Skincare acids may sound like an unnecessary step, but they are critical for helping your complexion renew itself. Many types of skincare acids keep coming out. Being the case, this only adds to the confusion about knowing the right ones that could help your complexion in the best way. For this reason, I sorted through the jumble for you to explain their potential benefits.
On the most part, skincare acids work by exfoliating the skin to loosen dead cells. Some may be milder in how they treat your skin while achieving that goal such as azelaic acid or dicarboxylic acid, which was originally derived from grains like barley, rye or wheat. This particular acid is especially useful for those with redness issues like rosacea since it targets the enzymes dilating the capillaries that bring on the flushing without being harsh.
Basically, alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids are ones from fruits to peel the skin and induce cell turnover. However, alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid (sugar cane), lactic acid (milk), or the mildest one of mandelic acid (from bitter almonds) are water-based from more sugar-based fruits and food. Using them can help for younger, glowing skin for anti-aging assistance as those fresh cells emerge.
On the other hand, beta hydroxy acids are oil-based and from fruits like pineapple, berries to plants like wintergreen leaves. This type differs in another respect by penetrating the skin deeper to accomplish its exfoliation. Beta hydroxy acids are ones like salicylic acid that can be helpful for acne as well as its scaring to age spots.
Kojic acid is another of these acids that can come to your complexion’s rescue. This particular one is from fungus grown on steamed rice. In addition to its anti-inflammatory benefits, kojic acid also prevents tyrosinase that causes excess pigmentation. In the event of the dark spots that you may have, this acid has the power to stop them from deepening in color from the effects of oxidization.
The only exception to skincare acids not involved with exfoliation is hyaluronic acid. The name hyaluronic acid may appear to belong in this group, but it is a sugar that naturally occurs in our body that holds water that it draws from the air to keep skin hydrated and not really an acid in that respect.
Acids for the skin can be intimidating, but knowing which ones and how they work can give you an important advantage.
