I never recommend cleansers that contain AHAs or BHA, for several reasons. First, if they are in a water-soluble cleanser, you run the risk of possible contact with the eyes, which can cause irritation. Second, AHAs and BHA work on the skin or the pores when they have been absorbed. When they are in a […]

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 […]

As a rule, AHAs are best for normal to dry, sun-damaged skin because they only exfoli­ate on the very surface of skin rather than penetrating inside the pore. AHAs have research showing they improve collagen production and increase skin’s moisture-binding ability. My 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Gel is a great option for all skin types […]

Hands-down, using a well-formulated AHA or BHA product is preferred to routine use of a topical scrub. Because AHAs and BHA work through chemical processes, they can penetrate the superficial layers of skin and produce better results than cosmetic scrubs, which work only on the very outermost exposed surface of the skin. And the damaged, […]

The primary difference between AHAs and BHA is that AHAs are water-soluble, while BHA is lipid-(oil) soluble. This unique property of BHA allows it to penetrate the oil in the pores and exfoliate accumulated skin cells inside the pore’s follicle lining that can clog them. BHA is best used where blackheads and blemishes are the […]

What happens when we help the outer layer of skin function more normally? Your face can truly look younger! The best analogy I can think of is to compare it to the heels of your feet. Before you get a pedicure the built-up, dead layers of skin on your heels look dry, rough, discolored, and […]

Sun damage causes the outer layer of skin to become thick and the lower layer of skin (which holds support structures such as collagen and elastin) to become thin and inflex­ible. In addition to affecting the regeneration of skin cells in the lower layers of skin, the shedding process on the surface can also become […]

.. .on its own, but it doesn’t. The top dead layer of normal skin (the stratum corneum) sheds on a regular basis (millions and millions of skin cells every few minutes). This shed­ding process relates to the physiology of skin, and the way skin cells grow and function. New skin cells are produced in the […]

Perhaps no other part of a daily skin-care regime can have more immediate impact than gently exfoliating skin. Though there are several different ways to exfoliate skin, by far the most effective and well-researched options are alpha hydroxy acids (abbreviated to AHAs) and beta hydroxy acid (abbreviated to BHA). The benefits of using a well-formulated […]