I Tried a Daily Salicylic Acid Toner to See if It Could Reduce My Pimples & Acne Scarring

I have a confession: I think salicylic acid is my new favourite skincare ingredient.

In the past, if I was asked what my favourite ingredients were, I would always say vitamin C, retinol, or glycolic acid.

Salicylic acid wasn’t really on my radar.

I would only use it very rarely to spot treat a pimple.

And then, the breakouts started.

I recently got back into exercise, and I found myself dealing with a new breakout every other day.

Not only on my face, but also my arms and back. It was a real shock.

This is because exercise can cause excessive sweating, which leads to a buildup of oil, dirt and bacteria on the skin.

This buildup can then cause an increase in breakouts, especially for someone like me, who already has oily skin.

And not only was I dealing with breakouts, but I was also trying to fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

These are the dark little marks that are left behind after the pimples heal.

After adding a salicylic acid serum and body cleanser to my routine, I was actually so shocked at how quickly this ingredient can reduce the appearance of breakouts, that I mentioned it on the Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast.

Only problem? Salicylic acid can be drying or irritating on some skin types, or cause irritation if used daily.

That's where the new Medik8 Press & Clear daily toner comes in.

The liquid exfoliant promises to be gentle and effective for a clearer, brighter-looking complexion.

Keep scrolling for my full Medik8 review, but first...

How Does Salicylic Acid Work?

Salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

It's known for its exfoliating properties - you’ll find it in chemical exfoliants and acne products.

Mild breakouts happen when excess sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria block the pores.

Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid), BHAs are oil soluble.

This means they’re able to get right into those blocked pores to dissolve the excess oil and clear away the dirt.

Learn more about salicylic acid in our YouTube video below.

Salicylic acid is such an effective ingredient, especially for normal to oily, combination or acne-prone skin.

I find it works really quickly to reduce the appearance of my breakouts, but as I mentioned above, overuse or going too strong can strip your skin barrier.

Because I like to manage my breakouts with salicylic acid every day, I was on the lookoout for a gentle formula that could slot into my routine.

Enter, Medik8’s Press & Clear.

What Is Medik8 Press & Clear?

Medik8 skincare and Medik8 products are some of the most popular on Adore Beauty, but let me introduce you to the new Medik8 toner!

Medik8 Press & Clear is a 3-in-1 daily toner that can be used before, during and after breakouts.

Is Medik8 cruelty free, you ask? Sure is. This product is both cruelty-free and vegan!

The hero ingredient of this exfoliant is a slow-release salicylic acid.

It's also formulated with some other really nice ingredients that reduce the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and help to calm inflamed skin.

Here are the standouts in the ingredients list:

• 2% Gradient Release Salicylic Acid: Cleanses the skin of dead skin cell build-up, excess sebum, dirt, bacteria and impurities.

• Alpha Arbutin: A buzzy ingredient that helps to even out and brighten skin tone, while reducing the appearance of redness and age spots. 

• Australian Kakadu Plum: An antioxidant that supports the skin's barrier function and defends skin against free radicals, while also helping improve the look of redness and uneven skin tone.

• Blue Cornflower Extract: Has a soothing effect on the skin to minimise irritation.

My Medik8 Press & Clear Review.

If you want an honest Medik8 review, here's what I thought of this new toner.

Salicylic acid products for pimples are often harsh, or take a more is more approach.

I really liked the fact this product has a gentle formula, because if you’re using active ingredients regularly, sometimes, it can be too much for your skin.

The pump packaging is so easy to use, and I love the blue colour!

I am an experienced cosmeceutical skincare user, but it's important to know albeit the slow-release salicylic acid, you don’t want to go straight into daily use - especially if you've never used BHAs before.

I would recommend slotting this product into your PM skincare routine a few times a week after cleansing, and before hydrating serums, moisturiser or a face oil.

You can work your way up to daily use, and always wear sunscreen every day!

I wanted to put the formula to the test for this article with a real-life breakout...

My skin obliged.

I was up in Queensland for work recently, and got very sweaty running around all day.

Boom: I woke up with a cluster of pimples on my chin.

They were really noticeable to me; like three big blind pimples.

I took a 'before' photo before going to bed, and then used Medik8’s Press & Clear with just a moisturiser over the top.

I woke up the next day and was so happy to see how much better my chin situation was looking.

It wasn’t 100% cleared up, but I could feel the inflammation reducing.

I used Medik8 Press & Clear the following night too.

Here's my skin on day two.

You can really see how much it helped to minimise the appearance of my pimples.

If you’re dealing with regular breakouts, I highly recommend trying a daily salicylic acid toner like Medik8’s Press & Clear.

I really rate this product in particular because it will help with the aftermath of a breakout by reducing the appearance of any dark spots left behind.

And if you haven't used BHAs before, I think you will be blown away by the results.

Keen for some more tips and product recommendations for breakouts? Check out one of these articles below:

• This Budget-Friendly Cleanser and Moisturiser Duo Healed My Breakouts in a Week

• 4 Products My Pimples Didn't Know They Needed (And Why They're So Bloody Good)

• What You Can (And Can’t) Use During Pregnancy for Melasma, Breakouts and Ageing