salicylic acid

Have you ever tried out a new hair shampoo, gel, or serum only to be left with a head full of pimples? While your scalp is an awkward place to get acne, it's not unheard of. But there are many reasons beyond product irritation that have led to the development of bumps. To get tips on the how and why, just keep reading.

"Bella, I've got these annoying red bumps on the back of my upper arms and they won't disappear — no matter what I do! I'm really conscious of them, especially now it's Summer and I hate showing my arms. Is there anything I can do?" — Sally

It sounds to me like you have keratosis pilaris, which can is a common skin condition that causes red bumps to appear often on the upper arms, but sometimes on the thighs too. Even though you're more self-conscious about it because it's Summer, traditionally it often gets better in warmer months because it's more common when your skin is dry. There are a few things you can do or ingredients to look out for to help diminish the appearance and feel of the bumps over time but it often only fully goes away as you get older.

Keep reading . . .

To get your skin looking its best for party season we've teamed up with Dermalogica to offer six lucky readers the chance to win a Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. The award-winning rice-based exfoliating powder uses vitamin C, along with papain enzyme and salicylic acid, to remove dead skin cells that leave the skin looking dull. The result is a smoother and brighter complexion, but that's not all, it also evens skin tone and helps to reduce pigmentation. It's gentle enough for daily use — just add water!

We've also got some other great news to share for Dermalogica fans. For a limited time only, spend $100 on your favourite products and you'll receive a $30 voucher to redeem against your next purchase! With Christmas coming up, it's a great way to treat yourself when buying a gift for someone else!

To be in with the chance of winning a Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, valued at $83.50, all you have to do is LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and tell us in the comments section below which beauty dilemma you'd like to scrub out of your life for good.

Terms and conditions apply.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN

If you feel like you're facing a never-ending battle with blemishes, maybe it's time you stopped and re-evaluated your skincare. You might be tempted to go for a harsh product in a bid to banish breakouts for good, but the trouble with acne-prone skin is that it's often fragile and highly sensitive. So what should you look for?

• Beta hydroxy acids such as salicylic acid. This is a chemical exfoliant that clears away dead skin cells, helping to improve the overall texture and tone of your skin.
• Something that's dermatologist recommended. When your skin is already suffering, you want a formula you know you can trust.
• An oil-free formula. When you already have excess oil on the skin, you don't want to be adding more!
• A gentle, alcohol-free formulation. Again, you don't want to irritate sensitive skin.
• Something that gets to work right away, and continues to work after cleansing helping to protect against blemishes.

So where can you find a product that ticks all the boxes and doesn't break the bank? NEUTROGENA^® Skincare! The brand's Oil-Free Acne Wash ($13.99) is still recommended by leading dermatologists because of its unique MICROLEAR^® technology which helps dissolve oil, allowing salicylic acid to penetrate deeper into pores to address the cause of breakouts. It's gentle enough for everyday use, too. Winner!

FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN

^®Trade mark Neutrogena Corp. 2580/11

Today the stars of the show are Neutrogena's new Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub ($14.99) and Facial Wash ($14.99). Yep, you had SO many great things to say about this invigorating range that we had to come back and hear more!

Mandachic said:

"Neutrogena have worked their magic with these fantastic products. The grapefruit scent is just divine—it makes you look forward to using them. The packaging is a great size as I keep them in the shower and I love the pump pack of the Facial Wash/Cleanser. The foaming scrub wasn’t too harsh at all and the exfoliating micro-beads felt really great. My skin felt clean and fresh and I did feel as though my acne was getting better and with longer use I think it will hopefully improve more. Overall a great product that I would recommend."

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Did you know that Garnier Pure Active was the first instant-action skincare range to be formulated with Salicylic Acid and natural regenerating HerbaRepair so that pesky pimples and blemishes are not only treated, but acne marks are also erased. So, y’know, they kinda know what they’re talking about when it comes to skin and keeping it clean and clear.

