Inkey List
Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
about $15.00
BHA exfoliant
BHA exfoliant stops microbes from growing so the product stays safe to use, and also leaves skin feeling smoother or better cared for, and loosens and helps shed the outer layer of dead skin cells.
Safety status
- PregnancyCautionSee the pregnancy checker →
Good to know
- Photosensitizingcaution
Can make skin more reactive to UV. Wear sunscreen in the morning when using it.
In the Journal
- What Does a "Restricted" Ingredient Actually Mean?
A "restricted" cosmetic ingredient almost never means banned — it means a concentration or pH rule, and 2,304 products in our catalog carry one, most for ordinary actives like citric acid.
- Exfoliating Beads and Microplastics: What the US Ban Actually Covers
The 2015 US microbead ban only covers rinse-off products — leave-on plastics were never in scope. Here's what the law actually says, whether the "8 trillion beads a day" stat holds up, and how modern physical and chemical exfoliants compare.
- Your Scalp Is Skin — What the "Skinification" Trend Gets Right (and Oversells)
The scalp really is skin — but a different, oilier, hair-covered kind, and that changes which "scalp care" claims actually hold up. Here's what the research shows, and where the marketing runs ahead of it.
- pH and Your Skin: What Actually Matters (and What's Mostly Hype)
Your skin runs acidic for a reason. Here's what the research actually says about soap versus syndets, why AHA/BHA formulation pH matters, and why the 30-minute wait and DIY pH-strip habits don't hold up.
- Maskne: Why Masks Trigger Breakouts, and How to Treat It Without Making It Worse
Maskne isn't just a nickname for regular acne — hours of friction, heat, and trapped moisture under a mask measurably change your skin, and pandemic-era studies show exactly how. Here's what actually helps, and why piling on strong acne acids can backfire.
- Enlarged pores: what actually makes them look bigger (and what actually helps)
Pores don't have muscles, so nothing 'shrinks' them shut — but genetics, oil, sun damage, and clogging all change how visible they are, and a few ingredients have real evidence behind them.
Recent research
Tracking 21 published papers (2025-2026).
- Randomized Controlled Study of Bacteriophages in Acne Reveals Efficacy and Novel Mechanism for Promoting Long-Term Skin Health.
Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 2026, cited 0× (OpenAlex)
- A Novel Retinoid and Salicylic Acid Topical Treatment for Moderate-Severe Acne.
Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 2026, cited 0× (OpenAlex)
- INDIVIDUAL ARTICLE: Real World Use of Topical Tranexamic Acid Serum in Patients With Hyperpigmentation.
Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 2026
Where it fits in real formulas
Related ingredients, common formula neighbors, naming, and catalog context. This stays separate from evidence and personal-fit guidance.
Similar ingredients
related by documented function or concern
Vitamin AIn a 24-week randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial in elderly subjects, 0.4% retinol significantly reduced fine wrinkling scores and increased glycosaminoglycan and procollagen I versus vehiclealso for acneRetinalCan improve measured roughness and fine-wrinkle appearance in photoaged skinalso for acneAzelaic AcidAuthorized or prescription formulations can treat acne or inflammatory lesions of rosacea, depending on jurisdictionalso for acneZinc PyrithioneControls dandruff symptoms when used at permitted concentrations in a compliant productPro-vitamin B5Moisturizes and improves hydration by drawing and holding water in the skinVitamin B3Can improve the appearance of redness and uneven tone in some formulasalso for acne
Where it's used
Real brands and product categories from the 464 decoded products listing BHA exfoliant — an observation of our catalog, not a claim about market share.
Brands
Product categories
shampoos (96), exfoliants (95), cleansers (78), serums (50), masks (36), moisturizers (23)
Based on those categories, BHA exfoliant shows up mostly in rinse-off products (272 of 383 classified) — derived from product category, not a label fact.
Commonly appears alongside
How often another ingredient appears in the same decoded products. This does not show routine compatibility.
Climbazole3%12 of 464 decoded productsAHA exfoliant14%67 of 464 decoded productsMandelic Acid3%14 of 464 decoded productsAzelaic Acid2%10 of 464 decoded productsZinc Pyrithione1%4 of 464 decoded productsPiroctone Olamine3%14 of 464 decoded productsHydrolyzed Keratin3%14 of 464 decoded productsCaffeine9%42 of 464 decoded productsAHA exfoliant (gentle)16%72 of 464 decoded products
Products with BHA exfoliant
All 443 →443 public products list this ingredient.
Catalog preview
A compact look at the first products in this result set
1–1 / 12
Inkey List
Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum
about $10.00
Inkey List
Salicylic Acid Cleanser - 150ml
about $12.00
COSRX
The AHA BHA PHA LHA 35 Peel
about $13.30
COSRX
AC Collection Calming Foam Cleanser
about $10.50
COSRX
Poreless Clarifying Charcoal Mask Pink
about $13.30
Glow Recipe
LHA + AHA Korean Watermelon Toner Pads
about $30.00
Glow Recipe
Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Serum
about $42.00
Glow Recipe
Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Serum Sachet
about $0.25
Glow Recipe
Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops 5ml
about $1.50
Glow Recipe
Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Serum 5ml
about $1.50
Versed Skin
Skin Refine
about $17.99
About the sources
Ingredient lists show presence and order, not concentration, pH, ingredient grade, delivery system, or finished-formula performance.
Sources & methodologyCompiled from the EU CosIng database (ref 37595) · snapshot 16 June 2026. CosIng is an informational, non-legally-binding reference. Inclusion does not mean an ingredient is approved, safe, authorized for cosmetic use, or clinically effective. An INCI list does not reveal concentration, pH, ingredient grade, delivery system, or finished-formula performance.