Many of our skin care products contain numerous forms of Alpha Hydroxy Acid. But what exactly does it do and where does it come from?
Alpha Hydroxy Acids are compounds that derive from the foods we eat. These compounds include: glycolic acid from sugar cane, lactic acid from milk, malic acid from apples, citric acid from fruit, and tartaric acid from grape wine. So if any of your creams, moisturizers, or exfoliants contain one of these acids, you’ll know where it comes from.
In order for the product to actually work and be effective, these compounds must be small enough to penetrate into your skin. This is why Glycolic Acid is used the most in treatments. It has the smallest molecular size out of all the AHAs, allowing it to penetrate deep below the skin’s surface and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation and improve many other skin conditions.
