What is Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid?
Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid,also known as BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acid),is the quintessential example of this class of ingredients; in the cosmetics industry, the term “BHA” essentially refers to salicylic acid. It is an excellent exfoliating and pore-cleansing agent.
Widely used in various personal care formulations, it is valued for its unique oil-solubility. Unlike water-soluble AHAs (Alpha-Hydroxy Acids), Salicylic Acid penetrates deep into pores to dissolve sebum and dead skin cells, thereby unclogging pores and improving conditions such as acne and skin roughness.
We supply Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid to manufacturers and formulators, and we offer free samples for testing.
Why choose Highassay?
If you are looking for a reliable, cost-effective, and compliant supplier of Salicylic Acid raw materials to support your product iteration and long-term mass production, Highassay can meet your needs:
- Regulatory Compliance: Our products meet relevant cosmetic standards; featuring high purity and low impurity levels, they are safe for use in the filing and production of various cosmetic products. COA and MSDS documentation is provided with every shipment.
- Comprehensive Product Range:From Cost-effective Standard Salicylic Acid to Premium Sustained-release Encapsulated Salicylic Acid, we meet the needs of the vast majority of product formulation scenarios.
- Technical Support: Our professional R&D team provides application guidance, helping you overcome challenges related to water solubility and skin irritation during product development.
- Stable Supply: Highassay maintains a complete production and supply chain. We hold ready stock and offer custom bulk production services, ensuring your manufacturing operations run smoothly and continuously.
Applications of Cosmetic-Grade Salicylic Acid
Our cosmetic-grade salicylic acid is highly versatile and can be used as an active ingredient or an auxiliary additive in a wide range of products. It unclogs pores and addresses skin issues—such as blackheads, comedones, and acne—at the source.
- Rinse-off products: Salicylic acid facial cleansers, body washes, shampoos, etc.
- Leave-on products: Salicylic acid serums, toners, sprays, pads, facial masks, etc.
- Medical aesthetics: Suitable for use in professional-grade chemical peel formulations.
Optimal Concentration of Cosmetic-Grade Salicylic Acid
- The concentration of salicylic acid in cleansing and hair care products typically ranges from 5% to 2%.
- Leave-on products (e.g., creams): Maximum permitted concentration is 2.0%.
- Rinse-off skin products:Maximum permitted concentration is 2.0%.
- When used as a preservative: Maximum permitted concentration is 0.5%.
Regulations vary across different countries and regions; it is recommended to check and confirm local regulations before use.
Specification of Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid
- Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid
- Cyclodextrin Encapsulation of Salicylic Acid
Item | Specification | Test Method |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder | Visual inspection |
| Purity (Salicylic Acid Content) | ≥99.0% | HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) |
| Melting Point | 158.0 ~ 161.0 ℃ | Pharmacopoeia method |
| Loss on Drying | ≤0.5 % | 105℃, 2h |
| Residue on Ignition | ≤0.10 % | Ignition at 550℃ to constant weight |
| Heavy Metals (Lead, Pb) | ≤10 ppm | Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤2 ppm | Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤5 ppm | Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy |
| pH (Saturated Aqueous Solution) | 2.4 ~ 3.2 | Potentiometry |
| Particle Size (Optional) | 80 mesh / 100 mesh / 200 mesh | Sieve analysis |
| Solubility | Liposoluble; freely soluble in ethanol, ether and oils; practically insoluble in cold water | Test |
| Total Aerobic Microbial Count | ≤100 CFU/g | Microbiological test |
| Mould & Yeast Count | ≤10 CFU/g | Microbiological test |
| Pathogens (Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus) | Not detected | Microbiological test |
| Compliance | Compliant with China Cosmetic Raw Material Specifications. COA and MSDS available. | — |
Item | Specification | Test Method |
| Appearance | White powder with characteristic odor | Visual inspection |
| Active Salicylic Acid Content | ≥42.0% (HPLC, total salicylic acid: free + complexed) | HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) |
| Solid Content | 90%~100% | Oven drying method |
| Loss on Drying | ≤10.0 % | 105℃, 2h |
| pH (5% Aqueous Solution) | ≤4.0 | Potentiometry |
| Heavy Metals (Lead, Pb) | ≤5 ppm | Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy |
| Water Solubility | Solubility in water ≥5% (finished inclusion complex) | Solubility test |
| Total Aerobic Microbial Count | ≤1000 CFU/g | Microbiological test |
| Total Mould & Yeast Count | ≤100 CFU/g | Microbiological test |
| Escherichia coli | Not detected | Microbiological test |
| Pathogens (Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus) | Not detected | Microbiological test |
| Compliance | Compliant for cosmetic raw materials. COA, MSDS and formulation application guidance available. | — |
Cyclodextrin Encapsulation is a formulation technology used to address issues such as poor water solubility and high irritation associated with raw salicylic acid, thereby facilitating its use in water-based formulas.
