You can apply an AHA or BHA product once or twice a day. Also, depending on your skin’s sensitivity, you can apply either of these around the eye area, making sure to keep them off the eyelid and away from the eye itself. Apply the AHA or BHA product after the face is cleansed and after your toner has dried (if you are using one). Once the AHA or BHA has been absorbed, you can apply any other product, such as additional moisturizer, serum, eye cream (if you simply must use one), sunscreen, and/or foundation. Whether or not you use a moisturizer with an AHA or BHA product totally depends on what type of skin you have, how it reacts to the AHA or BHA product, and what kind of base the AHA or BHA you’re using comes in. Some AHAs and BHA come in moisturizing bases so an extra product isn’t required. Important Note: The skin needs only one good exfoliant, and that’s it. Overexfoliating will further irritate the skin, and the long-term effects of that are unknown.
Some people experience a tingling or slight stinging sensation when they use AHA or BHA products with appropriate concentrations and pH. Some people have had minor to severe flaking and redness. Minor, short-term reactions can also occur, given the nature of AHAs and BHA. However, long-term irritation, redness, flaking, or patches of dermatitis are not healthy for the skin, and if any of these symptoms occur you should reduce the frequency of application or consider a gentler (less concentrated) product. Observe your skin. If it gets very dry and flaky, use an additional moisturizer for a period of time until the skin calms down and gets used to the new level of exfoliation. If it gets red and irritated, use the product less frequently, though still regularly (perhaps once a day, or two or three times a week). If it still gets very dry and irritated, consider stopping altogether. Severe irritation is not the goal or the desired result. For various reasons, some people’s skin cannot tolerate any AHA or BHA products without acting up.