Take Care Tuesday- AHA’s In Skincare
Featuring Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Intensive Hydrator
"You may have seen the term ‘AHA’ on some of your skincare products or heard estheticians talking about them but what does that actually mean? AHAs stand for, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, chemical compounds meant to gently exfoliate and resurface the skin. The most common AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and mandelic acids.
AHAs help treat many skin concerns, including mild hyperpigmentation (dark spots), acne, fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, and will improve your skin’s overall texture and appearance. It works by dissolving the attachments between skin cells on the surface of your skin, regenerating fresh, new cells underneath. AHAs are marketed toward all skin types but those with sensitive skin or rosacea should proceed with caution. Other skin types should be cautious to avoid overuse and start slow, so your skin can build up a tolerance to the product. While it is always recommended to use a daily sunscreen, it is a necessity to use an SPF while using AHAs because they can increase sensitivity to the sun.
A great gentle product to use for AHA benefits is Aveda’s Instant Luminizer Serum. This serum uses plant-based acids, lactic acid (from sugar beats) and tartaric acid (from grapes), to gently dissolve dull skin cells. It also contains stem cells from the snow lotus plant, which aids in evening out the skin tone.
I recommend using Aveda’s AHA serum in the evenings and an SPF product during the day. It is best to start AHAs twice weekly and then increase frequency of use as your skin gets used to the product. If any irritations occur, stop use and follow with hydrating products until the irritation goes away. Be sure to avoid using retinols with AHAs- they can be extremely drying when used together and can damage the skins barrier. Use your AHA serum after cleansing and toning, and follow with your favorite moisturizer. And again, I cannot recommend enough the importance of using an SPF during the day.
If you have any questions regarding AHAs, I am happy to help! Next week, we will be discussing BHAs — Stay Tuned!” -Xoxo Vai