No matter how much damage control I try to do for my in the summer, my face still ends up becoming a sweaty, shiny, mess within minutes of stepping outside. And sure enough, there’s always a new zit or two brewing shortly after. I’ve tried everything (including blotting papers to sop up oil and “redness relief” serums to calm my inflamed face) but nothing worked—until I bought a bottle of hypochlorous acid.
According to a bunch of people on who relate to my seasonal struggles, this skin-saving ingredient is a master at banishing sweat-spawned pimples—and after two years of using it myself, I’m happy to confirm that it’s my secret weapon for keeping blemishes at bay. Just to make sure these impressive results aren’t all in my head, though, I asked two dermatologists if this stuff truly deserves my rave review. Here’s everything they told me about my skin care BFF.
So, what is hypochlorous acid? is an antibacterial (meaning it can kill bacteria, including the kind that ) and antimicrobial (it destroys other pathogens like fungi and viruses) compound that’s found in a lot of household disinfectants, including bleach. But don’t let that scare you away: As a lifelong member of the , I would never recommend something you’d use on a grimy bathtub for your delicate face. When hypochlorous acid is properly diluted, it’s safe for pretty much anyone to try, , a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego and the founder of skin care company , tells SELF.
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