Both full sizes, 150ml and 50ml
ESK · Set
Salicylic Blemish Duo
ESK Hydroxy Cleanser + B Calm · a full oily and blemish-prone skin routine
A salicylic acid cleanser and a niacinamide moisturiser for oily, blemish-prone skin, bought together. Cleanse with Hydroxy Cleanser morning and evening, then follow with B Calm. Built on salicylic acid and niacinamide 5%, and suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin across skin tones, including Fitzpatrick V to VI.
- Authorised ESK stockist. Genuine stock, bought direct.
- Suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin across skin tones, including Fitzpatrick V to VI.
- Free UK delivery over £65, tracked, 2 to 4 working days.
- Use with a daily SPF every morning, sold separately.
- Contains salicylic acid. Patch test before first use, and introduce it gradually if your skin is sensitive.
3 to 4 months of a complete routine
Two full sizes: Hydroxy Cleanser 150ml and B Calm 50ml. Both last around 3 to 4 months used daily, so they run out together rather than one outlasting the other. Buying the pair also saves £10 against the separate prices.
Free UK delivery over £65 · Tracked £3.49 · Sent tracked, 2 to 4 working days
- In the set
- Two full sizes: Hydroxy Cleanser (150ml lightly foaming cleanser, glycolic 2%, salicylic 0.5%, lactic 1%) and B Calm (50ml moisturiser, niacinamide 5%, salicylic acid 2%, ceramides).
- Good to know
- Both products contain acids. Introduce gradually if your skin is new to exfoliating acids, and use with caution on sensitive or rosacea-prone skin. Hydroxy Cleanser contains essential oils (rose, lavender, geranium). Patch test first if you react to fragrance.
- Stockist
- Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Genuine product with full traceability.
If your skin reacts, cut back to alternate days and keep the barrier supported with a plain moisturiser. If redness or stinging persists, pause for a few days and message us. We would rather adjust your routine than have you stop.
Not sure if this is right for your skin? Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment and we will confirm the right routine first.
What changes, honestly
Most people come to this because their skin feels oily by midday and is prone to blemishes. Skin often feels less oily and can start to look calmer within the first few weeks of consistent use. Give it several weeks of regular use as part of your routine before judging how your skin looks. Persistent or painful breakouts are worth having looked at directly rather than managed with skincare alone.
What we can say with confidence is that this is a routine built not to strip or over-exfoliate skin that already feels sensitive, and that there is someone to ask when it does not behave. Introducing both products slowly is the point, not a disclaimer.
If it is not doing anything by month three, we would rather reassess it with you than sell you a third bottle. Message the clinic.
Quick facts
- What it is
- A two-step routine for oily and blemish-prone skin.
- What is included
- Hydroxy Cleanser (morning and evening) and B Calm (morning and evening). Two full sizes, 150ml and 50ml.
- Best for
- Oily, blemish-prone or combination skin, including blemish-prone skin on the chest and back.
- Skin types
- Suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin across skin tones, including Fitzpatrick V to VI. Sensitive skin should introduce both products slowly.
- Key ingredients
- Glycolic 2%, salicylic 0.5%, lactic 1% (Hydroxy Cleanser); niacinamide 5%, salicylic acid 2%, ceramides (B Calm).
- How to use
- AM: Hydroxy Cleanser, then B Calm, then daily SPF. PM: Hydroxy Cleanser, then B Calm.
- Patch testing
- Recommended for reactive or sensitive skin before full application. Inner forearm or behind the ear, 24 to 48 hours.
- How long it lasts
- Around 3 to 4 months of a day and night routine.
- Daily SPF
- Required in the morning, sold separately.
- Not suitable for
- Stacking with other strong exfoliating acids or prescription acne treatments, unless your routine has been checked first.
Why buy the duo rather than one product
Good skincare for blemish prone skin has both a cleanse step and a moisture step, so the skin is not left feeling tight after cleansing. Hydroxy Cleanser carries glycolic 2%, salicylic 0.5% and lactic 1%, a soap-free, lightly foaming cleanser that leaves skin feeling clean, not tight. B Calm carries niacinamide 5%, salicylic acid 2% and ceramides, a moisturiser made for oily and blemish-prone skin. Bought together the pair is £88.00 against £98.00 separately, a £10.00 saving, and it gives you a complete routine rather than half of one.
The two are meant to work on different parts of the same process. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which is why it is the usual acid in cleansers for oily skin. Niacinamide supports the skin barrier while the skin is being exfoliated. Ceramides help the skin hold onto moisture so the routine does not leave it feeling tight. That is the argument for running a cleanser and a moisturiser together rather than relying on the cleanser alone.
If you already own one of the two, buy the other on its own: Hydroxy Cleanser or B Calm. If you want to target the look of marks left behind after spots rather than blemish-prone skin, see the Golden Pigmentation Duo.
The detail
Ingredients, and what each one does
- Glycolic acid, 2% (cleanser)
- An alpha-hydroxy acid that works on the skin's surface, supporting the look of a smoother, less congested texture. Widely studied.
- Salicylic acid, 0.5% and 2%
- A beta-hydroxy acid that is oil-soluble, which is why it is the usual acid in cleansers for oily skin. Commonly used in routines aimed at the look of clearer, less congested-looking skin. Widely studied.
- Lactic acid, 1% (cleanser)
- A gentler alpha-hydroxy acid that also carries some hydrating properties, balancing the exfoliating effect of the other two acids. Widely studied.
- Niacinamide, 5% (B Calm)
- Supports the skin barrier and helps reduce water loss, while also being studied for the look of a more even-looking, less oily complexion. Widely studied.
- Ceramides (B Calm)
- Barrier lipids that help the skin hold onto moisture, which is what keeps an acid-led routine comfortable rather than tight or dry. Widely studied.
