Chemical exfoliants

since it’s officially summer, this week’s focus will be on “radiant skin” and I’ll be covering topics relating to achieving clear and glowy skin.  First, we’ll look at chemical exfoliants.

Don’t let the word “chemical” scare you, this is just to distinguish between the physical / manual type (scrubs, cloths, loofahs) and the ones that solely use non-abrasive ingredients to exfoliate the skin.

The 2 key categories of chemical exfoliants are BHA (beta hydroxy acid) and AHA (alpha hydroxy acid).  A trick I use to help myself remember which is for what purpose is: BHA = blemishes, and AHA = anti-aging.  Typically, BHA works better for oily skin types whereas AHA benefit drier skin.

The queen of exfoliants is Paula’s choice (PC) – she definitely revolutionized the average consumer’s understanding and access to chemical exfoliants.  Her BHA and AHA offering are undoubtedly the best on the market for the price. here are some exfoliants in my skincare collection:

BHA:

BHA works by exfoliating beneath the surface of the skin.  BHA is oil soluable, so for blemish-prone skin where excess sebum can get trapped in pores, BHA can help to unclog them.  The key active ingredient that falls under the BHA category is salicylic acid (there is also some claims that willow bark can mimic BHA actions on the skin).  Shown here are PC Skin Perfecting 2% BHA liquid and 2% BHA Gel.  I prefer the liquid version since it doesn’t leave a sticky film on my skin.  Personally, I haven’t found BHA to be effective for me but it’s not geared toward my skin type.

AHA:

AHA on the other hand, is my jam! Whenever, I use AHA, my skin just glows.  AHA is water soluable and acts on the surface of the skin, sloughing off dead skin which can cause the skin to look dull.  The feeling of AHA on the skin can be how you’d expect from an “acid” – which is to say it can tingle or burn if the concentration is too strong.  There are a wide range of active ingredients that fall under the AHA umbrella, including: glycolic acid, lactic acid, Malic acid, and citric acid – but glycolic acid remains the most popular.

My favourite AHA product is PC resist weekly Resurfing treatment 10% AHA (in fact, it’s my favourite product from PC, period).  I use this weekly or sometimes more often if I find my skin looking lackluster.  I’ve decanted the last of my nearly empty bottle into a squeeze bottle for easier dispensing – it’s an amber coloured liquid.  After my normal toner, I pour about a dime size of the AHA liquid onto the palms of my hands and pat onto my face.

Another AHA product I like is surprisingly from Physician’s formula (PF). Its Anti Aging Laser Resurfacing Serum with 2.4 AHA is a gentle exfoliant that can be used nightly if desired (it uses lactic acid).  I apply this lightweight gel lotion to cleansed face underneath my regular nighttime moisturizer – it makes my skin very soft and glowy.  There’s also vitamin C and peptide in the concoction – it has quite a strong fragrance which isn’t offensive (I can’t place the smell but my first thought was Play-Doh).

The other AHA products pictured are: PC 8% AHA Gel and beyond belief ABH Intensive repair Serum (this was Sally beauty supply brand and is discontinued now unfortunately), and Neostrata Invigorating solution pads (also discontinued).  I mostly stick to AHA and only use BHA during the week prior to my period when my hormonal blemishes tend to flare up.  I don’t use BHA and AHA on the same nights but I’ve read that it can be done – just apply BHA first, then let it absorb for 30 minutes, then apply AHA.  I do always wait 30 minutes before applying serum or moisturizer on top of either AHA / BHA. using BHA and AHA will cause increased sun sensitivity (all products include this warning) so daily application of sunscreen is imperative!

Do you use any BHA or AHA products?

Imparte asta:
Acțiune

Faceți clic pentru a trimite un e-mail la un PAL (se deschide în fereastră nouă)
Faceți clic pentru a partaja pe Pinterest (se deschide în fereastră nouă)

Faceți clic pentru a partaja pe Twitter (se deschide în fereastră nouă)
Faceți clic pentru a partaja pe Tumblr (se deschide în fereastră nouă)

Faceți clic pentru a partaja pe Reddit (se deschide în fereastră nouă)

Asa:
Ca încărcarea …

Legate de

BHA Exfoliants: CosRX vs Paula’s ChoiceToday I’m reviewing and comparing 2 BHA exfoliants: • CosRX BHA Blackhead Power liquid • Paula’s choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA liquid Exfoliant I’ve been a long time devoted customer of Paula’s Choice – I just checked my account, my first order from her was in 2011!  My favourite products from…
May 17, 2017In “Beauty”

Book: Can You get Hooked on Lip Balm?A few weeks ago I came across this book at a used book store: Can You get Hooked on Lip Balm? I couldn’t resist and bought it.  I’ve read most of it now and while there’s a lot of just common sense advice “Do curling shampoos really work?” (no) or “Is it…
March 25, 2015In “Beauty”

Grading my friends’ skincare routinesI was scolding one of my friends via email last week after she confessed that she has recently been sdormind în machiaj. Nu-i așa? Oribil. Apoi, discuția sa transformat în Palul Said (Să-i numim a) cerându-mi să o oferim un regim de îngrijire a pielii. M-am întors…
7 aprilie 2015 în “Beauty”