How To Achieve a Better Complexion

Have you heard of AHAs, or Alpha Hydroxy Acids? They’re an incredibly effective active ingredient in modern skincare. Their function is to refresh and rejuvenate the complexion, and we think they’re fantastic.  

We like to call them nature’s gentle exfoliators as they remove old skin cells and stimulate cell renewal, improving skin tone and texture. AHAs deliver a range of benefits, such as increased hydration, brightening and sun damage repair.

There’s lots to know about AHAs, so we’ve compiled all the important information about what AHAs are and how to use them to achieve optimal benefits from these amazing compounds.

What are Alpha Hydroxy Acids in skincare?

AHAs are water-soluble acids. We use them in skincare to provide exfoliating and rejuvenating benefits. AHAs are derived from natural sources including sugar, fruit and milk. The exact effect of an AHA is dependent on what it is derived from, but generally, AHAs are gentle and highly compatible with the skin.

How do Alpha Hydroxy Acids work in skincare?

An excess of dead skin cells can cause the skin to appear dull experience congestion. A build-up of dead skin cells on the epidermis also increases as we grow older. 

When we use AHAs on our skin, they help to accelerate the process of skin cell-shedding so that new, healthy cells are able to replace them.  We know this process as exfoliation.

When people think of exfoliation, many think only of physical scrubs. This is not always the best method, however, as it can be easy to over-exfoliate with physical exfoliation, causing damage to the skin, or dryness and sensitivity. 

While physical exfoliation is the most commonly known type of exfoliation, exfoliation can also occur through a chemical process.

Chemical exfoliants work by dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells. AHAs are widely considered the most gentle variety of chemical exfoliant.

AHAs have a long list of benefits, including:

  • Improved skin texture: a softer and more even complexion through the exfoliation of dead skin cells
  • Brightening: a brighter and refreshed complexion due to the removal of dead skin cells and impurities
  • Addressing pigmentation: through the removal dead skin cells, uneven skin tone associated with sun damage is targeted
  • Addressing fine lines: through the stimulation of new skin cells, a rejuvenated appearance is achieved
  • Reducing pore size: unclogging pores by removing buildup on the skin, helping pores to appear smaller

What type of skin is suitable for Alpha Hydroxy Acids?

We recommend the use of AHAs for a wide range of skin types and conditions. Mature skin in particular often experiences excellent results through the use of AHAs. Dry to normal and oily skin also benefit from the effects of AHAs.

Sensitive skin types can also use AHAs. As with any product containing active ingredients, its good practice for those with sensitive skin to conduct patch testing before applying a product containing AHAs.

Our AHA product: Power Mask

We recommend using our Power Mask if you’re thinking about incorporating AHAs into your skincare regimen.

This product utilises an AHA Botanical Complex to encourage exfoliation of the skin. Five different kinds of Alpha Hydroxy Acids are included in this complex. Each of these have been derived from different botanical sources: Lemon, Orange, Bilberry, Sugar Cane and Sugar Maple.

This product is suitable for sensitive skin as its formulation is more gentle than traditional AHA products yet still extremely effective. Further, due to our Power Mark being a leave on mask, there is no risk of accidentally over-exfoliating as with products that need to be washed off after a particular length of time. The reason our Power Mask does not need to be washed off is because the AHA Botanical Complex that it is made up of self-neutralises on the skin, allowing for the most effective level of exfoliation.

Additionally, our Power Mask has been blended with other highly effective skincare ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Soy Amino Acids and Panthenol which work together with AHAs to provide hydration, skin barrier protection and gentle exfoliation. 

When using any product that contains AHAs, we recommend wearing SPF as the use of AHAs is known to increase skin sensitivity to UV rays.