Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-blemish
- Exfoliation
- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: low
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"The Ordinary - SerumSalicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum" is effective for: Anti-blemish and Exfoliation
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Salicylic acid (1.10% - 1.60%). This is an oil-soluble exfoliating acid. Because of this property, it can work inside pores and help reduce the congestion. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and is used to treat acne. Because it is a quite strong exfoliator, be careful with using this product too often: it could result in over-exfoliation.
- Humectants (glycerin 1.80% - 2.60% and sarcosine 3.40% - 5.10%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
An exfoliating body serum for blemish-prone skin to help minimise the appearance of pores, smooth uneven texture and balance the look of uneven tone.
Source: The Ordinary
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
An exfoliating body serum for blemish-prone skin to help minimise the appearance of pores, smooth uneven texture and balance the look of uneven tone.
Source: The Ordinary
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Moisturizing
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sarcosine.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps to enhance the penetration of other ingredients and attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
An exfoliating body serum for blemish-prone skin to help minimise the appearance of pores, smooth uneven texture and balance the look of uneven tone.
Source: The Ordinary
This product might help improve the skin tone through exfoliation. In other words, it helps to speed up the shedding of cells from the upper layer of the skin, and this might help reduce hyperpigmentation.
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation | |
| Anti-blemish | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 83/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Ordinary SerumSalicylic Acid 0.5% Body Serum | Current | - | |
 PSA Skin Liquid Clarity BHA and Bakuchiol Blemish Recovery Booster | 84% | $28.00 | |
 REVOLUTION SKINCARE Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide Serum | 84% | $8.00 | |
 psa LIQUID CLARITY BHA & Bakuchiol Blemish Recovery Booster | 84% | $28.00 | |
Revolution Skin Clear Canvas 5% Niacinamide & 2% Salicylic Acid Clarifying Serum | 84% | $8.99 | |
Necessaire The Body Exfoliator | 83% | $30.00 |
Key Actives
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Helps to enhance the penetration of other ingredients and attract water to the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Potential irritants
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Helps oil and water mix together. Can work as a cleansing agent. Can be irritating
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
Helps to enhance the penetration of other ingredients and attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps oil and water mix together. Can work as a cleansing agent. Can be irritating
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Ingredient list view
Water, Propanediol, Sarcosine, Salicylic acid, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl dimethylamine, Citric acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin