5 Benefits of Alpha-Hydroxy Acid AHA in Skincare Products

Skin is the largest barrier between your body and the environment. It protects your body from external pathogens, allergens, pollutants, and microbes. A good skincare routine is essential to improve the three layers: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. It can:

• Reduce wrinkles, fine lines, visible pores, and dark circles under the eyes
• Protect from harmful UV rays that cause blemishes and hyperpigmentation
• Strengthens collagen and elastin production
• Improves hydration levels to make your skin appear younger and healthier
• Improves elasticity and firmness while preventing saggy skin

Skincare products, including lotions, creams, body exfoliating scrubs, facial peels, etc., contain various ingredients. Some ingredients are natural/organic, while others are laboratory-produced chemicals and compounds.

For instance, formaldehyde is a carcinogenic substance found in skincare and cosmetic products and increases skin cancer risk. Mercury is another compound used in skin care products that can damage the nervous and renal systems.

Phthalates, including dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates, can disrupt hormonal balance in your body and damage your reproductive system. Isopropyl and isobutyl parabens can also harm the metabolic and homeostatic systems.

There is a list of harmful ingredients in skincare products. Although you can get temporary relief or improvement, these ingredients can damage your skin and increase the risk of chronic health conditions.

Therefore, instead of using commercially manufactured products, we recommend following a vegan skincare routine to make your skin healthier, firmer, more radiant, and youthful.

Vegan skincare products contain organic ingredients, such as vitamins, plant-based proteins, minerals, antioxidants, and alpha-hydroxy acids. Today’s article will discuss the benefits of alpha-hydroxy acids or AHAs in skincare products. Read on!

Is Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) Safe?

Alpha-hydroxy acid or AHA is an organic acid widely used in skincare products. It exfoliates your skin, improves its texture, removes dark spots, and reduces visible aging signs. According to RX List, skincare products that contain less than 10% of AHA concentrations are 100% efficient and safe.

According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), products containing AHA can exfoliate the skin and shed dead cells from the epidermis. However, it depends on PH and the concentration of AHA and other ingredients in the skincare product. Common AHAs found in skincare products are:

• Lactic acid
• Glycolic acid
• Citric acid
• Hydroxy caprylic acid
• Hydroxycapric acid

FDA states that AHAs with a PH of more than 3.5 and 10% or less concentration are safe for all skin types. However, long-term use of AHA products can make your skin vulnerable to sun damage.

Therefore, the FDA recommends using a premium-quality sunscreen with good SPF to protect against UV rays. So, overall, AHAs are safe! Let us now discuss the benefits of AHAs in vegan skincare products.

Removes Dead Skin Cells

Dead skin cells stay on the epidermal layer like rotting minute rotten corpses. These lifeless and useless cells can cause a myriad of skin problems, including clogged pores, callus formation, acne breakouts, fine lines, wrinkles, redness, irritation, eczema, whiteheads, blackheads, etc.

That’s why scrubbing dead cells away is critical to protecting your skin from potential problems. One research study shows that alpha-hydroxy acids remove the epidermal layer that contains dead cells and increase collagen I and III biosynthesis.

AHAs reveal new cells and increase collagen and elastin production, improving your skin’s overall health, radiance, texture, and firmness. We suggest using vegan skincare facial products or body exfoliating scrubs to remove dead cells because they contain plant-based ingredients that eliminate the risk of side effects.

Improves Skin Complexion

Smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, poor skincare routine, dehydration, sun damage, etc., are the primary causes of dull skin. Failing to exfoliate your skin properly can result in a pale complexion and make your skin appear less radiant.

Your skin becomes prone to hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Even if you use a skincare product that contains AHA, you can’t reduce dryness because commercially developed/manufactured products contain harmful ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate.

These ingredients suppress the effects of AHA and make your skin dry and dull. Therefore, go for a vegan skincare product that contains natural ingredients or choose an item certified by Leaping Bunny.

So, a vegan skincare exfoliating lotion or cream with AHA can exfoliate the uppermost skin layer and encourage fresh and new skin cells, giving you a smoother, firmer, youthful, brightened, and radiant complexion.

Reduces Sun Damage

Ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate your skin, alter the DNA structure, and disrupt cellular processes, causing photodamage in the deepest skin layers or hypodermis. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, These rays can cause premature skin aging, wrinkles, dead cells, liver spots, leathery skin surface, and actinic keratosis.

A vegan skincare exfoliant with AHA as a primary ingredient can remove the buildup of unhealthy cells, reduce sun exposure, restore smoothness, enhance skin tone, and ensure a more radiant complexion.

Hydrates Your Skin

According to USGS, water is an integral part of human skin, and tissues/cells contain 64% water to balance the moisture levels. Dry facial skin can result from various factors, including changing temperature or humidity levels, soaps that contain harsh ingredients, and conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

We suggest following a proactive approach and using vegan skincare products to prevent dry, flaky skin on your face. Dry patches on your face and neck indicate chronic skin conditions and may require advanced treatments.

Therefore, a preventive approach is ideal for mitigating the risk of dryness and maintaining proper hydration. AHAs, such as glycolic acid penetrate the deepest layers of your skin and break the dead skin cells, enabling the vegan skincare moisturizer to hydrate new cells.

Moreover, AHAs are ideal for dry skin because these acids contain molecules with the highest affinity for water, improving your skin’s moisture content. Unlike BHAs that attract oil, AHAs love water and keep your skin hydrated, reducing the risk of dryness and acne breakouts.

Reduces Visible Signs of Aging

Breakdown of collagen and elastin in your skin can cause fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen and elastin are proteins that support the skin structure and keep it resilient against bacteria, fungus, and other pathogens.

However, when collagen and elastin fibers break down, your skin loses its elasticity and strength. A vegan skincare product with AHAs holds your skin by strengthening collagen and elastin proteins.

AHAs enables these proteins to stick to the skin’s epidermal layer, reducing the signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. A research study published on NCBI states that alpha-hydroxy acids are excellent and the most widely used exfoliating and anti-aging agents in skincare products.

Not only do AHAs exfoliates and moisturize your skin, but they also reduce wrinkles and fine lines. AHAs firm and brighten your skin and speed up collagen and elastin production.

Final Words

Skincare is an integral part of your day-to-day life because your skin is the largest organ in your body, resisting external pathogens and pollutants from penetrating your body and causing internal damage.

Instead of using commercially developed skincare products with harmful ingredients, we suggest using vegan skincare products, items certified and approved by Leaping Bunny. Contact us today for more information!