Acid trip: Your essential guide to skincare acids

Coveting a bright, glowy, and blemish-free complexion? You need glycolic acid lined up in your beauty cabinet stat. Praised for its wide-ranging benefits, glycolic acid is the ultimate multi-tasker when it comes to exfoliating skincare acids. Think anti-aging and acne-busting properties, combined with a magic ability to stimulate skin cell turnover while retaining natural moisture.

Glycolic acid belongs to the family of AHA’s which stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid — a group of acids derived from natural substances such as sugar cane, milk, and fruits. They work by dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells, which can be washed away to reveal bright, smooth, and supple skin below.

Benefits of glycolic acid:

• Improves skin texture and tone
• Minimizes breakouts and the appearance of acne scarring
• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Safe for all skin types

Our Deep Cleansing Scrub is formulated with glycolic acid and micrograins of natural volcanic rhyolite to exfoliate your complexion. In addition to deeply cleansing the face, our scrub actively removes impurities and unclogs pores without stripping your skin of its natural oils. With regular use, it will reduce the appearance of fine lines, enlarged pores, and hyperpigmentation.

Lactic acid

One of the beauty secrets behind a perfectly glowy and even complexion? Lactic acid. This Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is – in our products – derived from plants, and mildly exfoliates the skin by dissolving dead skin cells to leave a smooth and buttery-soft surface. Alongside its cleansing properties, lactic acid will ultimately improve your skin's tone and texture.

In comparison to glycolic, lactic acid is a milder, more gentle treatment which is perfectly suited for even the most sensitive skin types. The lactic acid molecule is larger and won’t penetrate as deeply — this means you get more action on the skin’s outermost layer. By polishing and firming the skin surface, lactic acid provides an instant glow-up for those longing for a youthful look.

Benefits of lactic acid:

• Brightens and retextures the skin
• Improves the appearance of lines and wrinkles
• Treats impurity-prone skin
• Suited for the most sensitive skin types

Our Intense Peel Mask is a double threat — it contains lactic and glycolic acids to effectively exfoliate your complexion and trigger the production of new skin cells. The collagen-boosting formula relies on lactic acid to keep skin balanced and refreshed. Once a week, simply apply a thin layer of this gel-mask to clean skin and leave it on for 2–4 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

Salicylic acid

If you’re on the hunt for skincare with super blemish-fighting powers, salicylic acid is your hero ingredient. Formulated to treat acne, salicylic acid will penetrate oily skin, break down excess sebum, and unclog pores to tackle stubborn blackheads and spots. Alongside its anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties, it exfoliates the skin to improve overall texture while reducing the visibility of wrinkles.

As a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) found in willow bark, salicylic acid works differently to AHA’s. Where glycolic and lactic acid target the skin surface, sweeping away dead skin cells to reveal the new skin beneath, BHA’s work deeper inside your pores, dissolving the dirt blockages that lead to those dreaded breakouts.

Benefits of salicylic acid:

• Unclogs pores
• Reduces blackheads and blemishes
• Improves skin texture
• Reduces visibility of wrinkles

Our Deep Cleansing Mask, Skin Perfector 2% BHA, and Pore Minimizing Serum is formulated with salicylic acid to slough away dead skin cells and unclog pores. The addition of antibacterial zinc protects your skin against impurity-causing bacteria — helping to maintain balance, reduce impurities, and ward off blemishes.

Hyaluronic acid

It was once beauty’s best kept secret, and now, hyaluronic acid has garnered cult status in the beauty arsenal of skincare addicts across the globe. It not only holds the key to smooth, plump, and beautifully hydrated skin, but it has all-important antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help to shield your skin from free radicals — these are molecules created naturally by your body in response to pollution or other aggressors that cause aging and dark spots.

Hyaluronic acid operates like a magnet for moisture, helping your cells retain as much as possible so that your skin feels incredibly hydrated and radiant. In fact, just one gram of hyaluronic acid can hold up to a staggering six litres of water. 

Benefits of hyaluronic acid:

• Smooths and plumps the skin
• Hydrates
• Protects the skin against pollution
• Reduces wrinkles

Our Intense Hyaluronic Mask instantly boosts the skin by providing long-lasting hydration. The hyaluronic acid helps to maintain the moisture, firmness, and elasticity of your skin whilst giving it a smooth appearance.