Your Skincare Routine with Salicylic Acid (BHA)
For healthy, radiant skin, a consistent and well-structured skincare routine is essential. Follow the step-by-step plan on this page and adjust it to suit your skin type and your experience with salicylic acid.
View Step-by-Step RoutineWhat is Salicylic Acid (BHA)?
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) originally derived from willow bark. It is oil-soluble, which allows it to p enetrate deep into the pores to dissolve excess sebum, dead skin cells, and impurities, offering both exfoliating and purifying benefits.
Benefits of Salicylic Acid
- Removes dead skin cells for a fresher, smoother complexion
- Deeply cleanses pores for a clearer-looking skin
- Helps reduce and prevent blemishes
- Fights breakouts, acne, blackheads, bumps, and enlarged pores
- Refines skin texture and promotes a more even skin tone
- Soothes redness and calms irritated skin
Salicylic acid is a favorite among those with oily, combination, or blemish-prone skin. However, it’s also an excellent preventive option for normal skin that occasionally shows signs of congestion. In such cases, using it once or twice a week is usually sufficient.
Because salicylic acid can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight, it’s important to apply SPF 30 or higher during the day.
How Often Can You Use Products with Salicylic Acid (BHA)?
Are you a beginner?
Beginner = 1 to 3 weeks of using BHA products
If you're just starting out with salicylic acid, it’s important to build your routine slowly. Begin by using BHA 1 to 3 times per week. In the first few weeks, your skin is often still sensitive to acids, so it's crucial to avoid over-exfoliation.
Are you more experienced?
Advanced = consistent use from week 4 onwards
After a few weeks of regular use, your skin will become more accustomed to salicylic acid. You can then gradually increase the frequency to 3 to 5 times per week, as long as your skin remains balanced and comfortable.
Products with Salicylic Acid (BHA)
Your Step-by-Step Routine with Salicylic Acid (BHA)
When following a BHA routine, it’s important to combine products carefully to avoid skin irritation. Start slowly, use BHA only in the evening, and pay close attention to how your skin reactsespecially if you're new to acids.
⚠️On days you use BHA, choose either the BHA Lotion Exfoliant or the BHA Serum, never both. Also avoid using other active ingredients like AHA, retinol, or vitamin C on the same day to prevent overloading your skin.
The routine shows an example of how to build your skincare plan.
1
Cleanse
Always start your routine with a clean face. For a deeper cleanse, use the BHA Cleanser, it penetrates deep into the pores and helps reduce and prevent blemishes. On other days, use a gentle cleanser like our Skin Cleanser with Tea Tree Oil.
Recommended use BHA Cleanser
Beginners: 3 times a week, for example on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings
Advanced users: Every other evening or daily in the evening
2
Tone
After cleansing, apply a calming toner such as the Restoring Calendula Toner. It restores your skin’s pH balance, removes any remaining traces of dirt, and preps your skin for the next steps in your routine. This toner can be used both morning and evening.
⚠️ Do not use an AHA toner on days you use BHA products.
2.5
Exfoliate
Use the BHA Lotion Exfoliant to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and refine your skin texture. Apply with a cotton pad or directly with clean hands to dry, cleansed skin.
Recommended use BHA Lotion Exfoliant
Beginners: 2 times a week, for example on Monday and Friday evenings
Advanced users: Every other evening
⚠️ Do not combine with the BHA Serum on the same day, or with other acids such as AHA, retinol, or vitamin C.
3
Treat
Pamper your skin with a hydrating serum like the Hyaluronic Serum, and use the BHA Serum a few times a week for deeper action on breakouts, blackheads, or rough skin texture.
Recommended use BHA Serum
Beginners: 2 times a week, for example on Wednesday and Sunday evenings
Advanced users: Every other evening
⚠️ Do not combine with the BHA Lotion Exfoliant on the same day, or with other acids such as AHA, retinol, or vitamin C.
4
Nourish
Finish your routine with a nourishing cream, such as the Hyaluronic Day & Night Cream. This cream hydrates the skin, helps retain moisture, and supports the skin barrier. Use it both in the morning and evening.
