The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Evidence-led ingredient analysis, a transparent clean score out of 100 and cleaner, effective alternatives at three price levels.
Best for
Enlarged Pores
Why Selenssa recommends it
This budget-friendly BHA penetrates deep inside pore walls to dissolve trapped sebum and dead skin, making it an extraordinarily cost-effective choice for refining pore appearance.
Key actives
Salicylic Acid (2%)
Clean highlights
Fragrance-free · Alcohol-free · Oil-free · Vegan & Cruelty-free
Selenssa Score 92/100 · £6.10
Want to see how this compares? See The Selenssa 3 →The Ordinary
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Acne & Breakouts · Budget: £6.10
4.5 (12,500 reviews)· across Boots, LookFantastic, Cult Beauty, Sephora UK, Amazon UK, The Ordinary
Ingredients: AI-inferred — not yet verified
An effective, budget-friendly targeted exfoliant with complete ingredient transparency. Note: The ingredient list was inferred based on the standard published formulation for this product.
Hazard categories
Estimated score out of 100
Formulation score is fixed across Selenssa · Community effectiveness awaiting more reports
Based on publicly available ingredients, following our methodology. Not medical advice — always check the physical label, especially for allergies. How we score →
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Highly recommended as a straightforward, affordable BHA serum for blemish-prone or congested skin. Introduce gradually (2-3 times per week) to monitor skin tolerance.
Be cautious if
Users with reactive eczema, compromised barrier, or aspirin sensitivity.
Against your clean standard
Yes. Free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, drying short-chain alcohols, and known endocrine disruptors.
Where this score comes from
- Source
- No source record on file yet
- Source page
- —
- Retrieved
- —
- Evidence snapshot
- Not captured
Score history
No score changes have been recorded for this product yet.
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Does The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution contain parabens, sulfates or fragrance?
A straight yes or no for the ingredient groups people most often want to avoid, checked against this product's published formulation.
Free from parabens
Preservatives; the longer-chain ones (propyl, butyl) carry the endocrine questions.
Free from sulfates (sls / sles)
Strong cleansing agents that can strip a compromised barrier.
Free from silicones
Slip and occlusion; cyclic silicones (D4/D5/D6) are the environmentally restricted ones.
Free from fragrance / parfum
Undisclosed fragrance blends are the most common trigger for sensitised skin.
Free from essential oils
Naturally derived, but among the most frequently reported contact allergens.
Contains drying alcohol
Found: phenoxyethanol. Fine in small amounts for texture; high up the list it can dehydrate.
Free from formaldehyde releasers
Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde.
Free from chemical uv filters of concern
Restricted or debated filters with endocrine or reef-persistence questions.
Is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution non-comedogenic?
No ingredients in this formulation appear on Selenssa's common pore-clogger list, so it is unlikely to be the cause of congestion for most people. Comedogenicity is still individual — texture, occlusion and how much you use all play a part.
Is The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution safe for sensitive skin?
Generally a reasonable choice for sensitive skin.
- No fragrance or parfum in the list
- Contains a drying alcohol
- No ingredients flagged for irritation risk
Can you use The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution while pregnant?
This product contains salicylic acid, which is usually on the list of ingredients people are advised to pause during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Selenssa is not medical advice — check with your midwife, GP or dermatologist before using it.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution full ingredients list
11 ingredients analysed, in the order Selenssa assessed them. Concentration generally falls as you move down the list.
Aqua (Water), Saccharide Isomerate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
The actives doing the work: Salicylic Acid (Penetrates oily pores to dissolve blockages and reduce blemish frequency.); Saccharide Isomerate (Binds moisture to the skin to reduce surface flaking caused by exfoliants.).
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