Almost every clear skincare routine incorporates BHAs. It's arguably one of the most famous ingredients in the skincare world.
This article will cover everything you need to know about using BHAs:
- What are acids in skincare?
- What are BHAs?
- How do BHAs work?
- When to use BHAs
- BHAs vs AHAs
- Types of BHAs
Acids explained
Do you have flashbacks to chemistry class when you hear the word "acid"? Thankfully, using acids in skincare does not require giant safety goggles (but hey, you should still avoid putting skincare in your eyes).
In skincare, acids work with your skin - and they can provide a ton of benefits! In other words, acids are friends.
First things first, AHA stands for Alpha-Hydroxy Acids, and BHA stands for beta-hydroxy acids, and PHA stands for polyhydroxy acids.
Similarities between the AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs include:
- They can remove dead skin cells
- They can reduce inflammation
- They can help even out skin tone
- They can help unclog pores
On a higher level, all three of these are known as chemical exfoliants. Their main purpose is to gently exfoliate and dissolve dead skin cells.
All three have overlapping similarities, but are generally used to treat different skin conditions.
Having trouble deciding which acids are best for your skin?
Let's dive more into BHAs and how they can help your skin.
What are BHAs?
BHAs are derived from the bark of the white willow tree of the salix genus.
The most famous form of BHA is Salicylic Acid. Salicylic acid is the precursor for creating acetylsalicylic acid; you might know acetylsalicylic acid as the source of aspirin.
Fun fact: Willow bark was used as traditional medicine in ancient Egypt, China, and Greece.
How do BHAs work?
BHAs are able to work on both the surface of the skin and inside your pores.
The best part of BHAs is that they're oil-soluble. Because of this, they can help reduce oil production in oil glands. They're able to absorb the oil from your glands and break it down.
Pores can become clogged with dead skin cells and other gunk. BHAs effectively sweep out your pores and keep them clean. Drying out extra oil and removing gunk inside your pores makes it harder for acne to form.
Clean pores + less acne? Sounds like a winner.
On the surface of your skin, BHAs help remove dead skin cells. This frees up your skin to generate newer and fresher ones. A build up of dead skin cells can lead to tired and dull looking skin.
So, when should I use BHA?
BHAs are best used for cleaning out pores, preventing acne, and reducing inflammation.
It's a powerhouse ingredient for:
- normal to oily skin
- skin prone to clogging
- skin prone to texture
- enlarged pores
- controlling oil production
BHAs will increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. While they do not make your skin as sun-sensitive as AHAs, we always recommend wearing SPF with it.
It is always best to consult with a professional about incorporating BHAs into your skincare. BHAs can be irritating for sensitive or dry skin. No matter your skin type, it is best to patch-test any acid-based skincare product.
How is it different from an AHA?
BHAs work at a deeper level in the skin than AHAs, which works exclusively at the surface level. Because BHAs are able to go deeper, they help clean out pores. AHAs are more effective at removing old and dead skin cells at the top.
AHAs can help unclog pores by removing the dead skin cells. However, they do not help with oil control like BHAs do. If you do not have an issue with clogged pores or breakouts, you should look into using AHA.
AHAs are better at rejuvenating new skin cells to help with anti-aging.
Different types of BHAs
- Salicylic Acid
- Some formulations of Citric Acid
- Sodium Salicylate
Find a product with BHA
We've got over a thousand different products in our database that contain salicylic acid.
Start browsing here to find products containing BHA that will work for your skin. 😊
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