ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT THE ALPHA

I'm totally obsessed with Alpha Hydroxy Acid. I've used it, in some form or another, since I was a teen (like 3 years ago... wishing...). It's meant to help with aging, but it's also fabulous for acne-prone skin and skin tone and texture issues.

Wikipedia.org defines alpha hydroxy acid as, "a class of chemical compounds that consist of a carboxylic acid substituted with a hydroxy group on the adjacent carbon. They may be either naturally occurring or synthetic. "

Here are some forms of AHA:

• Glycolic acid is the most widely used of out of the group and is usually manufactured from sugar cane. It is fairly well known and considered the most effective of the AHAs.
  

• Lactic acid, derived primarily from milk is considered to be milder and less irritating than glycolic acid, [citation needed] and is therefore considered ideal for those with sensitive skin. Its origins can be traced back to Cleopatra, who purportedly used sour milk on her skin.

• Citric acid from citrus fruits, malic acid from apples and pears and tartaric acid from grapes are not as common and their effectiveness is still not clear.

DDF makes great glycolic acid daily cleansing pads 10% which aid in eliminating acne and combating signs of aging. They're pre-soaked pads that also get rid of all the crud on your mug!

You know my favorite anti-acne product, MaMa Lotion (CLICK HERE to read my review)? Well, that's a form of citric acid - it contains both malic and mandelic acids. This product is awesome for evening out the skin tone and clearing up blemishes.

Another great product is Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Lotion 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle. It's my must-have alpha hydroxy item! It's a lotion, so it moisturizes, but it also brings blackheads to the surface, evens out skin tone and texture, naturally exfoliates the skin AND helps to reduce visible signs of aging. The lotion is a mere $10.99 and it actually works! I've tried a ton of them and, so far, this one is my fave!


Have a favorite AHA product! Leave a comment... Let us know!