Which AHA Exfoliant is Right for My Skin Type?
If you’re a fan of skincare ingredients that offer exfoliation as well as anti-aging and glow-inducing benefits, you’ve likely stumbled across alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). The most thoroughly researched AHAs, glycolic acid and lactic acid, are an important part of a first-rate skincare routine—particularly for normal to very dry, sun-damaged skin.
AHAs can benefit all skin types and also share certain properties with beta hydroxy acid (BHA). Both work to diminish the look of lines and wrinkles, make skin look and feel firmer, improve dull, uneven skin tone, and smooth rough texture. But AHAs’ standout features lie in their ability to enhance the skin’s natural moisturizing factors and reduce visible signs of sun damage.
Paula’s Choice Skincare Singapore is known worldwide for our extensive selection of gentle, leave-on chemical exfoliants, many of which contain AHAs. Choosing the AHA exfoliant best for your skin depends on your skin type, degree of skin concerns, preferences regarding product texture, and how your skin responds to various strengths of AHAs. If you want to include AHA exfoliants into your skincare routine, it’s best to start with a product that has the lowest concentration possible to see how your skin reacts, before carefully increasing it to something stronger.
The Differences Between Paula’s Choice AHA Products
Paula’s Choice offers several AHA exfoliants. Although all deliver beautiful results, each has its own distinctive qualities. It’s perfectly OK to use more than one, alternating between products based on your skin’s needs and what works best for you. That’s the approach many of us at Paula’s Choice Skincare take.
AHA Exfoliants for Your Face
SKIN PERFECTING 8% AHA Gel Exfoliator: Our original AHA exfoliant, this sheer gel is suitable for all skin types, especially oily to combination skin. It contains an 8% concentration of glycolic acid plus soothing chamomile, antioxidant green tea, and hydrating panthenol. Barrier-repairing ingredients such as sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid also replenish and strengthen the skin’s surface against moisture loss, and even help reduce scarring.
SKIN PERFECTING 8% AHA Lotion: This skin-refining, lightly emollient, moisturizing lotion is suitable for all skin types but is a definite favourite of those with normal to dry skin. Just like our 8% AHA Gel, the 8% AHA Lotion contains glycolic acid. The lotion formula also contains soothing burdock root, allantoin, and liquorice, plus naturally replenishing lipids that dry skin needs to improve visibly.
RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA: Part of our targeted anti-aging line, this silky, lightweight lotion exfoliant contains 5% glycolic acid plus an advanced mix of antioxidants, peptides, ceramides, and soothing ingredients to help your skin look and feel smoother, firmer, and more radiant. This is the go-to AHA product to get if you have normal to dry skin and your primary concerns are wrinkles and uneven skin tone.
RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA: With its combination of four different alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, malic, and tartaric), this ultra-light, thin AHA serum is effective enough to use once weekly, but gentle enough for daily use. This serum’s ideal for those with normal to dry skin showing advanced signs of aging from sun damage. Flaky, crepey, uneven skin feels smoother and looks brighter after one use. It’s also fortified with anti-aging peptides, skin-strengthening ceramides, soothing plant extracts, and just a touch of BHA (salicylic acid) to visibly minimise pores.
SKIN PERFECTING 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel: Powered by a 25% acid blend laced with plant-derived soothing agents, this liquid-gel peel quickly eliminates layers of dead, dull skin, unclogs stubborn blocked pores, reduces the depth and look of pronounced wrinkles, and refines rough texture and uneven tone to reveal a fresh, smooth complexion. It's best for someone with advanced signs of aging and sun damage or severely clogged pores and congested skin.
How to Use Paula’s Choice AHA Skincare Products
Except for our exfoliant peel (which is applied to cleansed skin and rinsed off after 10 minutes), all our facial AHA exfoliant products should be applied and left on after cleansing and toning. Follow with your other skincare products, applying them in order from the lightest texture to the heaviest texture.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS: Protect exposed skin with a non-comedogenic sunscreen or greater. This is critical to the success of any AHA exfoliant, not to mention your skin’s overall health.
AHA Exfoliants for Your Body
Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA is a creamy-smooth lotion with 10% glycolic acid, shea butter, and antioxidants is perfect for all skin types. It glides over the skin, immediately working to visibly improve multiple signs of aging from the neck down. Regular use helps to improve the appearance of crepey skin, revives a firm feel, and leaves a lasting, radiant softness. Apply to cleansed skin, and, if needed, follow with a regular body lotion on very dry areas.
Find the right AHA exfoliant for you at Paula's Choice Singapore.
References for This Information
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacokinetic and Medical Sciences, May 2021, pages 30–34
Journal of Dermatological Science, June 2017, pages 238–248
Molecules, Volume 23, April 2018, pages 1–12
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, October 2015, pages 21–26
Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, December 2014, pages 9-17 and November 2010, pages 135–142
Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products, January 2012, pages 9–10
The Journal of Dermatology, January 2006, pages 16–22
Food and Chemical Toxicology, November 1999, pages 1,105–1,111
Recommended Products
RESIST Advanced Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA
