A salicylate ingredient used in exfoliating products; it is not the same material as salicylic acid or betaine alone.
Sources: 1, 2No alternative names recorded.
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Limited evidence
Betaine Salicylate
What it does
Used in products intended to reduce surface buildup. Independent evidence specific to this ingredient needs further review.
Sources: 1, 2Good for
- Exfoliating formulas
How to use it
Use a finished exfoliant as labeled, introduce it cautiously and follow appropriate sun-protection advice. Do not improvise professional peels at home.
Sources: 1, 2Who should be careful
Use cautiously with other irritating actives, on impaired skin, or with a known salicylate allergy.
Sources: 1, 2Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Salicylate availability depends on composition and formulation pH; salicylic acid findings cannot simply be transferred to this salt.
Sources: 1, 2Potential adverse effects
Over-exfoliation can cause burning, redness, peeling and subsequent pigmentation changes.
Sources: 1, 2Formulation considerations
Do not convert its percentage into a salicylic acid equivalent without verified chemical composition and speciation data.
Sources: 1, 2Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research (1 studies)
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitLimited evidence
One small study of a betaine-salicylic acid cocrystal (3%, 28 days, 30 participants) supports limited, material-specific evidence. Confirm that the supplier's ingredient matches the studied cocrystal before applying its results.
Sources: 1, 2Wang et al.: Betaine-salicylic acid cocrystal for enhanced skincare and acne treatment (RSC Med Chem)
- Design
- Cocrystal characterization plus a 28-day facial use test comparing BeSA with an equimolar salicylic acid formula; no vehicle-only arm described
- Population
- 30 participants with acne (16 men, 14 women, aged 18-30)
- Studied concentration
- 3 wt% betaine-salicylic acid cocrystal versus an equimolar amount of salicylic acid in the same base
- Duration
- 28 days, nightly
Both formulas reduced transepidermal water loss, porphyrin, red lesions and acne scores. At 14 days the difference between groups was not significant; at 28 days reductions with BeSA (43.45%, 40.80%, 44.37%, 37.51%) were reported as significantly larger than with salicylic acid.
Limitations: Material-specific: applies to the studied cocrystal. Single small study without a vehicle arm; confirm the supplier's material matches before applying these results.
Small clinical studySources: 2Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
betaine salicylate
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
No single structure to show yet
A reviewed, unambiguous PubChem compound identifier is needed before a molecular diagram can be displayed.
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Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (2)
Scientific sources
- Topical delivery of salicylates: formulation and evidence contextresearch review · 2021
- Wang et al.: Betaine-salicylic acid cocrystal for enhanced skincare and acne treatment (RSC Med Chem)laboratory and human use study · 2025
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