A common acne myth is that if you have acne, you must have very oily skin. But that isn’t necessarily the case.

Sebum quantity is only part of the story. Research shows that the composition of sebum can also differ in acne-prone skin — changes in fatty acid composition, and squalene and lipid oxidation, can all influence how easily pores clog and how much inflammation develops. And that helps explain why someone can have dry or combination skin and still develop blackheads, whiteheads, inflamed pimples and deeper jawline breakouts.

This is also the type of skin that this formula was built for.

It combines 2% Salicylic Acid + Glycolic Acid in a richer cream vehicle. Salicylic Acid is oil-soluble, allowing it to work within the follicle where sebum and dead cells can build up. That makes it useful not only for blackheads, whiteheads and clogged pores, but also as part of the treatment of inflamed acne because salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory as well as comedolytic activity. It also works especially well for adult and cystic-type jawline breakouts.

Glycolic Acid in the formula, adds surface exfoliation for rough, uneven texture, while Panthenol and Oats help support comfort around an active acne treatment. The richer emulsion format is deliberate: it gives people whose skin dislikes thin, drying acid serums another way to use a proper leave-on acne treatment.

But cream does not mean moisturiser. This is still a concentrated treatment. Apply a thin layer, introduce it gradually and use a separate moisturiser if your skin needs one.

2% also does not mean “the strongest Salicylic Acid in the AccuFix range.” Percentage alone does not tell you how an acne product will behave. The vehicle, supporting ingredients and the type of acne you are treating all matter.

Choose this one when you have adult or jawline acne — including inflamed breakouts — but your skin is dry, combination or simply prefers a richer treatment vehicle. If oiliness and everyday pore congestion are the bigger issue, choose the Encapsulated Salicylic Acid + Niacinamide Serum. And if your acne/comedones are especially stubborn or you are fungal-acne prone, the 1.5% Salicylic Acid Emulsion is usually the better fit.

Apply a thin layer at night to clean, dry skin over acne-prone areas. Start 2–3 nights a week and build up gradually to nightly use if your skin tolerates it. Follow with a separate moisturiser if needed - this is a treatment cream, not a moisturiser. If you’re just starting out you can also buffer it - meaning apply your moisturiser first and then follow up with a small quantity of this, focussing mainly on problem areas. This reduces the chance of experiencing irritation.  

When first introducing it, also avoid using it on the same night as Retinol, other leave-on Salicylic Acid products or strong exfoliating acids. Reduce frequency if you develop persistent irritation, and use broad-spectrum SPF every morning.

2% Salicylic Acid
The main acne-treatment active. Salicylic Acid is oil-soluble, so it can work inside the follicle where sebum, dead skin and debris build up. It helps clear blackheads, whiteheads and clogged pores, while also making it useful for inflamed acne and recurring breakouts.

Glycolic Acid
An AHA that works mainly at the surface of the skin, helping loosen built-up dead cells and smooth rough, bumpy texture. It complements Salicylic Acid rather than simply making this a “stronger” product.

Panthenol
Also known as Pro-Vitamin B5. Helps support hydration and skin comfort around an active exfoliating treatment.

Oats
Included to help soothe and support irritated-feeling skin, which is useful in a formula designed for acne-prone skin that may also run dry or combination.

Jojoba + Grapeseed Oils
Part of the richer emollient system that makes this formula different from a thin Salicylic Acid serum. They help give the treatment its more cushioned cream texture — one of the reasons this format can suit people whose acne-prone skin also feels dry.

Aqua, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Monostearate, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Olus Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Zinc Oxide.