AHA! This is how fruit acids work!

Alpha Hydroxy Acids or simply called AHA's or fruit acids, are indispensable in our skin improvement products. These acids Always come from natural sources. 

That can be a certain type of fruit, such as apples, strawberries, citrus fruits or grapes, but that is not necessary. They are also extracted from milk, cane sugar and almonds. The term is therefore rather confusing, which is why the chemical name is often used. 

Peeling effect

For a long time fruit acids have been used to get a smooth, radiant skin, to soften wrinkles, to tackle moisture deficiency, pigmentation spots and sagging, in short to promote healthy, young skin. They therefore have a peeling effect.

The skin consists of approximately 3 million cells and is the only organ that renews itself over and over again. Compare it with a factory, where old stock is regularly replaced by new ones. It is exactly the same in the skin. Old, dead skin cells are shed daily to make way for new cells. We lose most of the dead skin cells, but there are also those that stay behind and stick to each other. The result is a thickened, irregular upper skin layer. You can imagine that this influences the shine and complexion of your skin: the smoother the skin surface, the more light is reflected. With an accumulation of dead skin cells, the light cannot be properly reflected and the skin looks dull. It can also clog pores, which can result in pimples.

PH value

Fruit acids can be used to loosen those adhered dead skin cells. What these acids do, among other things, is to dissolve the "cement" between the dead skin cells, so that the skin still loses them. However, this is only possible if the concentration in a formula is high enough and the product has the correct PH value, namely between 3 and 5. The PH value of the skin itself (if healthy) is between 4.2 and 5.6. The lower the PH value of a product, the greater the chance of side effects. Scientific studies have shown that a PH value below 3 causes irritation, flaking and redness. But a product with a PH value above 5, on the other hand, does little, because the acid is already neutralized. Something similar applies to the concentration. Products with an AHA percentage from 5% have a peeling effect on the epidermis and strengthen the skin layers underneath by stimulating new collagen and relaxing existing collagen. Products for home use contain a maximum of 15% acid. Even higher concentrations are only used by beauticians or dermatologists.