AHA & BHA Exfoliation Guide

Exfoliation Myths Busted, Facts Revealed

In this article:
Are all exfoliant scrubs bad for skin?
So, scrubs are out? Acid is in?
Why should I exfoliate?
How are AHA & BHA different from each other and which should I use?
Can I use AHA and BHA exfoliants at the same time?
What’s the strongest percent of an AHA or BHA exfoliant I can use?
How does your skin feel after exfoliation?
What if I have sensitive skin? Is an acid really gentler than a scrub?
Adding a chemical exfoliant to your skin care routine
Can I use my exfoliant around my eyes?
Can you mix exfoliants with ingredients like retinol, niacinamide and vitamin C?
Is it good to exfoliate in summer?

Daily, gentle exfoliation with a leave-on product is a complete game-changer for every skin type and skin concern. Adding this one step to your routine is the fastest, most effective way to get radiant, smooth, hydrated, blemish-free, even-toned skin.

Common chemical exfoliants such as AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) and BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliants help skin shed dead cells more quickly, the way it did before age and environmental factors began to slow that process. These acids are also the gentlest way to exfoliate, and they nourish and transform the look of your skin in ways no brush or scrub can (1, 2, 3).

Despite the popularity of facial scrubs, most are too harsh and abrasive; they can cause tiny tears that damage skin over time, even if that damage isn’t immediately visible. Even the best scrubs, while they do have benefits, can’t produce the same results as an AHA or BHA exfoliant or exfoliating toner.

For those new to the world of skin care, the hows and whys of exfoliation with leave-on products can be a bit confusing. Here we answer your most common questions with research-based answers, so you’ll have all the facts.

Are all exfoliant scrubs bad for skin?

Misconception: People often believe their skin isn’t being damaged unless it immediately shows signs of irritation, and that scrubbing with natural ingredients can’t be harmful. But neither is true.

Fact: Not all scrubs are bad for your skin, but most are. Any scrub that scratches your skin compromises its surface by leaving tiny tears; those lead to sensitivity, and, eventually, the visible signs of ageing you’re trying to offset in the first place (4). Abrasive ingredients, even if they’re natural, can be damaging—though your skin might not show it right away.

The right non-abrasive scrub with gentle, rounded beads can be a great extra cleansing step, but if a scrub feels even a tiny bit scratchy on the back of your hand, don’t use it.

So, scrubs are out? Acid is in?

Misconception: Sometimes people believe scrubs and AHA/BHA products produce the same results. They don’t.

Fact: Scrubs and AHA/BHA exfoliants serve different purposes. A well-formulated, gentle scrub or very soft brush can refine the very surface of skin and help ensure a good cleansing. But no scrub can do what AHAs and/or BHA can do: remove thick, deeper, built-up layers of dead skin, hydrate, soothe redness, even out skin tone, clear clogged pores, reduce pore size, and minimise the visible signs of ageing (5, 6).

Why should I exfoliate?

Misconception: It’s a common belief that if your skin doesn’t feel rough, there’s no need to exfoliate.

Fact: Most of us can’t see or feel the dead skin cells keeping us from our freshest, most vibrant complexion. If your skin looks great without exfoliation, adding that step will make your skin even more hydrated, smooth, and radiant. And remember, there’s much more to exfoliation than sloughing dead skin; AHAs and BHA also help reduce the visible signs of sun damage, and the look of fine lines and wrinkles (6, 7).

How are the chemical exfoliants AHA & BHA different from each other and which should I use?

Misconception: People sometimes think only one type of chemical exfoliant will work for them, but that’s rarely the case.

Fact: AHA and BHA exfoliants have shared and different benefits: Both types of chemical exfoliants will smooth skin, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, help even out skin tone, hydrate, and restore skin’s radiance. AHAs are more hydrating and have more research showing their effectiveness in diminishing visible signs of sun damage (7). BHA can help there, too, but its unique benefit is that it also works inside the pore. So if you’re prone to breakouts, bumps, redness, or clogged/enlarged pores, BHA can help (6, 8).

Can I use AHA and BHA exfoliants at the same time?

Misconception: Often, people think they’re doing more for their skin by mixing AHA and BHA, but it’s not necessary to use both to get great results.

Fact: You can use an AHA and BHA in your routine, but it’s also fine to stick with one or the other. If you want to use both, try using one in the morning and the other at night, or alternate days. It’s also fine to layer your exfoliants, but that tends to be too much for most people (kind of like eating an entire cake instead of just one slice).

What’s the strongest percent of an AHA or BHA exfoliant I can use?

Misconception: People tend to think that if a skin care ingredient is good, then more of it must be better. That’s not always the case.

Fact: Paula's Choice BHAs are available in varying strengths to satisfy all skin types, concerns and needs.

• 1% BHA works best for sensitive skin.
• 2% BHA is tapped for daily use. We offer three different textures to complement all skin types, but the SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is our cult favourite and #1 product.
• 9% BHA helps spot-treat stubborn imperfections.

Our AHAs are also available in a range of strengths.

• 5% AHA works best for sensitive skin or those new to AHAs, smoothing and providing anti-ageing benefits.
• 8% AHA products can have a multitude of benefits, depending on the AHAs used. We offer 8% AHA in gel texture, as well as in a liquid texture composed of a blend with 6% mandelic acid and 2% lactic acid.
• 10% AHA provides advanced smoothing and anti-ageing benefits.

