Unsure what face acids can do for your skin? Read on for an all-in-one guide for those starting their skincare journey and looking to incorporate acids like salicylic acid, glycolic acid and retinol!
Therese Grosse, our YouTrip Ambassador, shares her favourite face acids to use for all skin woes and concerns. Join YouTrip Beauty Alley on Telegram for more tips and guides like this.
Don’t be intimidated by the scientific-sounding names, acids are pretty easy to understand and use once you understand their uses and benefits. Who knew basic chemistry in school would come in handy here?
What are BHAs, AHAs & Retinol?
BHAs are beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid that exfoliate and penetrate deeply into your skin. They can be used as toners, exfoliators, or even masks, and are very versatile.
AHAs are alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid that work on the skin’s surface. AHAs usually come in the form of toners, serums or even chemical peels, and are usually derived from plant sources like sugar cane (glycolic acid) or papaya (citric acid).
Retinoids (the umbrella term of retinol products) are derivatives of Vitamin A and can come in serum, cream or acid types. It’s a powerful ingredient, and can cause flaking or peeling at the start before your skin gets used to it, so be sure to monitor your skin’s reaction!
Difference Between BHAs, AHAs, & Retinol
Active ingredients can be a confusing addition to your skincare when you think of all the dos and don’ts usually mentioned — never use A and B at the same time, always put on sunscreen after, only use it on alternate days. We’re here to help you so you can confidently say once and for all you know exactly what you’re putting on your face!
| BHAs | AHAs | Retinol | |
| Benefits | • Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, perfect for combating acne and blackheads. | • Ideal for exfoliating the skin’s surface and retaining moisture. • Also benefits sun-damaged skin by increasing hydration and collagen production. | • Powerful anti-ageing product as it encourages cell turnover, so it prevents wrinkles and helps fade dark spots. • Helps with acne (for products with higher retinol concentrations, best to check with dermatologist.) |
| Best For | • Oily Skin, as it’s oil soluble. • Acne-prone skin, because it helps unclog pores and exfoliate the skin | • Most suitable for dry and sensitive skin as they are water-soluble | • Ageing skin, or once you hit 30 years old. |
Best BHAs: Salicylic Acids
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Credit: Paula’s Choice
Why it’s great: Salicylic acid is one of the most common BHAs used for good reason! This cult product is known to clear up breakouts and minimise the appearance of pores by clearing out junk.
For: Acne-prone or oily skin
Price: From S$15
Get it from Paula’s Choice Singapore
Sunday Riley U.F.O Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil
Credits: Sunday Riley
Why it’s great: This face oil is a triple threat — with ingredients like tea tree to fight bacteria, chamomile to calm redness, and cucumber to maintain moisture levels. Use this a few times a week for the best results!
For: Acne-prone, oily or combination skin
Price: From ÂŁ34.00 (~S$53.80)
Get it from Cult Beauty
Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
Credit: Cosrx
Why it’s great: One of the best exfoliants in the market, this cult product uses a silicon-free gel base for extra gentle exfoliation. It also contains niacinamide, the perfect ingredient for evening your skin tone!
For: Normal to combination, pigmented or scarred skin
Price: From US$$17.23 (~S$23.10)
Get it from iHerb
Best AHAs: Glycolic Acids & Lactic Acids
Pixi Glow Tonic
Credit: Pixi
Why it’s great: Containing glycolic acid, the Pixi glow tonic is great for bouncy, soft skin. It stimulates collagen production and contains ingredients like aloe and witch hazel — known for their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
For: Sensitive to normal skin types
Price: From ÂŁ10.00 (~S$15.80)
Get it from Cult Beauty
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Credit: The Ordinary
Why it’s great: You may have seen this blood-red product all over Tiktok, and there’s a reason why everyone is raving about it! Combining the benefits of AHA and BHA ingredients, this peeling solution is the secret to baby smooth skin.
For: All skin types (test it out on a small patch of skin first to ensure it’s not too strong for you!)
Price: From ÂŁ6.30 (~S$10.00)
Get it from Cult Beauty
Herbivore Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask
Credit: Beauty and Berriesss
Why it’s great: Herbivore is known for its all-natural ingredients, and this clarity mask isn’t just popular for its lovely teal-blue shade! Botanical extracts like papaya, pineapple and aloe all help purge impurities and calm any redness — and it smells great too!
For: Blemished skin
Price: From ÂŁ38.00 (~S$60.20)
Get it from Cult Beauty
Best Retinol Products
Sunday Riley Luna Retinol Sleeping Oil
Credit: Humble & Rich
Why it’s great: This sleeping oil is the perfect example of the powers of retinol! Purported to help with wrinkles and collagen synthesis, ingredients like avocado and chia oil also help strengthen the skin and increase its radiance.
For: Aging or dry skin
Price: From ÂŁ45.00 (~S$71.70)
Get it from Cult Beauty
The INKEY List Retinol Serum
Credit: The INKEY
Why it’s great: The INKEY List is known for its affordable, fuss-free products, so this is a great starter if it’s your first time trying a retinol serum! This serum contains squalane to combat your skin drying out from the retinol, and has a stronger 0.5% Granactive retinoid to boost your skin’s renewal process.
For: Aging skin or uneven skin tone
Price: S$18
Get it from Look Fantastic
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream
Credit: Ymor Beauty
Why it’s great: This cream is jam-packed with superfood-rich ingredients like marula and jojoba oil to boost your skin’s moisture, and antioxidants like kale and winter cherry to protect your skin from the environment.
For: Aging or sun-damaged skin
Price: From S$40
Get it from Sephora
How To Layer & Combine Different Face Acids
It is important to note that hydroxy acids increase sun sensitivity, so always layer on sunscreen after using any of these active ingredients. BHAs can also cause dryness, so be sure to use a good moisturiser after applying it to prevent flaking or itching!
For this reason, AHAs and BHAs work well together for normal and oily skin types, because AHAs help provide the additional hydration that BHAs need. However, dry skin types should stick to AHAs because BHAs can aggravate and dry their skin out even more.
As for combining with retinol, it’s best to use them at night as some retinol products break down in the sunlight. Alternatively, you can apply either the retinol or BHA/AHA first and wait for it to be absorbed before applying the second product.
It is not advisable to use all three at the same time as it may be too much for your skin, but a combination of AHA + BHA, AHA + Retinol, or BHA + Retinol will work just fine.
Here’s to hoping we’re all on our way to better skin after reading this article!
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*All listed prices rates are accurate to nearest dollar on 7 April 2021 SGT 23:00.
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