All you need to know about AHA & BHA
Should you use AHA or BHA products for your skin?
Your primary skincare concern should determine whether an AHA or BHA ingredient is suitable. Typically, if your skin concerns lay deep in your skin, such as acne or oily blemish-prone skin then a BHA product would be better. There are also many BHA and AHA skincare products that can tackle a variety of concerns. A BHA skincare product will penetrate deep into your skin and exfoliate pores, regulate sebum and more. On the other hand, if you want to tackle dryness, dullness and pigmentation, then AHA’s would be better.
Can you use AHA and BHA skincare products together?
Yes, it is safe to use AHA and BHA ingredients together if they are combined into one product (like CeraVe Blemish Control Gel Moisturiser). These products are carefully formulated with a balance of both AHA and BHA ingredients so that they do not irritate the skin. Using two separate AHA and BHA products increases the risk of irritation as they are not formulated to work together. As both ingredients are exfoliators, mixing them can damage the skin’s natural barrier.
How often should you use AHA and BHA products?
If you are starting your AHA or BHA journey, we recommend you use them every other day depending on the product. It is also important to consider the rest of your skincare routine as other active ingredients like retinol mixed with an AHA or BHA will irritate the skin. AHA and BHA cleansers are typically safe to use once a day. Whereas treatments with a stronger formulation should be used two or three times a week.