I've been putting this off for a while because I wanted to create digestible information cards to encourage everyone to start with an acid- based skin care routine because ACID IS LYF and one of the best things I used in skin care.
If you have been having trouble with acne, dull skin, ageing, hyperpigmentation, and sun spots, and everything you're using doesn't seem to work anymore, maybe it's time to turn to acids. In this post, I'll give you the 411 on acids plus some products that I recommend to get you started on your journey to the wonderful world of acids.
Acids are fruit, plant, and chemically- derived compounds that are used as actives in skin care or as standalone products; it's all the rage in skin care nowadays. From being an exclusive product used in a professional, clinic setting, it has been converted into a consumer product and more people nowadays are experiencing the wonders it can do for the skin.
There are two types of acids in skin care: AHA or Alpha Hydroxy Acid and BHA or Beta Hydroxy Acid. AHA is a water soluble, milder form of acid that is usually fruit and plant derived, and are ideal for lightening hyperpigmentation, evening the skin tone, removal of dead skin cells, and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. BHA is an oil soluble, stronger type of acid; it can go deep in the skin and bond with dead skin cells as well as sebum, plus it has antibacterial properties too. As for BHA, there used to be one, known BHA in skin care and that is Salicylic Acid; there are a lot nowadays including Betyl Salicylate and Willow Bark to name a few.
These are the common types of Acids in skin care:
AHA
Lactic- derived from milk. A gentle acid that's great for anti-ageing and brightening hyperpigmentation, and ideal for dry skin.
Ferulic- derived from bran. Boosts the efficacy of Vitamin C. Has powerful anti-aging and antioxidant properties.
Mandelic- derived from bitter almonds. Great for lightening the skin.
Azelaic- derived from grains. Great for reducing skin redness.
Glycolic- derived from citrus fruits. Great for brightening and exfoliation.
Kojic- derived from fungi/mushrooms. Great for skin whitening.
BHA
Salicylic- derived from the Willow Tree. Has excellent acne- fighting properties.
Betaine Salicylate- derived from beets. A milder form of BHA, ideal for those who break out or react from Salicylic Acid.
ACIDS IN SKIN CARE: BENEFITS
ACIDS IN SKIN CARE: SIDE EFFECTS
Chemical burn is one of the common side effects of acid usage and it happens when the user is not well- informed on how to use acids. Irritation, redness, and sensitivity are common negative reactions as well. As for sensitivity, it is most of the time caused by improper post care such as not wearing sunscreen when using acids.
ACIDS IN SKIN CARE: USES
- as a topical product- as an active ingredient
- as a standalone product
Now that you are aware of acids in skin care: what it is, benefits, types, and precautions, here are now my recommended acid- based skin care products:
- A whitening bar that features Kojic, a very potent skin whitening ingredient; it is coupled with Tranexamic Acid, a chemical acid that is used to stop bleeding in surgeries. Kojic whitens while Tranexamic softens the skin.
2. KOJIE SAN WHITENING SOAP
- One of the most popular whitening soaps in the country. Kojie San's hero ingredient is Kojic Acid and their soaps have high concentrations of this acid, making it effective.
3. PIXI VITAMIN C + FERULIC ACID SKIN CARE
- Pixi is my go- to for acid skin care. One of their newest is Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid skin care; Pixi has combined the two perfect ingredients to facilitate effective skin brightening and anti-aging.
- One of CosRX's most popular products. One Step Clear Pad is infused with Betaine Salicylate that helps de- clog, clear, and clean the skin.
- Utilizes Glycolic acid to help brighten the skin. Help skin shed dead skin cells faster, resulting to clearer, smoother, softer skin. It helps reduce breakouts as well!
 |
| Photo credit: asos.com |
6. THE ORDINARY LACTIC ACID 10% + HYALURONIC ACID
- Features Lactic and Hyaluronic Acid; it offers mild exfoliation and infuses skin with moisture at the same time.
7. KIEHL'S DERMATOLOGIST SOLUTIONS POWERFUL- STRENGTH LINE- REDUCING CONCENTRATE
- Made with Ascorbic Acid. This serum helps fight signs associated with ageing such as wrinkles, fine lines, and crow's feet.
Hope you liked today's ingredient of the week blog post!
Do share with my your experience using acids plus your favorite products!
4 Comments
aahh kaya pala maganda din tlga ang kojic, effective yan, yan gamit ni mama and mga kapatid ko, ako lng hindi hahaha, medyo allergic na kasi ako sa malalakas na chemicals, kaya nagbawas ako sa skin care ko... buti po dinagdag mo madam ung do's and dont's! very important info.!
ReplyDeleteWow i learned a lot.. thanks miss martha effective for me yung kojic san na soap and affordable lng
ReplyDeleteI was so happy when you posted about this because truth be told there are so many of these stuff lately and I don’t even know which ones to use anymore but I got myself Niacinamide and Vit facial oil because “USO” �� so ayun ako nakiki uso! ������ then my next problem came up—I don’t know how to layer them ALSO I didnt know which one should go first and how many minutes before I can layer another skincare �� so I contacted the only person I know would definitely know about these things and that’s YOU! Thank you so much for answering all our burning questions! ❤️ Paulit ulit ko binasa yung iba kasi nakakalimutan ko para san yung iba and yung layering hahaha
ReplyDeletethank you so much miss martha for this article!! I'm lactating so it's good to know which products to avoid.
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think of this post! :)