In this article:
Paula's Choice AHA products
AHA exfoliants for your face
AHA exfoliants for body
How to use Paula's Choice AHA
If you’re a fan of skin care ingredients that offer exfoliation as well as anti-ageing and glow-inducing benefits, it’s likely you’ve stumbled across alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). The most thoroughly researched AHAs, glycolic acid and lactic acid, are an important part of a best-in-class skin care routine—particularly for normal to very dry, sun-damaged skin (2).
AHAs can benefit all skin types and share certain properties with BHA (beta hydroxy acid): Both 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 are their ability to enhance the skin’s natural moisturising factors, and their outstanding results in reducing the visible signs of sun damage.
Paula’s Choice Skincare is known worldwide for our extensive selection of gentle, leave-on chemical exfoliants, many of which contain AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) (3). Choosing the best AHA exfoliant 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.
Paula’s Choice AHA products
Paula’s Choice Skincare 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 Exfoliant: 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 replenish and strengthen skin’s surface against moisture loss.
SKIN PERFECTING 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant: This water-light liquid exfoliating toner taps into the combined power of mandelic and lactic acids. Great for all skin types, but particularly for sensitive skin, it delivers the impactful results associated with AHAs without irritation. Using patented time-release technology, this water-light exfoliant improves the look of sun damage, dullness and fine lines while helping to reverse a compromised barrier.
RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA: Part of our targeted anti-ageing line, this silky, lightweight lotion exfoliant contains 5% glycolic acid plus an advanced mix of antioxidants, peptides, ceramides, and soothing ingredients to help skin look and feel smoother, firmer, and more radiant. This is the daily-use AHA to choose 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 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 ageing from sun damage. Flaky, crepey, uneven skin feels smoother and looks brighter after one use. Fortified with anti-ageing 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 27% acid blend laced with plant-derived soothing agents, this liquid-gel peel quickly eliminates layers of dead, dull skin, unclogs stubbornly 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 ageing and sun damage or severely clogged pores and congested skin.
AHA exfoliants for body:
Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA: This creamy-smooth lotion with 10% glycolic acid, shea butter, and antioxidants is perfect for all skin types. It glides over skin, immediately working to visibly improve multiple signs of ageing from the neck down. Regular use improves 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.
How to use Paula’s Choice AHA
Except for our Exfoliant Peel (which is applied to cleansed skin and rinsed off after 10 minutes), all our facial AHA exfolianting products should be applied, and left on, after cleansing and toning with a traditional hydrating toner. Follow with your other skin care products, applying them in order from the lightest texture to the heaviest texture. Always protect exposed skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. This is critical to the success of any AHA exfoliant, not to mention your skin’s overall health.
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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
