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Skincare - The Acids

Hello Lovelies! This week my blogpost is going to be based around skincare. If you read my Skincare 101 blog a couple of months ago you will know that I talked about cosmeceutical products, more specifically the differences between them and normal cosmetics. Cosmeceuticals are basically a mix of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. They often contain ‘active’ ingredients which can penetrate into the deep layers of the skin therefore they are more beneficial to your skin than normal cosmetics you may find in a pharmacy or supermarket.


Among the long list of ‘active’ ingredients you may find in cosmeceuticals, the word acid may come up quite frequently. Cosmeceuticals can contain one or more acid at a time such as glycolic acid, lactic acid or azelaic acid and so on. These are all ‘active’ ingredients as they penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and they all have different uses and benefits for different skin types. Products from brands such as Image Skincare, Nip and Fab and Alpha H are cosmeceuticals as they contain ‘active ingredients’ including some acids. This week I’m going to tell you about the most common acids you may see appear on your product bottle and what they are beneficial for.


Hyaluronic Acid – This acid is beneficial for all skin types and a must have in your skincare routine. Hyaluronic acid is produced naturally inside our bodies like Lactic acid so it can be used on nearly anyone. It is the most famous acid for drawing moisture to the tissues of the skin helping it to stay hydrated and plump.

Lactic Acid –  This is derived from sour milk. This acid is safe for all skin types also as we all have lactic acid in our bodies already so our body rarely reacts badly to it. It helps your skin to shed it’s dead skin cells while being non abrasive so it is suitable for even a sensitive skin if used correctly. (AHA)

Glycolic Acid – This acid is derived from sugar cane. This works much like the lactic acid as it helps you to shed dead skin cells but it is made up of smaller molecules so it can penetrate deeper than lactic acid and works faster. It’s very good for anyone with oily skin but it is a bit harsher than lactic acid so I wouldn’t advise it for a sensitive skin. You can’t use this however if you’re pregnant. (AHA)

Salicylic Acid – This is a holy grail for anyone who has spots! It help to dissolve oil above and below the surface of the skin to prevent congestion and breakouts but it doesn’t disrupt moisture levels while doing so. This can also be a little harsher than lactic acid so I wouldn’t recommend it to someone with sensitive skin. This also cannot be used if you are pregnant and ideally not until your over 16. (BHA)

Azelaic Acid – This acid is naturally derived from Grain. This is amazing for anti-inflammation so it can be beneficial for sensitive skins or people with rosacea. It can also help to prevent pores from clogging and has been known to help with pigmentation. This is one of the least popular of the acids I’ve spoke about but one of the best!


As you can some of these acids are either a AHA or a BHA, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid or a Beta Hydroxy Acid. Whether they are an AHA or a BHA they help to breakdown and slough away dead skin but while an AHA only does this on the skin's surface, a BHA can penetrate into your pore and clear them out too. This makes BHA's a better choice for someone with congested skin or blackheads as it will actually penetrate the pore and an AHA a better choice for someone who doesn't suffer problems with their pores.

These are just some acids you may find in your cosmeceuticals, these are in my opinion the most popular, but there are plenty more. If you ever come across an ingredient you’re unsure of you can always google it for more information or simply ask your beauty therapist! I hope you enjoyed this week’s blog and got some new information along the way. I will be back next week with a long awaited review! Until then…

All my love,


SJL X 

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