salicylic acid
noun
sal·i·cyl·ic acid
| \ ˌsa-lə-ˈsi-lik-
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Definition of salicylic acid
: a crystalline phenolic acid C7H6O3 that is used medicinally especially as a skin exfoliant and in the form of salts and other derivatives as an analgesic and antipyretic — compare aspirin
Examples of salicylic acid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ingredients in topical acne treatments may include: retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, or salicylic acid. — Jessica Cruel, SELF, "12 Acne Treatments That Really Work, According to Dermatologists," 8 Aug. 2019 Shafer agrees, suggesting products such as the Skinbetter AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads that contain glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid. — Audrey Noble, Harper's BAZAAR, "How To Get Rid of Laugh Lines With Five Expert-Approved Tips," 25 June 2019 The unique leave-on formula absorbs quickly, relying on exfoliating salicylic acid to polish away dead skin cells, clearing the way for radiant skin with visibly diminished pores and fine lines. — Alexis Rhiannon, Allure, "Paula’s Choice Best-Selling Skin-Care Product Is Buy One, Get One During the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale," 12 July 2019 Beyond its antibacterial properties, the gel has salicylic acid, an exfoliant that unclogs pores and acts as an anti-inflammatory on acne-producing oil glands. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The 5 Best Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel, According to Dermatologists," 8 July 2019 An application of glycolic and salicylic acid to kill bacteria and close pores wraps up the session. — Rachel Marlowe, The Hollywood Reporter, "Is the Butt Facial the Must-Have Beauty Treatment of the Summer?," 16 July 2019 And ones that contain alpha hydroxy acids (such as lactic acid or glycolic acid) or salicylic acid will be especially helpful for these conditions. — Sara Coughlin, SELF, "What’s the Actual Deal With Skin Toners and Essences?," 9 July 2019 Formulated with salicylic acid in addition to clay, this mask works in five minutes to deeply clean and unclog pores without irritation. — Christina Heiser, NBC News, "The best products for oily skin, according to dermatologists," 6 July 2019 The formula contains naturally-derives sources of glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid to brighten and retexturize skin. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Watch Neels Visser's Nightly Skincare Routine," 19 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'salicylic acid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for salicylic acid
salicylic acid
noun
sal·i·cyl·ic acid
| \ ˌsal-ə-ˌsil-ik-
\
\
Medical Definition of salicylic acid
: a crystalline phenolic acid C7H6O3 that is the ortho form of hydroxybenzoic acid and is used especially in making pharmaceuticals and dyes, as an antiseptic and disinfectant especially in treating skin diseases, as a keratolytic agent for skin exfoliation, and in the form of salts and other derivatives as an analgesic and antipyretic and in the treatment of rheumatism — see aspirin