Everything You Need to Know About AHAs

AHAs, or alpha hydroxy acids, are renowned for their amazing exfoliation results when used as part of a skincare routine. These powerful ingredients are hidden gems in numerous skincare products. AHAs help to achieve an even skin tone and texture, resulting in super smooth, supple and soft skin. Below, we’ll look at two critical AHAs – glycolic acid and citric acid – explaining how they work, the differences between the two, and why you should incorporate both into your skincare routine.

What are AHAs?

AHAs, commonly known as alpha hydroxy acids, are water-soluble acids produced by sugarcane and other plant sources. AHAs use a chemical exfoliation process, as opposed to a scrub that uses a physical exfoliation process, to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and expose new, healthier skin cells.

How do AHAs work?

Our skin naturally renews skin cells by shedding dead cells to be replaced with new ones. The whole renewal process can take around four weeks from start to finish, but it can slow down as we age. This is where AHAs come in. They act like a signal for the epidermis. They prompt it to stimulate the cell renewal process through chemical exfoliation. This results in an improved skin texture and tone. Using AHAs in your skincare routine also helps prevent the buildup of dead skin cells on the surface, which can cause your skin to look dull and uneven with a rough texture.

What’s the difference between glycolic acid and citric acid?

While there are six types of AHAs, we are going to focus on glycolic and citric acids and the differences between the two.

When it comes to molecule size, glycolic acid has the smallest of all AHAs. This allows it to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin’s surface. It’s renowned for assisting in the breakdown of the “glue” that keeps dead skin cells together on the surface of the skin. As a result, products with glycolic acid can create a smoother texture and refreshed look.

Citric acid comes in on the spectrum of AHAs. Its molecules are the second largest of all, and they help to detach dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. That’s not to mention its antioxidant properties and ability to combat oxidative stress. When used as part of a skincare routine, citric acid can result in a revitalized, youthful look.

What are the benefits of using AHAs in a skincare routine?

There are a number of benefits of using AHAs in a skincare routine, which include reducing the appearance of blemishes, dark spots, and uneven skin texture. AHAs help create smooth and even skin without visible shedding or peeling. Products with AHAs should be used on cleansed skin, as this allows them to penetrate deeper and work more effectively. They are also known to refine enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Can you use AHAs on sensitive skin?

While skincare products with AHAs are suitable for all skin types, it’s best to work them into your evening skincare routine. This is because they can cause your skin to feel more sensitive, especially if exposed to the sun. Of course, you should always use high-quality sunscreen during the day and limit sun exposure to minimize future skin damage.

Our go-to fresh AHA serum

fresh’s Lotus Resurfacing Serum is gentle on your skin while removing dead skin cells. Formulated with both glycolic and citric acids, it promises multi-level exfoliation. What makes this serum gentle, you ask? It’s formulated to stick within a particular pH range, which means that it’s gentle enough to use every night without compromising the powerful performance of the AHAs. It works on all skin types* and tones** (including sensitive skin), so you can enjoy your beauty sleep knowing that your skin will look smooth and radiant in the morning.

*normal, dry, oily, combination

**based on the Fitzpatrick scale