If you are concerned about the health safety of parabens, then feel free to avoid them by looking out for the Paraben-Free icon. There's still a lot of support for avoiding parabens following the better safe than sorry route. However, the majority of the scientific community have deemed these findings non-conclusive due to the limitations of these studies. There has been some healthy controversy surrounding them due to a few studies finding paraben presence in breast tumours and breast tissue. Ready to find your perfect match? Keep reading to discover our top picks.Parabens are a large group of preservatives which are used to prevent bacteria growing in cosmetic formulations. Once you find the right formula for you and you’re careful to introduce it correctly, you should see fewer spots (including less aggressive volcano-sized ones - thank god). “Its anti-inflammatory properties mean that it also helps to reduce inflammation and redness." “Salicylic acid is useful for people with oily or acne-prone skin because of the fact that it penetrates into the pores, loosens dead skin cells and helps to clear the clogged pores that often result in acne,” explains Dr Veraitch. While a BHA exfoliant likely won't make blemishes vanish overnight, a good one will help set you on the right path. You do you.Īcne can be a complicated and multilayered skin condition and unfortunately no one ingredient can solve it right away (trust us, we wish we could say it could). Having said that, some people find that they get all of the exfoliation benefits without needing the increase. If your skin tolerates it well and you want more oomph for fighting blemishes and tackling oil, build up to using yours three times a week. When it comes to usage, each toner will come with its own instructions – read them! – but a good general rule is to start with once a week and see how you go. If your skin is more resilient and you want the stronger stuff, you can find formulas with up to 10% BHA, but we'd recommend building up to this slowly. So, if you’re a BHA newbie, or struggle with sensitivity, it’s best to start off around the 2% mark, which is enough for you to see a difference without leaving skin irritated. Don’t be fooled into thinking a milder exfoliant will be less effective: the aim here is to get the benefits of exfoliation without destroying your skin barrier, which can result in more blemishes, irritation and discomfort. The lower the percentage, the less irritating it will be for your skin. There are a few important points to consider.įirst off is the percentage of BHA you use. The short answer is no, most people do not need an acid exfoliator everyday. There’s no set rule on how often you should use a BHA exfoliant, as it depends on your skin type and the formula you decide to use. "It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and is typically used for skin exfoliation and treating acne and blemishes.”īecause of this, your humble salicylic acid exfoliant might actually be your new best friend if you’re looking for an oil and blemish-busting formula. “It is this property that makes salicylic acid more oil soluble, allowing it to penetrate deep into the pores to break down skin cells and sebum and clear the blockages that can often result in acne and breakouts," explains Dr Veraitch. To compare, “glycolic acid just has one carbon atom between the hydroxy and acid portion of the molecule.” “This means there are two carbon atoms between the hydroxy and acid portion of the molecule,” says consultant dermatologist, Dr Ophelia Veraitch. If you fancy getting science-y, right this way. AHAs are water-soluble so tend to work on the surface of the skin, whereas BHA is oil-soluble, meaning it can get deeper into the skin to dissolve dead skin cells. Unlike its cousin AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), in which there are a few different types (think glycolic acid and lactic acid), there is only one BHA that’s used in skincare: salicylic acid.Īlthough AHAs and BHAs are similar in that they both work to exfoliate via active ingredients, it’s worth noting the differences. Whilst they can be a total routine game-changer, there are a few rules to abide by and best practices to make sure you’re a master of exfoliating without ever ruining that precious skin barrier.Īlthough BHA has been a buzzword in skincare for a while now, you might be wondering what it actually means? If you’re unfamiliar, BHA stands for ‘beta-hydroxy acid’ (more on that later) and claims to be able to solve many of our skincare woes, from excess oil to blemishes to enlarged or clogged pores. In fact, switching from abrasive scrubs to chemical exfoliants has become a key milestone in our skincare journey (so long as we’ve not overdoing it), which is where BHAs come in. We've come a long way since we wrecked our skin with that dreaded apricot face scrub.
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