Exfoliate - Acids

Most people think of exfoliation as the facial scrubs but products have moved along. There are now acids that can be applied to your face which exfoliate and tone your skin which is less harmful than the traditional scrub cleanser and eliminates the need for a separate toning product.

Traditional scrub cleansers, if not of good quality, can irritate and be too harsh on our pores and increase sensitivities. Salon scrub quality are microfine and are used in facials but they are not daily use - this is part of a treatment, applied by a qualified professional to treat your skin.

The reason we exfoliate our skin is to remove dead skin cells that are just sitting on top of our skin. They are ready to go but they don't float off on their own - sometimes they need a little manual help. If skin looks dull and lacklustre, an exfoliation can bring back our glow by removing the old and letting our new layer shine through. They can also target skin concerns.

There are 3 types of acids:

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) - think glycolic, lactic (signs of aging, dull dehydrated)

Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) - salicylic (blemishes, spots) This type penetrates deepest.

Polyhydroxy Acids (PHAs) - gluconolactone, lactobionic, maltobionic (for sensitive/dry skin)

They sound scary - the thought of putting acid on your face conjures images of burning and torture - it's a shame they don't have a friendlier name like exfoliating serum but they are what they are. Remember this is not a must for young clients. Please see previous posts. Acids can be bought in different strengths and you can use one type for day and one type for evening. Remember if you have sensitive skin, use PHA based acids. However you must use sun cream protection if you use acids, or you increase your chance of skin burning.

I use a lactic acid as my skin is dry/dehydrated. I use it once, sometimes twice a day and I promise my face hasn't burnt off. I'm currently looking for gluconolactone acid product to add to my routine to help reduce sagging/redness and it will work well with the AHA I'm currently using. You can layer 2 different acids as part of your skincare or you can mix and match your acids depending on how your skin is feeling/match your cycle. Whilst it sounds scary, the acid is a gentler way to exfoliate your skin compared to manual methods at home.

If you would like to know more, please book a consultation/facial or ask a question