By Hydroxy acids are components used in the exfoliation stage of skincare.
When applied to the skin, they weaken the bonds that hold together dead cells in the top layer of the epidermis, removing dirt, waste, dead cells, and sebum from the skin and revealing the smooth skin underneath.
AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)
They are carboxylic acids derived from foods.
They are effective in both the upper and lower layers of the skin.
When applied to the skin, they stimulate the peeling of the superficial layer. This provides benefits such as lightening blemishes, cleansing the skin, smoothing, and renewing the skin. It has been shown to increase collagen density, improve the quality of elastic fibers, and moisturize the skin by penetrating deeper layers.
The most commonly used AHAs are glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid.
BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid)
With their ability to dissolve in oil, BHAs penetrate deep into pores to effectively clean sebum, dead cells, and debris. They also have the ability to minimize and tighten pores.
They are less irritating compared to AHAs.
The most commonly used BHAs are salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid.