In The Know: Acids

 

Acids. Sounds scary huh? But when it comes to skincare, acid is your friend. At the right percentage, acids help to buff away dead skin cells revealing younger, clearer skin. Sounds good right?

I’ve hand picked a few of my favourites below and given you the low down on what they can do for your skin…

The Toner – PIXI Glow Tonic
I’ve mentioned this in my previous post “My Love for PIXI“. Applied after cleansing, this is gentle enough to use AM and PM daily. The glycolic acid in this will help rid skin of dead skin cells giving the effect of gentle exfoliation,  and will help to brighten skin tone and improve the texture of your skin over time.

The Wipes – Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme
Don’t be put off by the use of the word “extreme” here. It just means that these pre-soaked pads are jam packed with 3 different types of acid: glycolic, salicylic and lactic. The glycolic acid will help refine pores and brighten the complexion as per the Glow Tonic, but the salycilic acid will assist with keeping spots and blemishes at bay and lactic acid helps with any dry skin or skin texture issues – no more flaky, dead skin here. Ew. Simply swipe these pads over your skin each night after cleansing (I don’t recommend using both this AND the Glow Tonic on the same day. One or the other).

The Serum – PIXI Overnight Glow Serum
Also mentioned in my previous post on PIXI products, this is a stronger treatment than the 2 above. With 10% glycolic acid, this should be used on the skin after any cleansing/toning and left on overnight. Aside from the slightly annoying pipette-style applicator – it can get slightly messy – I love this product. I use this just 1 or 2 nights a week as it packs a serious punch and each and every time I use it, I wake with bouncy soft skin.

The Mask – Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
THIS. SMELLS. AMAZING. Of pumpkins, if you hadn’t already guessed by it’s name. Aside from the incredible smell, it also does great things to your face. Described as a “3-in-1 intensive skin resurfacing treatment”, this has instant results. Included in its ingredients are aluminium oxide crystals (which are also used for microdermabrasion treatments), buffing the skin as you apply. After spreading a thin layer across your face with wet fingertips, leave on for 3-7 minutes. I’d recommend 3 minutes if your skin is super sensitive, up to 7 minutes if your skin is a little hardier or already used to acids. The enzymes in this literally melt away the “glue” that bind dead skin cells together and encourage the renewal process for new skin cells to grow. It’s seriously amazing stuff. Just use with caution – its incredibly active ingredients can be aggravating to some skin types.

Points to remember when using acid
– ALWAYS USE SUNSCREEN after use. Your skin will be so much more sun-sensitive, making it more prone to ageing.
– Don’t use in conjunction with other acid products. I believe some brands/skin specialists say this is ok with certain products but I would err on the side of caution.
– Avoid all contact with eyes and lips. Acid in your eyes never sounds good hey, and it will make your lips very sore, dry and flaky.

Keep your eyes peeled for any other products containing acids and let me know if you find any gems!

 

 
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