There will be times when you look at an ingredient list for a skincare product and wonder about the quality of the product and what’s actually beneficial for your skin. Even if you use a product with pure, potent, plant-based ingredients, you might notice words like “acids” and “chemical exfoliants” in the description. These ingredients can have natural sources and play a big role in a formula’s efficacy, especially for vitamin C brighten serum products and face tonics.
What Are Acids?
Acids are chemical exfoliants. They can be naturally occurring or synthetically produced. Clean skincare brands typically source pure, high-quality ingredients with naturally occurring chemical exfoliants.
Is Citric Acid a Chemical Exfoliant?
Technically, yes. However, citric acid is usually used in small amounts as a natural preservative and pH-balancing agent.
Are Acids and Enzymes the Same?
No, enzymes and acids are not the same, even though they both exfoliate chemically. That said, they can complement each other in a skincare formula. Alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs) tend to be more potent, while enzymes are often more gentle. Still, both enzymes and acids are safe for sensitive skin when used correctly.
How Do You Use Them Correctly?
Gentle serums like a vitamin C serum with acids are safe to use daily. Meanwhile, you might only use products like a flash mask or conventional BHA toner two to three times a week, as they offer a more intense exfoliation, like a skincare treatment. Essentially, follow a brand’s application instructions, and if you experience skin sensitivity, reduce usage. You can also find a tonic for face care as a gentle, exfoliating alternative to harsher conventional toners.
How Do They Benefit Your Skin?
Acids are chemical exfoliants that gently eliminate buildup and support cell turnover. They can help your skin look brighter, smoother, and more youthful over time. Different acids can support different skincare goals. Salicylic acid, in particular, is a great option to help minimize the appearance of pores and reduce the look of inflammation associated with blemishes. Find a product with an acid that suits your needs.
Where Can You Find Them?
The best clean skincare brands use gentle, forest-infused ingredients to provide the natural benefits of AHAs and BHAs, including sugarcane, aspen bark, and willow bark. These ingredients are great in products like a brighten serum and gentle face tonic. You can also find these chemical exfoliants in face washes and flash masks to support a clean-feeling complexion.
Are They Safe for Sensitive Skin?
Pure AHAs and BHAs are safe for sensitive skin, but you may want to use products specifically designed to exfoliate the skin only once a day or spaced throughout the week. If you have sensitive skin, slowly introduce new skincare products like AHAs and BHAs, and always wear an SPF product during the day to help with sun sensitivity.
AHAs and BHAs in clean skincare products are naturally derived chemical exfoliants that help break down buildup on the surface and in pores for brighter and clearer-looking skin. Find a formula that feels good for your skin and stick with it to see results.
About Ursa Major
Ursa Major can make the holiday season look merry and bright with pure, plant-based ingredients in clean skincare products. The brand infuses every formula, from facial cleansers to retinal moisturizer serum, with plant actives that nourish and support the skin, helping it look brighter and healthier every day. Whether you’ve got a busy day ahead or plan to sit inside, Ursa Major gives your skin what it needs to thrive through cold temperatures outdoors and blazing temps indoors. You can build a new skincare regimen for radiant-looking skin that’s simple, quick, and effective with Ursa Major.
Find a formula for your skin with natural exfoliating acids at https://www.ursamajorvt.com/
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