Cyclodextrin-encapsulated salicylic acid is essentially an inclusion complex formed by housing standard salicylic acid molecules within the cavities of cyclodextrin molecules.
The chemical structure of the salicylic acid remains unchanged; the primary differences lie in its solubility and release mechanism.
No. Although they are rinse-off products, daily use can still cause excessive exfoliation of the stratum corneum. It is recommended to reduce the frequency of use to avoid damaging the skin barrier.
It is not recommended for pregnant women to use leave-on skincare products containing salicylic acid without professional guidance. Product labels should include relevant warnings advising pregnant individuals to consult a doctor before use.
Salicylic acid acts primarily on the scalp rather than the hair itself. Thanks to its lipophilic (oil-soluble) nature, it penetrates scalp pores to help exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog hair follicles, thereby addressing issues like dandruff, excess oil, and scalp acne.
No, salicylic acid does not cause acne; on the contrary, one of its key functions is to treat and prevent acne.
No. Salicylic acid works on the surface stratum corneum and unclogs pores; it cannot eliminate existing acne scars. It serves only to prevent new breakouts and can slightly fade redness and post-acne marks.
AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids, e.g. glycolic acid, lactic acid) are water-soluble and exfoliate only the top skin layer for brightening and smoothing surface texture. BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids, mainly salicylic acid) are oil-soluble, allowing penetration into sebum-filled pores to dissolve keratin plugs, with mild anti-inflammatory properties.
Highassay’s Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid
Highassay is a specialized Chinese supplier of high-purity, cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid raw materials. We offer two types of BHA ingredients: Standard Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid and Cyclodextrin-encapsulated Salicylic Acid.
Whether you are formulating exfoliating and oil-control products, anti-acne serums, cleansers, or gentle water-based skincare products, our Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid can be flexibly selected based on your product positioning, budget, and formulation system—helping you create market-competitive, efficacy-driven skincare products.
Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid
- This grade of Salicylic Acid is non-encapsulated and refined from sublimated raw material.
- It is a high-purity, Standard Cosmetic-grade Salicylic Acid that offers stable biological activity and complies with cosmetic raw material standards. Fast-acting and highly cost-effective, it is the preferred raw material for mass-produced, functional skincare products.
Cyclodextrin Encapsulation of Salicylic Acid
- We also call it Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin Complex,Water Soluble Salicylic Acid,Water Soluble Salicylic Acid Inclusion Complex.It is a modified, cyclodextrin-encapsulated version of standard cosmetic-grade salicylic acid, designed to overcome two major industry pain points associated with the conventional ingredient: poor water solubility and high irritation potential.
- A key advantage of this raw material is that its water solubility is 20 times higher than that of standard cosmetic-grade salicylic acid. It dissolves stably in water-based systems without the need for additional solubilizers, allowing you to maintain a clean and minimalist ingredient list.
Standard Salicylic Acid vs. Cyclodextrin-Encapsulated Salicylic Acid
Comparison Item | Ordinary Cosmetic-Grade Salicylic Acid | Cyclodextrin-Encapsulated Salicylic Acid |
| Water Solubility | Liposoluble, poorly soluble in water; dissolved in oil phase | Greatly improved water solubility, directly applicable to water-based formulations |
| Irritation | Conventional irritation level, suitable for rinse-off products with short contact time | Sustained release, reduced instantaneous irritation, higher mildness |
| Formulation Compatibility | Suitable for oil-based formulations; solubilizers required for water-based systems, leading to longer ingredient lists | No solubilizers needed, clean-formulation friendly, ideal for serums and aqueous toners |
| Cost | Cost-effective, low mass production cost | Higher raw material unit price, targeted for high-end product lines |
For information on grade selection, pricing, and stock availability for Salicylic Acid, please refer to the Salicylic Acid product page;
You may also compare other grades of Salicylic Acid raw materials: Industrial-grade Salicylic Acid, Sublimed Salicylic Acid, and Pharmaceutical-grade Salicylic Acid.
