Generally, issues are higher in pairs. Whereas there are synergistic ingredient pairings that amp up your skincare routine, precise product advantages can play effectively collectively, too. One such instance? Pairing exfoliation with hydration. “Exfoliating merchandise are generally paired with hydrating ones as a result of the advantages complement one another,” explains Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Affiliate Professor Director of Beauty and Medical Analysis Division of Dermatology on the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York Metropolis.
Particularly, Zeichner notes that exfoliating acids — assume AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs — are the right predecessor or complement to hydrating components, equivalent to hyaluronic acid, your pores and skin routine. Nonetheless not bought on the ability couple? Hold studying to find out how the duo advantages pores and skin.
They maintain pores and skin higher hydrated
Enjoyable truth: Hydrating components, equivalent to hyaluronic acid, can solely attain pores and skin if it’s not blocked by lifeless pores and skin cells. That’s the place exfoliation turns out to be useful. Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs — which embody glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids — are water-soluble actives that work by dissolving the bonds between lifeless pores and skin cells and the wholesome dermis, successfully sweeping these cells out of your pores and skin.
In the meantime, BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), together with the acne-fighting superhero and eponymous salicylic acid present in our Strawberry Easy BHA+AHA Salicylic Serum, go a bit deeper with their exfoliation efforts. Not like their AHA counterparts, BHAs are oil-soluble, which suggests they successfully take away gunk, filth, and, sure — oil — from pores. It’s additionally price namechecking the lesser-known PHAs (polyhydroxy acids), that are a lot gentler on pores and skin than their counterparts.
All advised, clearing away particles from pores and skin’s floor means pores and skin can higher take in the hyaluronic acid, which in flip pulls water into pores and skin to plump and hydrate.
They reduce threat of dryness and irritation
After we’re speaking about hydration, we’re virtually at all times talking of hyaluronic acid. And, though hyaluronic acid is an acid by title, it’s probably not by commerce: It really works in another way than its exfoliating counterparts. “Hyaluronic acid is named an acid, but it surely truly is a sugar and doesn’t present exfoliating impacts,” says Dr. Zeichner. “It as an alternative hydrates dry, dehydrated pores and skin.”
Particularly, hyaluronic acid slows the speed at which water evaporates from the pores and skin floor to assist keep pores and skin’s hydration ranges. Research additionally affirm the molecule — additionally known as sodium hyaluronate — can bind as much as 1000 instances its weight in water, giving it its humectant properties which can be virtually the precise reverse of the aforementioned exfoliating acids. “Hyaluronic acid has humectant properties, appearing like a sponge to tug in hydration to the pores and skin’s outer layer,” explains Zeichner.
Pairing hyaluronic acid with exfoliating acids is a good suggestion, notably in case your pores and skin tends to run on the delicate facet. In leaving pores and skin hydrated, it counteracts any of the drying results the exfoliating acids could doubtlessly trigger — primarily balancing them in actual time.
They provide complementary advantages
With exfoliation and hydration, you get the very best of each worlds. “Exfoliating acids are generally paired together with hyaluronic acid as a result of the advantages complement one another,” Dr. Zeichner says. “The hydroxy acids present the chemical exfoliation and the anti-aging results, whereas hyaluronic acid helps keep pores and skin hydration and reduce potential irritation.” Merely put: This combo is straight-up arrange for fulfillment.
To maximise the outcomes, Zeichner suggests utilizing these components as a part of a moisturizer or with one layered on prime. ‘Hyaluronic acid is sweet at grabbing onto water, however not holding it in place,” Zeichner explains. “That’s why it’s continuously mixed with an emollient or occlusive ingredient [as part of a face moisturizer or cream].” With Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, which alone packs 5 molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid, you possibly can assure you’re profiting from it; it additionally has polyglutamic acid, a peptide that helps lock in moisture and boosts the efficacy of hyaluronic acid. Collectively, they’re a one-two punch of hydration.
Get the very best of each worlds
Should you’re already a Glow Recipe fan, you then’re in luck: Pairing light exfoliants with hyaluronic acid has been the established order for a lot of of our formulation, since we’re all about efficient formulation everybody can use. The truth is, we have been on the forefront of that with our unique Watermelon Glow Sleeping Masks, which bucked the norm of masks that have been solely both hydrating or decongesting clay formulation.
Yow will discover hyaluronic acid paired with plant-derived alternate options, equivalent to light hibiscus AHA, within the Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Physique Cream. In Watermelon Glow Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial, in the meantime, it’s not simply acids however a mix of BHA, PHA, and watermelon enzymes that ship gentle (however significant) exfoliation; the formulation has each hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic clay to clear pores with out stripping away hydration. Lastly, as a result of PHAs supply milder exfoliation, they work notably effectively in merchandise to prep pores and skin for remedies and moisturizers, equivalent to our Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner.
This intelligent mixture can also be what makes the brand new Watermelon Glow AHA Evening Remedy such a strong formulation. As a substitute of utilizing simply any acid, it harnesses a 2.5% mix of light AHAs that delivers the ability of 10% glycolic acid — with none dryness or irritation. To then actively hydrate pores and skin, it has not one, not 5, however seven completely different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid to make sure each layer of pores and skin is correctly hydrated. The top outcome: Smoother, brighter pores and skin by morning.
Finally, pairing exfoliation and hydration in a single product gives most reward with minimal threat. If that doesn’t make for a compelling argument, we’re undecided what does.
Hold studying about getting the very best energetic components:
