BHA And AHA: Which Is The Best Choice For Your Skin?
As we all know, the skin has an automatic mechanism to excrete billions of cells every day. However, due to many reasons such as time and environment impacts, this mechanism is weakened and slowed down. If you don't want clogged pores, dry dull skin and acne, removing dead cells is a must for protecting your skin.
Currently, the removal of dead cells is commonly known in two ways: physical removal of dead cells and chemical exfoliation. Normally, removing physical dead cells will use products containing large, rough seeds to rub against the skin's surface, removing dead cells from the surface. However, due to mechanical impact, your skin can be at risk of scratches and irritation during the process. Chemical exfoliation helps to gently but thoroughly clean skin and is often used for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Among the countless ingredients of chemical dead cells, including AHA and BHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid (such as glycolic acid or lactic) along with Beta Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid) - The perfect solution in the present dead cell removal. Based on proven research, AHA and BHA are both a group of acids originating from nature, so they have great effects and are safe for the user. Not only helps remove dead cells, these two ingredients are also capable of minimizing acne, helping to remove blemishes, significantly improving wrinkles and smoothing the skin.
In addition, AHA and BHA both work according to the general principle that when impacted on the skin, the top surface structure of the horny layer is broken, helping to remove damaged dead cells, promoting new cell production. However, the 2 ingredients have many differences, which will cause many misunderstandings if you do not understand correctly about the product.
AHA or BHA: What's the perfect choice for your skin?
To be able to understand more carefully, let's compare a bit of criteria to help you choose AHA or BHA to suit your skin.
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Source
AHA
A form of water-based acid found in fruit or milk, including milk Lactic Acid, Sugarcane Glycolic Acid, Pear and Apple Malic Acid, and Citric Acid from Orange and Lemon.
BHA
An oil-based acid with the most popular product available on the market that you use often is Salicylic Acid which is extracted from willow bark.
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Skin type
AHA
AHA is more soluble in water. Therefore, this can be considered as the optimal choice for dry skin, aging skin, dull or uneven skin color.
BHA
Being able to dissolve in oil, so it will be more suitable for people with oily skin, large pores, skin with acne problems (blackheads, acne, common acne ...), acne scars, and sensitive skin
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Main effect
АНА
AHAs work on the skin's surface, helping to protect and enhance the growth and thickness of the epidermis, improving the quality of elastin and collagen fibers. As a result, the skin will be much younger and healthier.
BHA
Thanks to its oil-based properties, BHA can penetrate pores filled with sebum, thereby removing oil clogging causing acne, and controlling excess oil. BHA works quite gently, if you have sensitive, easily irritated skin, BHA is the optimal choice.
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Addition effect
AHA
AHAs also increase the ability to moisturize by helping cells absorb water quickly and efficiently. Therefore, AHA is the optimal choice for those who are having problems with dry and aging skin, you will feel soft and smooth skin after 1-2 weeks of use.
BHA
In addition to removing dead cells, BHA also has the function of anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling, so it can effectively improve acne. In addition, you will not have to worry about redness due to acne and will definitely see a marked improvement after 3-6 weeks of use.
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Appropriate concentration
AHA
AHA concentration is most suitable for skin 5-10% and has a pH of about 3-4.
BHA
AHA concentration is most suitable for skin 5-10% and has a pH of about 3-4.
NOTE: when using AHA or BHA, you must use sunscreen because products containing acid ingredients will make the skin more sensitive to the sun. If you have oily skin, both sun damaged and acne prone, BHA products are the perfect choice for you. If your skin is dry when suffering from sun damage, AHA-containing products are a very reasonable choice.
It can be said that skin care has become and is becoming an inevitable trend of women today. However, not all women know how to choose for themselves the most effective and safest care method.
Sources:
- AHA vs BHA, Julia Estrela: https://www.livestrong.com/article/185850-aha-vs-bha/
- The Best Face Exfoliators, Carly Vandergriendt: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/best-face-exfoliators#best-value
Text by
Nguyen Ha