We, humans, tend to be very sceptical when it comes to acids. We have so many questions like, will my face burn off? What do they even do? And, how much is too much?

So today we are going to talk all about exfoliating acids. These are chemical exfoliant and we are going to talk about two types of acids:

AHA- Alpha Hydroxy Acid.

BHA- Beta Hydroxy Acid.

There is a difference between physical and chemical exfoliants. When we use a physical exfoliant, we generally use some kind of tool to scrub the face like dry brushes, Clarisonic brushes, peeling gels, creams with little beads with them and so on. A very important thing to keep in mind while using physical exfoliant is to be gentle. Because if we go too harsh on our skin it can damage the epidermis layer of our skin.

Now, moving on to chemical exfoliants. Even though it sounds really intense and scary, it is a lot more efficient. This is because they contain key ingredients which help in buffing away dead skin cells. They basically help to get rid of the glue that holds the dead skin cells together. It also helps to increase cell generation and reveals fresh and glowing skin.

So, now let's jump into AHA. Even though they are acids, they are derived from more natural substances like sugarcanes, apples or fruits. And because of this, they are gentle enough and suitable for all skin types. It is water soluble and mainly works on the epidermis layer of the skin by dissolving the layer of dead skin cells.

There are many types of AHA's. But the most commonly found are:

Glycolic acid:- This is like the monarch of all AHA's. It is found in sugar crops. And because of its small molecular size, it can penetrate deeper into the skin.

Lactic acid:- It is less irritating on the skin, it has a slightly larger molecular size and it is also very moisturising. It is derived from milk.

Mandelic acid:- It has anti-bacterial properties, it is gentler than most acids and it exfoliates without brightening. It is derived from bitter almonds.

Malic acid:- It lacks the strong exfoliating punch of glycolic and lactic acids and therefore it is often used with other AHA's. It tends to pop up particularly in brightening exfoliants. It is found in apples.

Now, for BHA's, the main one is Salicylic Acid. It is water soluble which means it can penetrate deeper into the pores and break down excess sebum and all the grime to help with acne. It is also anti-inflammatory and it is the only thing that can help in unclogging our pores.

It is best to find these acids on leave on treatments or formulas like creams, gels, serums or lotions. Another important thing is to start with the lowest percentage available for that particular brand because less is more in this case. Do not apply to open wounds or burns because it will give a burning sensation. They are supposed to tingle a little which eventually subsides. But if it continues to burn, discontinuation of the product is the best. One last thing to remember while using these acids is to start with every alternative day in the beginning. This will give our skin to adjust and also react to the product.

That's all for the article. Hope this helped and hope all these points taught you something if you have been doing anything wrong. So stay safe and stay beautiful.