Salicylic acid is ideal for those who are looking to treat their blackheads and whiteheads as they can directly dissolve the keratin plugs that controls the skin cells. 

One of the difference in this product is that this serum does not contain water. Instead, it is mixed in a squalane based solution. This is a moisturiser that makes itself like your skin’s natural oils and therefore it is a great skin smoothing product. It can boost your skin hydration while also providing some antioxidants to fight skin damage and free radicals. It is an ingredient that is safe for all skin types and therefore it should not trigger a breakout or blemishes. It has a slight oily texture but it is a great alternative for those who can’t use other oils because it is too heavy or greasy for you. Even though it is an oil, it is considered lightweight and does not clog your pores. Instead, it will penetrate your pores and improve your skin on a cellular level. 

All in all, I like this product but the oily texture is a turn off for me. Most of the time, I would always feel like my face is way too oily and the idea of putting more oily textured product on my face makes me feel uncomfortable. I know that despite it being oily textured, it is actually helpful to your acne and skin, but I just can’t get over the feeling of it. As this product is an extension of their Salicylic Acid range, I am glad that they are not replacing their water-based Salicylic Acid 2% Solution as I will be using that instead. Both of the products are great, but for someone like me with oily skin, I feel like I do not need the extra moisturiser and instead will opt for a water based product to feel more comfortable in putting it on my skin.