USE IT or LOSE IT: THE ORDINARY AHA 20% + BHA 30% Peeling Solution Review

6 min readApr 2, 2019

Have you try any peeling solution before? Peeling is the first step to smooth skin. If you have post acner scar or use makeup everyday, or perhaps you are always inside air conditioner rooms, you may consider using peeling once a week.

Peeling help to remove dead skin and boost skin collagen. I have use 2 type of peeling: THE ORDINARY AHA 20% + BHA 30% PEELING SOLUTION REVIEW and Drunk Elephant T.L.C Sukari Baby Facial.

The different between these two product is the level of strength. Drunk Elephant is for you who want to try peeling, while The Ordinary is for those who happened to use peeling before and need stronger effect. It is actually depend on the current condition of your skin. I have both at home, while I have not suffering from post acne scar but use makeup almost everyday, I use Sukari Baby Facial, but if my skin condition is really worst, such as rohn skin with acnaic, white head and even post acne scar then I use The Ordinary Peeling Solution.

However, I also use Tretinoin, if you have not know about it. I use Tretinoin from Rectanyl — 0.5% and 0.025%. The tretinoin keep my acne away from my skin and giving smooth skin as well. I use Tretinoin every twice or three times a week. While using Tretinoin helps sometimes my skin suffer from moody due to certain weather or environment changes. So, I add peeling solution.

Unless you feel your skin is getting rough and not glowing. You use peeling solution right away if others such as your skincare product don’t help. Some people think that using too many face cream could help solve rough skin, post acne scar or even make the skin glow. The answer is that routine is to help maintain your skin. It doesn’t solve any of your skin problems at all.

It work the same like human need food in order to perform their activities, while they are sick, they go to the doctor or buy medicine. So, if your skin suffer from roughness, no glow, not smooth then you need peeling solution.

ABOUT PRODUCT:

With 30% Alpha Hydroxy Acids (Glycolic/Lactic/Tartaric/Citric), 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid), Hyaluronic Acid Crosspolymer, Vitamin B5, Black Carrot and Tasmanian Pepperberry

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) exfoliate the skin’s topmost surface for a brighter and more even appearance. Beta hydroxy acids (BHA) also exfoliate the skin with an extended function to help clear pore congestion. This combined 32% AHA/BHA solution offers deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and for improved skin radiance. The formula also improves the appearance of skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines with continued use.

This formula contains a studied Tasmanian Pepperberry derivative to help reduce irritation associated with acid use. This derivative is of plant origin and varies in colour seasonally and this colour variation may be apparent in the formula from time to time. This formula is further supported with a crosspolymer form of hyaluronic acid for comfort, Vitamin B5 to assist healing and black carrot as an antioxidant.

Note: This formula contains a very high concentration of free acids. We recommend use only if you are an experienced user of acid exfoliation and your skin is not sensitive.

Contraindications: This formula should not be used on sensitive, peeling or compromised skin. Please refer to additional sun protection note and other warnings in provided Directions.

This pH of this formula is approximately 3.6. Glycolic Acid, the primary AHA used in the formula, has a pKa of 3.6 and pKa is the most important aspect to consider in formulating with acids. pKa implies acid availability. When pKa is close to pH, there is an ideal balance between salt and acidity, maximizing effectiveness of the acid and reducing irritation. Higher pH numbers in such a case would increase salt which counter-intuitively would make the formula even more irritating than if the formula was more acidic.

Note: While exfoliating acids can result in quick visible benefits, we generally suggest indirect forms of skin exfoliation in favour of direct forms such as this formula due to potential inflammation and sensitivity associated with acids. Please refer to NIOD’s Non-Acid Acid Precursor for such a reference.

Directions

Clean face and wait for skin to dry. Do not use on wet skin. Apply evenly across face and neck using fingertips, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for no more than 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Avoid the eye contour and contact with eyes both during application and rinse off. This low-viscosity solution is intended to be used as a masque. Do not leave on for longer than 10 minutes. It is not recommended to use more than twice per week. Contact of the product with the skin must be of limited frequency or duration. If irritation occurs, cease use and consult a physician. Use only as directed on unbroken skin. Patch testing prior to use is advised. Refer to our in-depth guide to patch testing. Keep out of reach of children.

(Sunburn Alert: This product contains an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards.)

Ingredients

Glycolic Acid, Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan gum, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.

FINAL THOUGHT

The product have been serving my skin very well. I have dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin with adult acnes. This peeling remove acne and white head also smoothen my skin. I do feel that excessive makeup that still lurking in my face and can’t be remove just by facial wash is gone by using this peeling solution. As you may know that when you use makeup you often blend it does attached with your skin.

Using just a facial wash or even micellar water does not compatible with a real cleansing for the skin. This is also the reason why most of beauty expert recommend water base cleanser to be use after you use makeup or even if you don’t use makeup at all, you still need to cleanse your face because dirt and sebum will still be in your skin, and micellar water alone is not enough.

However, if I keep using makeup with foundation and all of those palettes in my skin. It is going into the layer of my skin and that’s causing my skin to look dull to even pale, therefore using peeling solution and even tretinoin will help to support the skin to be back to the normal stage. After using this peeling solution and another skincare routine, I have used less makeup with foundation but setting powder, because when skin is really in good condition, using all of that thick coverage will be useless, and it is better to show off your best skin.