The skin is the largest body organ which can perform its functions regularly only when in a healthy state. Majority of people are affected by Acne vulgaris, one of the types of acne, at least once in their life. Acne vulgaris is polymorphic inflammatory skin disease with a complex mechanism of occurrence affecting the pilosebaceal unit. Cosmetic products for acne-prone skin, which often contain salicylic acid as active ingredient, can help to control and improve condition. Salicylic acid accelerates desquamation, and it can penetrate the sebaceous gland due to its lipophylic nature. Because certain limitations need to be considered when formulating with salicylic acid, derivatives and delivery systems have been developed to improve its properties, which can facilitate the production of cosmetic products. The composition of 80 cosmetic products for the cleansing and care of acne-prone facial skin containing salicylic acid or its derivates, found in pharmacies, specalized cosmetics stores and online, has been studied in detail. The examined product groups contained face clensers, toners, serums, creams and lotions, peelings, masks and other non categorised cosmetic products. A special attention has been paid to their surfactants, co-solvents, humectants, emolients, exfoliating agents, other cosmetically active ingredients, thichening agents and preservatives. Products subject to study prevalently contained non-ionic surfactants, different glycols and alcohols as co-solvents, whereas glycerol has been found to be the most common humectant, also acting as co-solvent for salicylic acid. Alcohols and fatty acids esters, silicones and fatty alcoholes are the most common among the emolients, while AHA and PHA acids among exfoliating agents. Many other cosmetically active ingredients are often present in the sample groups, providing soothing, anti-inflammatory, moisturising and skin-brightening effect, as well as helping to strenghten skin barrier and regulate the amount of sebum and bacteria. Xanthan and some synthetically derived polymers dominate in thickenig agents group, likewise sodium chloride thickens in combination with surfactants. Phenoxyethanol is generally present preservative in the sample groups, although some cosmetics products are formulated without preservatives. Concentration of salicylic acid and its derivates has been discovered for 43 products. Products selected for this study have been further categorised in 4 groups according to their price range, resulting in awareness of general affordability in most of the products.
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