⚠️ On days you use BHA, avoid creams that contain other acids like AHA, retinol, or vitamin C.
5
Sun Protection (morning only)
Especially when using exfoliating acids, daily sun protection is essential. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50 every morning. This helps prevent UV damage, premature skin aging, and pigmentation.
1. Reinigen
Start je routine altijd met een schone huid. Gebruik een cleanser zoals de Skin cleanser met tea tree olie om vuil, overtollig talg en make-up te verwijderen.
⚠️ Gebruik op dagen dat je AHA-producten gebruikt geen BHA Cleanser.
2. Herstellen
Gebruik na het reinigen de Soothing Rose Toner voor een kalmerend en hydraterend effect. Enkele keren per week kun je kiezen voor de AHA Toner. Dit is een combinatie van toner én exfoliant in één product.
Een toner herstelt de pH-waarde van je huid en verwijdert de laatste restjes vuil. De AHA Toner doet dat ook, maar exfolieert daarnaast ook het huidoppervlak op milde wijze voor een gladdere, egalere huid.
Aanbevolen gebruik AHA Toner
Advies voor Beginners: 2 keer in de week, bijvoorbeeld op maandag- en donderdagavond.
Advies voor Gevorderden: om de avond.
⚠️ Niet combineren met de AHA Lotion Exfoliant op dezelfde dag, of met andere zuren zoals BHA, retinol of vitamine C
2.5. Exfoliëren
De AHA Lotion Exfoliant verwijdert dode huidcellen, stimuleert celvernieuwing en verfijnt de huidtextuur. Breng aan met een wattenschijfje of direct met schone handen op een droge huid.
Aanbevolen gebruik AHA Lotion Exfoliant
Advies voor Beginners: 2 keer in de week, bijvoorbeeld op woensdag- en zondagavond
Advies voor Gevorderden: om de avond
⚠️ Niet combineren met de AHA Toner op dezelfde dag, of met andere zuren zoals BHA, retinol of vitamine C.
3. Behandelen
Gebruik een hydraterend serum, zoals het Hyaluronic Serum, om de huid na exfoliatie te kalmeren en te hydrateren.
⚠️ Vermijd op AHA-dagen serums met retinol, vitamine C of BHA.
4. Voeden
Sluit je routine af met een voedende crème, zoals de Hyaluronic Day & Night Cream. Deze crème hydrateert, helpt het vochtgehalte vasthouden en ondersteunt de huidbarrière. Gebruik ’s ochtends en 's avonds.
⚠️ Gebruik op dagen dat je AHA gebruikt geen crème met andere zuren zoals retinol of vitamine C.
5. Zonnebrandcrème (in de ochtend)
Zéker bij gebruik van exfoliërende zuren is bescherming overdag onmisbaar. Breng elke ochtend de breedspectrum zonnebrandcrème met SPF 50 aan. Dit voorkomt UV-schade, vroegtijdige huidveroudering en pigmentvlekken.
Tip: Dealing with body blemishes?
Use the BHA Body Spray to effectively treat clogged pores and breakouts on the body. For an extra deep cleanse, combine it with the BHA Cleanser in the shower. This duo helps purify the skin, reduces excess oil, and prevents future blemishes.
Combining Salicylic Acid (BHA)
Avoid using on the same day
- Multiple salicylic acid (BHA) products
- AHA’s such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid
- Retinoids / Retinol
- Vitamin C
- Mechanical scrubs with grains
Safe to combine with
- Hyaluronic acid
- Q10
- Niacinamide
- Rose water
- Calendula
- Ceramides
- Aloe vera
- Squalane
- SPF
Frequently Asked Questions
Extra Tips for Healthy Skin
- Wash your hands before every skincare step
- Wait 30–60 seconds between each step to let products absorb
- Do not exfoliate irritated or damaged skin
- Be patient, consistency is more important than speed
- Don’t forget your neck and décolleté in your routine
- Nourish your skin from the inside too: eat a healthy, varied diet, drink plenty of water, and support your skin with the Collagen Complex