In short, there’s no “right answer” or particular percentage that’s best for everyone. Think of it like a scale, always tipped toward benefits. And keep in mind that you can combine or alternate exfoliants; many people use a lower percentage daily, and a higher percentage a few times per week to kick things up a notch. Just pay attention to how your skin responds and adjust accordingly.

How does your skin feel after exfoliation? Where does the dead skin and pore-clogging stuff go?

Misconception: Sometimes people think an exfoliant isn’t working unless they can see their skin peeling or flaking. But you shouldn’t see (or feel) a thing.

Fact: AHA and BHA exfoliants work imperceptibly, loosening the bonds that hold dead, dull skin to the surface, so it sheds more quickly—the way it once did naturally. BHA is oil soluble and has the added benefit of unclogging pores, so oil flows easily to skin’s surface, where it and the “gunk” inside pores are easily washed away.

What if I have sensitive skin? Is an acid really gentler than a scrub?

Misconception: The word “acid” isn’t generally associated with gentle results and healthy skin, so some people—especially those with sensitive skin—worry that salicylic acid (BHA) or glycolic acid (AHAs) will be irritating or sensitising.

Fact: Because your skin’s surface is naturally acidic, AHA and BHA exfoliants are naturally compatible. There’s no need to be nervous about using a well-formulated AHA or BHA exfoliant; they work gently. BHA, in particular, has soothing properties, so it helps diminish the appearance of redness (6). If you’ve had problems with AHA or BHA exfoliants in the past, they may have contained fragrance or sensitising ingredients like denatured alcohol—both of which Paula’s Choice Skincare products avoid. You may have used too high a percentage of AHA or BHA, or your skin might respond better to a different “delivery system”—a gel rather than a liquid, for example. For these reasons, we offer exfoliants in a range of strengths and textures, including our CALM 1% BHA Lotion for extra-sensitive skin.

Adding a chemical exfoliant to your skin care routine

Misconception: It’s common for people to wonder if their exfoliant will be ineffective if used in the wrong order.

Fact: Apply any AHA or BHA exfoliant or exfoliating toner, regardless of texture (gel, cream, lotion, etc.), after cleansing and toning with a traditional hydrating toner. Follow with any serums and/or treatment products in your routine—they’re designed to work best over exfoliated skin. During the day, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. At night, finish with a facial moisturiser.

Can I use my exfoliant around my eyes?

Misconception: People sometimes feel nervous about using a leave-on exfoliant near their eyes.

Fact: Of course, you don’t want to get AHA or BHA ingredients in your eyes, but all Paula’s Choice Skincare products—including our leave-on exfoliants—are fine to apply up to the orbital bone. After cleansing and toning, apply a light layer and blend away from the eye, as products tend to migrate a bit when they warm up to body temperature. Finish with the rest of your routine, including serums, treatments, eye cream and/or moisturiser, in order from thinnest to thickest texture (and remember to use SPF during the day).

Can you mix exfoliants with ingredients like retinol, niacinamide and vitamin C?

Misconception: Fashion magazines, influencers, and bloggers sometimes reiterate misinformation about combining certain products and ingredients. Let’s clear up the confusion.

Fact: Chemical exfoliants are fine to use with any other Paula’s Choice products, including those that contain niacinamide, vitamin C, peptides and retinol; they’re designed to work well together. And, contrary to what you may have read, retinol does not exfoliate skin. Some people experience flaking from retinol, but that’s a sign that their skin isn’t tolerating the product well, not that it’s being exfoliated. Again, you shouldn’t see or feel any unwanted signs of exfoliation from AHA or BHA products, just their great results.

Is it good to exfoliate in summer?

Misconception: Some believe that exfoliating in the summer can damage skin because some exfoliating ingredients can promote sun-sensitivity.

Fact: The truth is you can and should use exfoliants during the summer (or traditionally sunnier) months. Stopping this important step just because you’ll spend more time outdoors can give rise to an increase in dullness, clogged pores and dryness and will make any new discolourations more apparent.

Although it’s true that AHA leave-on exfoliants can make skin more sensitive to the sun, this concern is easily sidestepped by ensuring you’re applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily—and applying it liberally and evenly (9). Longer days outside when the sun’s shining and the UV index is 8+ (summer or not) also mean taking other protective steps, such as wearing UV-shielding clothing, a broad-brimmed hat, SPF-laced lip balm and sunglasses (10). Also important: avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours, typically 10 AM–4 PM.

So, yes, you can go in the sun after exfoliating if you take the proper precautions ahead of time. Don’t mistake the summer (sunny) season or a vacation as a free pass to get a tan. Doing so is deeply destructive to skin in numerous ways, from collagen degradation to irritation that harms every layer of skin—and the damage builds with each new exposure (11).

Now that you’re up to speed on the basics, what are you waiting for? Find the right exfoliants to work into your routine!

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References for this information:

1. Dermatology Research and Practice, February 2015, pages 1-5
2. Dermatology and Therapy, March 2015, pages 1–18
3. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, October 2020, pages 1-2
4. Clinics in Dermatology, May-June 2012, pages 335–344
5. Archives of Dermatologic Research, July 1997, pages 404–409
6. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, November 2010, pages 135-142
7. Journal of the German Society of Dermatology, July 2012, pages 488–491
8. Dermatology Research and Practice, February 2015, ePublication
9. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigative Dermatology, November 2010, pages 135-142
10. Cosmetics, September 2023, pages 1-12
11. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences , January 2023, pages 1-20