To read about what is exfoliation you can visit – Exfoliation in Brief

To read about mechanical exfoliation with a basic recipe, you can visit here – how to make Scrubs – Mechanical Exfoliation

Let’s talk about chemical exfoliation!

As the name suggests, they are chemical exfoliators, but these chemicals are found In Nature or are also called phytochemicals.

They are called chemical exfoliators because they exfoliate not just on the surface but also interact with the below layers.

They break the bonds that hold the uppermost layers of dead cells and dissolve the glue that binds them.

There are two types of naturally found phytochemicals – Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) & Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA).

AHAs and BHAs work in different ways to exfoliate the top layer of skin.

BHAs break down the bonds between cells

AHAs cause the cells themselves to detach.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

• AHAs are derived from natural substances and are ideal for exfoliating dry skin since they remove the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. However, AHAs, because they’re water-soluble, can’t penetrate very deep into pores, Unlike BHAs.
• Research on the uses and efficacy of AHAs is extensive. However, out of all the AHAs available, glycolic and lactic acids are the most promising and well researched. These two AHAs are also less likely to cause irritation. Because of this, most over-the-counter (OTC) AHAs contain either glycolic or lactic acid.
• Not all AHAs have the same exfoliating power. The amount of exfoliation is determined by the type of AHA you use. As a rule of thumb, the more the AHAs in a product, the more powerful the exfoliating effects.

Benefits of AHAs –

1. Exfoliation – AHAs are primarily used to exfoliate your skin. This is the primary benefit AHAs offer. because of this, there are other important benefits that AHAs offer.
2. They help visibly brighten skin – AHAs like glycolic acid can help break down skin cell accumulation, while products with citric acid can brighten your skin even further.