8 Ways Alpha Hydroxy Acids Will Transform Your Skin

Best known for exfoliating, AHAs do so much more!

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are one of the best skincare ingredients for improving your skin.

From brightening your skin tone and smoothing skin texture to reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation.

Making your skin feel smoother - and leaving it looking brighter, clearer and younger.

Read on for 8 ways that using Alpha Hydroxy Acids can give you amazing, glowing skin…

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are acid compounds most often derived naturally from plant-based sources.

There are several different types of AHA, but the ones most commonly used in skincare products are:

• glycolic acid (from sugar cane)
• lactic acid (from lactose)
• citric acid (from citrus fruits)
• malic acid (derived from fruits)
• tartaric acid (derived from grapes)

They all act as chemical exfoliants on your skin, but what makes each different is the size of their molecules and their potency.

Their power to exfoliate is what makes AHAs so good at improving your skin. And this is the source of so many other benefits to your complexion.

Here’s 8 ways that using Alpha Hydroxy Acids can give you smooth, glowing skin:

Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 30 days or so to make room for new, healthy cells. But sometimes the old cells don’t shed completely – resulting in dry, flaky skin that looks dull.

AHA’s work to gently ‘unglue’ and dissolve these dead skin cells - encouraging a faster turnover of new cells.

When the dead skin cells are exfoliated away the new skin revealed beneath is brighter – giving you a fresh, glowing complexion.

Collagen is the protein that keeps your skin looking firm and smooth.  But as you age, these fibers break down.

Sun damage also causes collagen fibers to deteriorate. Resulting in sagging skin, with a loss of firmness and elasticity.

AHAs are powerful antioxidants that stimulate your skin’s natural collagen production – keeping your skin looking smooth and firm.

AHAs are known to have an effect on signs of premature skin aging – reducing fine lines and improving the texture of your skin. One study found that after only three weeks of using AHAs volunteers reported a significant improvement in the smoothness of their skin, with less wrinkles and more elasticity.

Using AHAs increases blood flow to your face, bringing the necessary nutrients to your skin’s surface via oxygen-rich blood cells.

This gets your complexion glowing! 

Your risk of skin discoloration increases with age, especially if you’ve spent time in the sun.

Because AHAs encourage skin cell turnover they help your skin to have a more even tone. They can even help with discoloration caused by acne scars.

AHAs exfoliate away the old, discolored skin cells and encourage a faster turnover of new cells. And the new skin cells are more evenly pigmented.

AHAs can also help to reduce acne.

Acne breakouts happen when your pores become blocked with a combination of dead skin cells, excess oil (sebum), and bacteria. Exfoliating with AHAs helps to remove the dead skin cells and unblock your pores, stopping a pimple from forming.

Regular use of AHAs can refine your pores too, making them appear smaller. And exfoliating with glycolic and lactic acids can reduce acne scars.

The Mayo Clinic reports that it can take two to three months before you see any significant acne improvements. You need to be patient, but the results will come.

By clearing away dead skin cells, AHAs allow your moisturizer to absorb more easily. Helping to keep your skin beautifully hydrated.

Our Daily Face Wash gently exfoliates and brightens your skin with Lactic Acid, and calms and moisturizes with Glycerin and Aloe Vera.

How to include AHAs in your skincare?

You can find AHAs in a range of skincare products from face washes and toners to moisturisers and serums.

The longer a product containing an AHA stays on your skin, the more impact it will have. But that can lead to irritation and redness.

We believe it’s much better for your skin to use an AHA in a gentler way – with a wash-off cleanser - like our Daily Face Wash.

How can I use AHAs safely?

Exfoliating Daily Face Wash is gentle (but effective) and is perfectly safe to be used every day - even if you have sensitive skin.

But there are a few things to bear in mind when using higher concentrations of AHAs, especially those in leave-on products like serums.

The first is sun protection.

AHAs can make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. So you need to be extra careful about applying and re-applying sunscreen – even on cloudy days.

The second is to reduce any risk of irritation.

Be diligent in finding the right concentration of AHA, because a concentration that is too high can lead to irritation or inflamed skin.

Everybody’s skin is different and can react in different ways, so start slowly.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are the gold standard of anti aging ingredients.

Improving your skin in so many ways, they:

1.  Exfoliate away dead skin cells
2.  Help to brighten your skin
3.  Encourage collagen production
4.  Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
5.  Improve circulation to your skin
6.  Minimize hyperpigmentation and dark spots
7.  Help prevent and treat acne
8.  Allow better absorption of your moisturizer

Making your skin feel smoother - and leaving it looking brighter, clearer and younger. 

They’re the key to amazing, glowing skin.

And the best way to use an AHA is in a rinse-off face cleanser like our Daily Face Wash.