2% Salicylic Acid Soap for Acne – Face & Body Bar

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

Individual results may vary.

Clear pores. Clearer skin. A salicylic acid acne bar built for your daily routine.

DermaHarmony 2% Salicylic Acid Body & Facial Bar Soap is an over-the-counter acne medication that penetrates pores to clear acne blemishes, acne pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) recognized under the FDA OTC acne drug monograph as safe and effective for the treatment of acne — and at 2%, this bar delivers the maximum concentration permitted over the counter.

What sets this formula apart from competitors is what's inside beyond the active ingredient. While most salicylic acid soaps rely on a bare-bones base, this bar is enriched with olive oil, oat kernel flour, and vitamin E — skin-conditioning ingredients that help offset the drying effect that comes with any acne treatment. The result is a medicated soap that treats acne without leaving your skin stripped and tight.

Registered with the FDA as an OTC drug. Made in the USA. No parabens, no dyes, no synthetic fragrances.

Why Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid — a class of ingredient that's oil-soluble, which means it doesn't just sit on the surface of your skin. It penetrates into the pore itself, dissolving the buildup of oil and dead skin cells that leads to blackheads, whiteheads, and breakouts.

That pore-level action is what makes salicylic acid one of the most widely used OTC acne ingredients in the world. It helps clear existing acne blemishes and helps prevent new ones from forming by keeping pores clean from the inside out. Dermatologists have recommended salicylic acid for decades, and it remains a first-line ingredient for people dealing with clogged pores and recurring breakouts.

2,000+ Years of Use

Willow bark, which contains salicin (a precursor to salicylic acid), was used in the first century AD by Pliny the Elder. Salicin was then isolated from willow bark (1828-1829) and later converted into salicylic acid, with industrial synthesis starting in the 1860s. The groundwork for its modern acne applications began in 1882.

Salicylic Acid - Frequently Asked Questions

What Makes This Bar Different

Maximum OTC salicylic acid strength. 2% sits at the top of the range the FDA acne drug monograph allows (0.5%–2%). Several competing bars don't disclose their SA concentration at all — with DermaHarmony, you know exactly what you're getting. Compare to CeraVe's SA Cleanser Bar* which does not publicly state the exact percentage of salicylic acid - we speculate that the SA is less than 0.5%.

A formula that nourishes while it treats. Most SA bars stop at soap and salicylic acid. This bar includes olive oil, oat kernel flour, and vitamin E as inactive ingredients — skin-conditioning additions that help keep your skin from feeling stripped after washing.

No mystery ingredients, no filler. The full ingredient list is short, readable, and free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, dyes, and sulfates. Compare that to competitors whose formulas include fragrance oils, artificial colorants, or undisclosed concentrations. CeraVe's SA Cleanser Bar* has more than 35 ingredients. We believe that less is better for you and our environment.

Won't clog pores, won't provoke reactions. This bar is noncomedogenic and hypoallergenic — formulated to stay out of your pores' way while clearing them. That's a meaningful distinction when some competitor SA bars contain comedogenic additives or artificial fragrances.

FDA-registered OTC drug with an NDC number. This isn't a cosmetic cleanser marketed with acne buzzwords. It's a registered over-the-counter acne medication manufactured to drug-product standards. Not every "salicylic acid soap" on the shelf can say that.

Face, body, and beyond. Acne on your back, chest, or shoulders responds to salicylic acid the same way facial acne does. One bar covers it all.

Built to last. A single 4 oz bar typically provides four to six weeks of daily facial use — more economical than multi-step acne systems or liquid SA washes that run out in weeks.

Suitable for the whole family. Adults and children alike can incorporate this bar into their daily cleansing routine.

Made in the USA. Every bar is produced domestically from sustainably grown and harvested oils.

Who It's For?

This salicylic acid acne soap is the right choice if you:

• Deal with blackheads, whiteheads, or clogged pores that keep coming back — salicylic acid is specifically designed to penetrate and clear pores from the inside
• Want a maximum-strength OTC salicylic acid treatment (2%) without a prescription
• Are looking for an acne bar soap with a cleaner, more nourishing formula than what's available from mass-market brands
• Prefer a simple wash-and-rinse routine over multi-step acne regimens with serums, toners, and spot treatments
• Have oily or combination skin prone to frequent breakouts
• Have sensitive skin and need a hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic formula that won't provoke irritation

How Salicylic Acid Compares to Other Acne Ingredients

Choosing the right acne ingredient matters. Here's how salicylic acid stacks up.

Salicylic Acid vs. Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide works primarily by targeting bacteria associated with inflammatory acne. It is effective for red pimples, inflamed breakouts, pustules and papules — but it comes with well-known downsides: pronounced dryness, peeling, redness, and the permanent bleaching of towels, pillowcases, and clothing. Salicylic acid takes a different approach. As a BHA, it works by penetrating pores and clearing the oil and dead skin buildup that causes acne blemishes. It's generally better tolerated on sensitive and reactive skin, and it won't bleach your fabrics.

Salicylic Acid vs. Sulfur

Sulfur is another time-tested acne ingredient that works by drying and clearing blemishes on the skin's surface. It's effective, but comes with a noticeable odor and stronger drying action — especially at higher concentrations like 10%. Salicylic acid works inside the pore rather than primarily on the surface, making it a preferred choice for people whose acne is driven by clogged pores, persistent blackheads, or excess oil. DermaHarmony offers sulfur-based bars as well for those who want a different approach.

The best ingredient depends on your skin type, the kind of acne you have, and how your skin responds. Salicylic acid is a strong starting point for anyone dealing with clogged pores and recurring breakouts.

A Note on Dryness

Every acne treatment carries some drying potential — that's inherent to how active ingredients work on acne blemishes. Salicylic acid at 2% is generally gentler in this regard than higher-concentration treatments, but individual skin responses vary.

This bar is formulated with olive oil, oat kernel flour, and vitamin E specifically to help cushion against excess dryness. Still, the smartest approach is to ease in:

• Start with once a day. Evening use works well for most people.
• Moisturize after every wash. This is the single most important step for managing dryness with any acne soap.
• Increase gradually. If your skin tolerates daily use well, you can move to twice daily if needed.
• Scale back if needed. If you notice tightness or flaking, drop to every other day until your skin adjusts.

Most people find that salicylic acid at this concentration, paired with consistent moisturizing, fits comfortably into a daily routine.

BAR SIZE

4 OZ (113 G)

DIRECTIONS

Use daily for the clearest results, or as directed by your doctor.

1. Wet your skin and work the bar into a lather with warm water.
2. Apply the lather to affected areas using gentle, circular motions.
3. Leave the lather on your skin for 30 seconds or more — this contact time lets the salicylic acid do its work.
4. Rinse completely with water.

Use on affected skin in place of your regular soap.

If you're new to salicylic acid: Some people experience mild dryness when starting an SA acne soap. Begin with one application per day and work up from there. You may increase to two or three times daily if needed, or as directed by a doctor. If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce to once a day or every other day. Follow each wash with a moisturizer of your choosing.

WARNINGS

For external use only.

When using this product:

• Skin irritation and dryness is more likely to occur if you use another topical acne medication at the same time. If irritation occurs, only use one topical acne medication at a time.
• Stop use and ask a doctor if skin irritation occurs or gets worse.

Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT

Salicylic Acid 2% .... Acne treatment

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Saponified Oils (from palm and coconut - sodium palmate, sodium cocoate*, sodium palm kernelate*), Water, Glycerin (from vegetable oil), Titanium Dioxide (a natural mineral), Table Salt, Olive Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Pentasodium Pentetate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E). *May contain this ingredient.

OTHER INFORMATION

Made in the USA

Use within 30 months of purchase

The polypropylene bar wrapper is Type 5 Recyclable

NDC Code: 71819-003-04
ASIN: B076DLFK56
Legacy UPC: 712038587766
GS1 UPC: 810103240179

*DermaHarmony® is not associated with CeraVe® - use of the brand name is for informational or illustrative purposes only and does not imply affiliation with our brand or products. SA strength of 0.5% or more would require an FDA filing.  Because no such filing exists, we deduce that the SA is less than 0.5%.