Salicylic

Everyone wants to maintain a youthful appearance, but if you’re a celebrity, it’s part of your job description. Salicylic acid has long been used in the treatment of acne and other skin conditions, and is  now one of the active ingredient in many skin peel formulas, such as the Jessner’s solution and the VI peel. Salicylic acid may also be used alone, or in combination with acids such as glycolic acid or alphahydroxy acid, to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes.

According to Dr. Jessica Wu, an LA-based dermatologist who recently spoke to Cosmopolitan on the subject, celebrities begin receiving chemical peels in their 20s “to unclog pores and prevent acne,” and continue to receive them later in life to treat pigmentation problems, sun damage, fine lines, and wrinkles.

So, there’s a good chance that many of today’s age-defying stars, like Cher, Nicole Kidman, Mariah Carey, and Sylvester Stallone, have been taking advantage of salicylic acid’s acne-fighting and skin rejuvenating properties for some time. According to Michigan-based plastic surgeon Dr. Tony Youn, author of the blog Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery, these stars couldn’t have possibly refrained from chemical peels, laser treatments, or other skin refinishing procedures. In a 2008 blog post, Dr. Youn says of Stallone, “He appears to take good care of his skin, possibly with chemical peels and medical grade skin care.”

While celebrities won’t typically admit which cosmetic procedures they’ve undergone, or how many,  it’s almost certain that many of them are receiving regular salicylic acid skin peels. It’s used in popular formulas like the VI peel, which has recently taken Hollywood by storm. And, since salicylic acid is so gentle, it can help younger celebrities control their acne breakouts and maintain their skin’s appearance from the day they get their first big break.