PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION – ONE OF THE BEST AHA EXFOLIATING TREATMENTS
THE ORDINARY | AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION
It’s been a min since I used The Ordinary’s super potent, kinda scary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. In fact, I think it’s been over a year since I last reached for this little bottle of fire!
If you missed my latest #selfcaresunday session on my IGTV, you can catch it here.
If you haven’t tried the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, it’s a real acid trip — no pun intended!
Formulated with a 30% concentration of four Alpha Hydroxy Acids (Glycolic, Lactic, Tartaric and Citric) and 2% Salicylic Acid, it’s not an exfoliating treatment for beginners. In fact, it’s as strong as the kind of AHA treatment you’d get from a facialist. You know, the kind you’d burn your face with if you tried it at home?!
As I said in my article a few weeks ago on exfoliating acid toners, the pH level of the formula is key. For glycolic acid to deliver maximum potency, the pH of the formulation needs to be between 3.5 and 4. When it is, you get that real peeling effect.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution has a pH of 3.6. Yikes! That’s exactly why Deciem advises that it be removed within 10 minutes.
What are alpha hydroxy acids and how do they work to exfoliate the skin? For the answers, I sought out the insights of the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team. In an article titled, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) for Skin: What They Are, How They Work, they explain it this way:
How do alpha hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin
If you’re on a quest for younger-looking, smoother, and more even-toned skin, you may have heard of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). But what is an AHA? Given there’s more than one AHA, which alpha hydroxy acid product should you use? Consider this your cheat sheet on all things AHA—you’ll finally know how AHAs work and the differences between them.
What Are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)?
Alpha hydroxy acids are a group of natural and synthetic ingredients that, when properly formulated, can exfoliate the uppermost layers of skin. Doing so reveals fresher, refined skin that appears much smoother, is more hydrated, and, over time, becomes visibly firmer. Anyone concerned with looking younger, longer should consider adding an alpha hydroxy product to their skin care routine.
In fact, they offer this warning:
“This formula contains a very high concentration of free acids. We recommend use only if you are an experienced user of acid exfoliation and your skin is not sensitive.”
To ameliorate the potential irritation of the acids, there’s a soothing blend of Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin B5, Black Carrot and Tasmanian Pepperberry extracts — the cause of the deep blood red color. Funny, it reminds me of the blood beverages the vampires drank in HBO’s True Blood!
If you’re looking like a vampire and need something to bring your complexion back to life, this is it!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution for $7.20 here.
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The Ingredient List of The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution:
exf|buff, Aqua (Water) solv, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract perf, Propanediol solv|h, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine emu|surf, Salicylic Acid exf|aacne|so|pres, Potassium Citrate buff|chel, Lactic Acid exf|h|buff, Tartaric Acid buff|exf, Citric Acid buff, Panthenol 
so|h 0 0, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer sii|aox|h, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract aox|so, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Xanthan Gum vc|emu|surf, Polysorbate 20 emu|surf 0 0, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate chel, Potassium Sorbate pres, Sodium Benzoate pres, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo
