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Salicylic Acid
AKA “2-Hydroxybenzoic acid, 69-72-7, o-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-Carboxyphenol, o-Carboxyphenol, Retarder W, Rutranex, Salonil, Keralyt”
Acid
Ingredient Facts
Salicylic acid
AKA: 2-Hydroxybenzoic acid, 69-72-7, O-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-Carboxyphenol, O-Carboxyphenol, Retarder W, Rutranex, Salonil, Keralyt
Acid · Preservative · EWG: 7
Synthetic
Rx Active
Preservative
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Chemical Exfoliant
Acid
Not Clean
Salicylic acid is a monohydroxybenzoic acid that is benzoic acid with a hydroxy group at the ortho position. It is obtained from the bark of the white willow and wintergreen leaves. It has a role as an antiinfective agent, an antifungal agent, a plant hormone, a keratolytic drug, an EC 1.11.1.11 (L-ascorbate peroxidase) inhibitor, a plant metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of a salicylate.
Solubility 2240
Formula
C7H6O3
Mol. Weight
138.12
CAS #
69-72-7
Form
Liquid
State
Salicylic acid is an odorless white to light tan solid. Sinks and mixes slowly with water. (USCG, 1999)
See origin →
Functions
Anti-Seborrheic
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Keratolytic
A pharmaceutical-grade active. These are the heavy hitters — often prescription-strength or regulated for potency.
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Unclogs pores
Supports cell turnover
Controls excess oil
Fights acne
Causing bacteria
EWG
7
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
—
CIR Safety Findings
Not an Irritant
ewg-7
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
2.0%
0%3%
Reg. Limit
FDA OTC limit (Acne): 2%. 21 CFR 333.310 | EU/SCCS limit: 0.5% in cosmetic products. Opinion: SCCS/1646/22
Use Caution With
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU✔ permitted
JAPAN✔ permitted
CANADA✔ permitted
🧂Conflict of interest.
Salicylic Acid.
, 2006
→
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicylate, Isocetyl Salicylate, Iso
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Capryloyl Salicylic Acid as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid (ester)
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Salicylic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Safety assessment of Salicylic Acid, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Calcium Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Salicylate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexyldodecyl Salicy
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2003
→
Efficacy of a multitargeted, salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic cream compared to benzoyl peroxide 5% in Acne vulgaris: Results from a randomized stud
Dal Belo SE, Kanoun-Copy L, Lambert C, Cornillon C, Muller B et al.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2024
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Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Salicylic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
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4-Aminosalicylic acid and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
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Acetylsalicylic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Salicylic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Zhu J, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Zhu J, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Amended Safety Assessment of Salicylic Acid and Salicylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Zhu J, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Capryloyl Salicylic Acid as Used in Cosmetics.
Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
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Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
→
Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
→
Identification of didecyldimethylammonium salts and salicylic acid as antimicrobial compounds in commercial fermented radish kimchi.
Li J, Chaytor JL, Findlay B, McMullen LM, Smith DC et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2015
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Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
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Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
→
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
→
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulph...
Haibo Liu, Haiyan Yu, Jun Xia, Ling Liu, Guan J Liu, Hong Sang + 1 more
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
→
Topical azelaic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinamide, sulphur, zinc and fruit acid (alpha-hydroxy acid) for acne.
Liu H, Yu H, Xia J, Liu L, Liu GJ et al.
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020
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Impacts of Gum Arabic and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with Salicylic Acid on Peach Fruit (Prunus persica) Shelf Life.
Taher MA, Lo'ay AA, Gouda M, Limam SA, Abdelkader MFM et al.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2022
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Verified Jun 2026 · 🧪 = conflict
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR