Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) exfoliants go beyond what a scrub can do to reveal radiant skin. Do not let the "acid" part of their names scare you. AHAs and BHAs can actually be be gentler on your skin than a cleansing brush. We & # 39; ll explain how.
Why You Should Exfoliate Skin
The skin naturally sheds millions of skin cells every day, but this shedding process can come to a stop for various reasons. Clause, dark, dry, or flaky skin; clogged, enlarged pores; blackheads; wrinkles; loss of firmness; and uneven skin tone.
When you finally get well rid of the built up skin cells, you can unclog pores, stop breakouts, smooth wrinkles, and make dry, dull skin go away. That & # 39; s where AHA and BHA exfoliants are useful.
The Difference Between AHA and BHA
When properly formulated, AHA and BHA have a lot in common in regards to improving hydration, reducing wrinkles, stimulating collagen production, and firming skin. Both can also reduce discolorations from sun damage and the visible marks left after a breakout is gone .
However, each also has unique qualities you & # 39; l l want to consider when deciding which one to use.
- AHAs primarily exfoliate skin in the uppermost layers. They are preferred for that chief concern is sun damage
- BHAs have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. For these reasons BHAs are ideal for treating acne-pronone skin, blackheads, enlarged pores, milia, and rosacea.
If your skin is sun damaged and Some people find using both an AHA and BHA produces even more dramatic results!
Why Not Use a Scrub or Cleansing Brush?
Most of the unhealthy, built-up skin cells are beyond the reach of a scrub. Most have a rough, coarse, scrubs and cleansing brushes are another option to exfoliate skin, but they only deal with the very top, superficial layer of skin. If you can find a gentle scrub, it 's the best way to as an extra - cleansing step to boost the results from your cleanser. But they do not replace the benefits possible from a well formulated AHA or BHA exfoliant.
Is it Possible to Exfoliate Skin Too Often?
For some people, once or twice works best; for others every other day, or even once a week-experiment to see what works best for you.
Now that you know the many ways an AHA or BHA can exfoliant skin, all that & # 39; s left to do is find the one that works best for you.
