Stridex

Stridex launched in 1959 as the first over-the-counter acne treatment pad not requiring a prescription. Now owned by Blistex Inc., the brand has over six decades of market presence and is represented in the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection. Its 2% salicylic acid formula is FDA-regulated as an OTC drug.

3 products reviewed

72/100 Score

Stridex Maximum Strength Pads red round tub with snap-close lid containing 90 medicated salicylic acid pads

Budget BHA Legend

Stridex treatment

Maximum Strength Pads 2% Salicylic Acid

The original acne pad — six decades old and still one of the best BHA values in skincare. Delivers 2% salicylic acid at an effective pH for under ten cents per treatment. The menthol and fragrance keep it from being universally recommendable, but for oily and acne-prone skin that can tolerate the extras, nothing else touches this price-to-performance ratio.

oilycombination Paraben Free

Beginner BHA Entry Point

Stridex treatment

Salicylic Acid Pads Sensitive 0.5%

A well-intentioned lower-dose BHA for beginners and reactive skin, undercut by the contradictory inclusion of fragrance and menthol in a product labeled 'sensitive.' At under five dollars, it's a low-risk way to test whether your skin tolerates salicylic acid — just don't mistake the marketing for a truly minimal-irritant formula.

sensitivedry Paraben Free

Budget BHA Starter Pad

Stridex treatment

XtraCare Sensitive Pads with Aloe

A reliable budget BHA option for mild acne and maintenance, but the 'Sensitive' label deserves an asterisk — menthol, fragrance, and a surfactant make this less gentle than it claims. Best for beginners dipping their toes into salicylic acid who need the lowest available concentration at a price that barely registers.

sensitivedry Paraben Free

★★★★★

4.2 (3,000)

$8.99