Anyone who’s ever had a

breakout (oh, hi) should be familiar with salicylic acid. A beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), it treats acne by targeting and removing oil and dead skin cells from pores, but this type of acid exfoliation can lead to irritation. That’s where niacinamide (aka vitamin B3) comes into play. ‘It’s a great anti-inflammatory that can help adjust the irritation of many strong topicals,’ explains dermatologist Dr Dhaval Bhanusali. And it matches well with salicylic acid because ‘they both work towards the same end goal of treating pigmentation and evening skin tone’, says fellow derm Dr Tiffany Libby. Use a toner like La Roche-posay Effaclar Clarifying Solution Acne Toner With Salicylic Acid (£12.50). Then slather on a serum like The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (£5.60).