Percentages are ESK's published figures for these formulations. Descriptions are about the look and feel of skin, not a medical outcome, and do not replace medical treatment for acne.
How to use it
Morning
- Wet your face with warm water.
- Apply 2 to 3 pumps of Hydroxy Cleanser to fingertips and massage into a lather on the face and neck, then rinse thoroughly.
- Apply 1 to 2 pumps of B Calm to clean, dry skin.
- Finish with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, every day.
Evening
- Cleanse with Hydroxy Cleanser to remove SPF and the day, the same way as in the morning.
- Let the skin dry fully.
- Apply 1 to 2 pumps of B Calm. Both products can also be used on the décolletage; Hydroxy Cleanser can also be used as a body wash on the chest and back.
Both products are used morning and evening. That is what makes this a complete oily skin routine rather than one step.
If your skin is new to acids
Start with Hydroxy Cleanser once a day and introduce B Calm every other day for the first week, then build up to twice daily as your skin adjusts. Going too fast disrupts the barrier, and irritated skin often looks more congested, not less, so a slow build up is the point.
What to expect, and when
- First few days
- Skin often feels cleaner and less oily by the end of the day.
- 2 to 4 weeks
- Existing congestion can start to look calmer with consistent use.
- 4 to 8 weeks
- A more even-looking texture is common, though how much changes depends on your skin.
These are general guides, not a promise. Persistent, painful or deep breakouts are worth having looked at directly rather than managed with skincare alone.
Is it right for my skin
- Sensitive skin
- Usable, with a slower build up. Alternate days for the first week or two is a reasonable start.
- Blemish-prone skin
- This is what the duo is built for. Salicylic acid and niacinamide are common choices for oily, blemish-prone routines.
- Dry or oily skin
- Best suited to oily and combination skin. Very dry skin may still need a plain moisturiser layered over B Calm.
- Deeper skin tones
- Suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin across skin tones. Introduce it gradually, because inflammation itself can leave marks that take longer to fade.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, check any new skincare routine with your midwife, GP or pharmacist before starting.
Using it with what you already own
- Vitamin C
- Fine. Use it in the morning, before B Calm.
- Niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid
- Fine, and helpful.
- A retinoid
- Careful. Introduce it gradually alongside this routine and alternate mornings and evenings until your skin is used to both.
- Another exfoliating acid or a prescription acne treatment
- Careful. Avoid stacking, and check with us first.
- Scrubs
- No. There is enough exfoliation in this routine already.
If your skin reacts
Mild dryness, tightness or a little flaking is common in the first week or two of any acid routine. Cut back to alternate days and keep the barrier supported. If redness, stinging or soreness persists, pause both products for a few days and let the skin settle before restarting more slowly. If irritation is severe or is not settling, stop and get advice.
Patch testing
Put a small amount of each product on the inner forearm or behind the ear and leave it 24 to 48 hours before using it on the face. A patch test lowers the risk, it does not remove it.
Questions we actually get asked
What is in the Salicylic Blemish Duo?
ESK Hydroxy Cleanser and B Calm bought together as one routine, aimed at oily and blemish-prone skin. Hydroxy Cleanser is a 150ml cleanser and B Calm is a 50ml moisturiser.
Why buy the pair instead of buying them separately?
They are built to run together, a cleanse-and-moisturise routine for the same skin type. The pair is £88.00 against £98.00 separately, a £10.00 saving.
Is salicylic acid good for blemish-prone skin?
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid. It is oil-soluble, which is why it is the usual acid in cleansers for oily skin. It is widely used in routines aimed at the look of clearer, less congested-looking skin, though it does not replace medical treatment for acne.
Can I use it on my back or chest?
Yes. Hydroxy Cleanser can also be used as a body wash on the chest and back. B Calm is formulated for the face, but can also be used on the décolletage, backs of hands and forearms.
Can I use it with retinoids or vitamin C?
Vitamin C is fine in the morning. Introduce a retinoid carefully alongside this routine, alternating mornings and evenings until your skin is used to both.
How long does it last?
Around 3 to 4 months of a day and night routine, using both full sizes.
Is it suitable for deeper skin tones?
Yes. It is suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin across skin tones, including Fitzpatrick V to VI. Introduce it gradually, because inflammation itself can leave marks that take longer to fade.
Will it help marks left after spots?
This duo is aimed at oily and blemish-prone skin rather than existing marks. Regular use can help skin look clearer and more even over time; for stubborn marks left behind after spots, see the Golden Pigmentation Duo.
Is Melatone an authorised ESK stockist?
Yes. Every item is genuine, with full traceability, bought directly from ESK.
What is the delivery and returns position?
Tracked UK delivery at £3.49, free over £65, usually 2 to 4 working days. Sealed, unopened items can be returned within 60 days. Opened skincare cannot be returned for hygiene reasons unless faulty. Your statutory 14-day right to cancel is unaffected.
Buying it from Melatone
Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock is bought directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic.
If you are not sure this is the right routine for your skin, do not guess at £88.00. Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment first. If breakouts are more than skincare can reach, we would rather tell you that than sell you a bottle.
Related reading: skin of colour · chemical peels · Golden Pigmentation Duo · Zinc Shade SPF
Delivery
Tracked UK delivery, £3.49 or free over £65. It usually arrives within 2 to 4 working days, with tracking by email. The price you see is the price you pay, with any delivery charge shown in full before checkout.
Returns
Sealed, unopened items may be returned within 60 days of receiving your order for a refund. For hygiene reasons we cannot accept returns of skincare or supplements once any seal has been opened, unless faulty. Your statutory 14-day right to cancel is unaffected.
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