“I start with a BHA exfoliant,” says board-certified dermatologist Scott Walter, MD, FAAD, in a recent TikTok video. BHA is short for beta hydroxy acid, a type of exfoliant that can penetrate deeper into pores than gentle alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to clear away dirt.

He chooses COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and uses it every morning, which also contains niacinamide, which helps regulate oil production and prevents future pore clogging.

However, sensitive skin can experience irritation with daily BHA use, so don’t hesitate to hold off if your skin starts to look inflamed, red, dry, or itchy.

Using a BHA like salicylic acid in the morning ensures that you never mix it with retinol in the evening, but this will make you more prone to sunburn and sunburn, so always apply SPF afterwards.