And now they’ve added a new revolutionary product to their line-up that a) features their proven-to-work Salicylic Acid and HerbaRepair formula, b) is gentle enough to clear acne-prone skin and c) effective enough to exfoliate away dirt, oil, impurities and dead skin.

The Garnier Pure Active ExfoBrusher ($11.95) has been designed to instantly target those hard-to-reach areas that frequently breakout, such as the nose and chin. It’s so simple to use — you simply squeeze a small amount of gel out of the brush head, which oozes directly onto 170 ultra-soft micro-bristles that are super flexible to accommodate the natural curves of your face. You then simply start scrubbing away using the brush to cleanse and exfoliate. Talk about time saving!

Results have shown the ExfoBrusher delivers better exfoliation and a deeper clean than by applying the product by hand, giving you instantly cleaner, clearer skin. Impressive. ‘Specially for under $12.

Word on the street is that you guys love hearing about what real people think about beauty products. It's awesome for us at Sugar HQ to recommend products to you, but it's even better to get the 411 from peeps like yourselves. That's where our Reader Review Panel comes in, and today the star of the show is Neutrogena's new Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit range consisting of a Foaming Scrub ($14.99) and Facial Wash ($14.99). Here's what you all thought about the products  . . .

Birdplane said:

"The smell of this makes me reach for it again and again! It actually eliminated a lot of oil and thoroughly exfoliated my face. It didn't get rid of as many blackheads as I would have liked but I think over time, it'll keep new ones at bay. I love how thoroughly clean my face feels after using this. My skin feels a little bit dry after using this but it didn't go flaky, and I ended up using Neutrogena's new Healthy Defence Daily Moisturiser straight after. The cleanser foams really easily and washes away all impurities on my face. My skin felt softer and more supple after using this, and the smell is such a pleasure when I use it in the morning — really wakes me up! The pump can be a bit fiddly as I end up taking out too much product but other than that this is a great cleanser and it contains 2 percent salicylic acid which is a must for acne control."

Keep reading . . .

Holy heavens Batman. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's . . . Neutrogena's latest blemish buster. And not to play favourites or anything, but I happen to think it's their best one yet. And I'll tell you more about the new range (yes, there's more than one product: YAY) soon but first things, first. A little poll if you will . . .

Hands up who has suffered from spots or lost the pore war against blackheads? I'm seeing a lot of hands. I'm holding up two. Now, hands up if you've ever used an acne product: a wash, a scrub, a treatment? Hellooooo. Hands. Where are you all? Let me guess. You don't like using them because you think they're for your 13-year-old brother, not you, right? Plus, they smell all chemical-y and make your skin flare up. Yes? Trust me, been there. Thought all of those.

Which is why I was instantly in LOVE with the sound of Neutrogena's new Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit range. Consisting of a Foaming Scrub ($14.99) and Facial Wash ($14.99), the products smell of dah-dah pink grapefruit. Yummy, yummy pink grapefruit. Not chemicals. Not soap. But fresh and invigorating pink grapefruit. They harness the power of Neutrogena's MicroClear® Technology which dissolves all the sebum (read: oily gunk) so that salicylic acid can penetrate deeper, not only clearing up exisiting spots, but helping to prevent future breakouts too. Plus, it doesn't dry skin out. Plus Vanessa Hudgens uses it every day. FACT.

WE WANT YOU to join us on the Think Pink challenge and see what a different Neutrogena's new Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit range can make to your skin and your confidence. To be in with a chance of being picked to try both products, all you have to do is LIKE this article. (See up the top there's a Facebook Like thingy-ma-jig? Press it and you're one step closer to being on the Think Pink Reader Review Panel. Too easy.) Now first up, we asked what you normally do when you have a spot: do you pile on the makeup, hide away forever or are you good and wait it out? But NOW we want to know what you're most looking forward to this Summer? This is your LAST chance, those who haven't yet responded to our first question, to make it onto the Reader Review Panel so get in quick!