Treat Skin Gently, not GRITTY…
VOTE GLYCOLIC & LACTIC ACID (AHA) AND SALICYLIC ACID (BHA) TO TREAT ACNE AND AGING TO REVEAL YOUR BEST SKIN
We all know exfoliating skin sloughs away dead skin cells, uncovering brighter and smoother skin. Do you know that gritty exfoliant is only agitating than beneficial to skin?
AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME for abrasive and agitating physical exfoliants!
Luckily in the beauty industry, exfoliating with sand paper is a beauty ritual far in the past. Chemical exfoliants are the new craze, and AHA and BHA is here to STAY.
Here’s the best tip I can give you, and I am a sincere advocate for this company and their products, you need Paula’s Choice Skincare in your life and daily routine. Paula’s Choice, an affordable skincare company based in my hometown, Seattle, create products that work and show the BEST results your skin has ever experienced. Paula’s Choice created her products and chemical exfoliants with every skin type and concern in mind, diminishing concerns with soothing and gentle products that prolong skin’s youthful glow and firmness.
Not only are chemical exfoliants a necessity in your routine, they’re affordable as acne and skin treatments sold at your closest drugstore. Continue reading as I explain the benefits of chemical exfoliants for skin, revealing the best skin of your life!
What’s the difference?
Despite traditional beliefs that skin needs to be exfoliated with sandy, gritty textures, using abrasive ingredients on your skin may cause irritation, redness and inflame skin. Chemical exfoliants minimize this irritation, exfoliating dead skin away gradually, predictably and over time.
Physical exfoliants have a gritty texture that when massaged onto skin, wash away dead skin cells. Contrary, when chemical exfoliants are applied to skin, skin is exfoliated overtime, peeling away dull and dry skin.
This process allows new, regenerated smoother skin that is brighter and with less wrinkles than older skin.
Depending on your skin type and concerns, higher percentage of chemical exfoliants penetrate deeper into the layers of skin, and are less irritating than abrasive physical exfoliants (like a chemical peel from a professional esthetician).
How Does it Work?
The layers of skin where chemical exfoliants penetrate into the top layers of skin, the epidermis and dermis. Two types of exfoliants, beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), work to diminish various skin concerns and problems over time. In the beauty world, BHA is popularly referred as salicylic acid and AHAs such as glycolic acid and lactic acid.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) are small molecules that penetrate the top layer of skin (epidermis) to dissolve and slough away dead skin cells. AHA exfoliants have shown to increase cell regeneration, generating new skin cells that reveal younger, brighter, and more even toned skin.
Beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) works this same way by dislodging dirt and grime deep inside pore (AHA doesn’t), preventing blemishes and acne. BHA is an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredient commonly used in acne products and treatments, and is extremely helpful in clearing and staving away acne.
Chemical Exfoliant Benefits
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Promotes Skin Cell Regeneration
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Younger & Brighter Skin
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Treats Acne
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Reduces Fine Lines, Age Spots, Scars, & Freckles
Which is Best for My Skin?
Both AHA and BHA are beneficial ingredients to include in your skin care regimen, determining which product is right for you depends on your skin type, and skin concerns.
If your skin is oily, BHA will be impactful in dissolving dirt and oil that accumulates in the pore. If your skin is dry, using a gentle and low acidic AHA is beneficial in removing away excess dry and dead skin.
A skin care regimen including both AHA and BHA will benefit all skin types. Since no skin type or concern is one size fits, Paula’s Choice has formulated a variety of chemical exfoliants suitable for all skin types and problems.
Exfoliating Cleansers
Unfortunately, exfoliating cleansers serve no benefit and are more hype than any good.
Chemical exfoliants only work on skin under particular PH levels, allowing the exfoliant to absorb and penetrate the top layers of skin. Cleansers are quickly washed on and off the face, so investing any $ in a “AHA or chemical exfoliating cleanser” is a waste when you can save that hard earned $ for a leave on treatment from Paula’s Choice.
Depending on skin’s sensitivity, using an abrasive cleanser can be harsh, depleting skin. Reach for a mild and gentle cleanser instead.
Chemical Exfoliants VS. Chemical Peel
Have you heard about chemical exfoliating peels, where skin gradually peels and reveals a smoother rejuvenated layer of fresh skin? You may be wondering, are chemical exfoliants the same as chemical peels?
Chemical peels use the same ingredients in over the counter chemical exfoliants, however at a higher concentration (20%- 70% glycolic acid) removing the entire top layer of skin through blistering and peeling. Consumer and at home chemical exfoliants are anywhere between 5%-10% glycolic acid, gradually sloughing away the top layer of dead skin cells, gently and over time.
This means less irritation and down time than a chemical peel.
What Else?
If you’re alternating between BHA and AHA chemical exfoliants, be mindful of how your skin reacts to these products. Irritation can occur from overuse of chemicals on the skin, and being gentle with skin is key when reducing sensitivity and skin problems.
Exfoliating skin reveals new and sensitive skin that is very susceptible to damage from the sun, and it is ver important to religiously wear sunscreen on the face, neck, chest and body while using exfoliants on the skin.
Sunscreen will not only prevent sunburn, but also dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and premature aging- all accelerated by the insidious and harmful UVA and UVB rays emitted from the sun.
Best BHA + AHA Product Recommendations
Oily Skin
Lightweight liquids and gels are the best products suited for oily skin, absorbing and clearing the skin while minimizing pores and oil.
Dry Skin
Lotion and rich emollients are suitable for exfoliating most dry skin types smoothing away dry dead skin, revealing even and brighter skin.
Combination Skin
A liquid or gel consistency are best suited for combination skin that is oily and dry periodically. Alternating between BHA and AHA exfoliants will keep fluctuating skin, clean and clear of problems.
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