Hello everyone! Hope you’re having a nice day!
Today, I wanted to share my experience with The Ordinary’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. This is an exfoliation peel that contains alpha and beta hydroxy acids.
What are AHAs and BHAs?
I’ve been trying to learn and be more knowledgeable about skincare ingredients and there’s just so many, it gets confusing. I’m not a specialist in this field, just an average skincare lover, so definitely do your research or check with your dermatologist.
Per WedMd, “They are both chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin”. They can also help with fine lines, texture, and dark spots.
AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acid. BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid. AHAs are from sugary fruits and are water-soluble. They peel the surface of the skin and more skin cells generate to take their place. This makes the skin feel smooth.
BHAs are oil soluble and can get deeper into pores and remove excess sebum and dead skin cells. If you want to read more into it, check out this article by Healthline, where I got the information from.
The Ordinary’s AHA 30 % + BHA 2% Peeling Solution: My Experience
Now, let’s discuss the actual product and how it worked on my skin. For reference, I classify myself with oily/combination skin. My cheeks have some texture and dark spots and that’s my main problem. I do not suffer from severe acne, so I cannot report on that aspect of it.
I saw the peeling solution trending around 2020, during quarantine, decided to give it a shot and now, almost exactly 2 years later, I still use it.
This product helped my texture, dark spots, and made my skin look and feel smooth. Please keep in mind I use other products on my skin that assist with this as well, but this peel contributes a lot to how my skin looks.
I am not the greatest at remembering to use this product on a regular basis, meaning two times a week. I tend to be sporadic with my use, so sometimes it could be two times a week, maybe once, sometimes twice a month. I basically just use it when I feel like it, but never two days back to back or more than twice a week.
When I first started using this product, I didn’t notice much of a difference. For me, it took about three months to realize my skin was shining, and not just from my oiliness. My skin looked more fresh and this was definitely a result of the peeling solution.
It also helped reduce the appearance of my large pores. You can’t actually physically shrink your pores, but sometimes certain products can assist with sebum production and help pores appear smaller, so it definitely helped me with that.
For beginners who want to try this peeling solution:
This peeling solution has gone viral on social media, particularly on Tiktok, because of its unique blood-red color. It’s definitely a fun product and if people are constantly seeing other people with gorgeous skin showing it off, of course anyone would want to try.
If you’re not used to using acids on your face, please be careful.
No matter what “level” of skincare you’re at, you should always patch test. This way if your skin reacts, it will only do so on a small area, rather than your entire face. I patch tested this by applying some of the product to my inner elbow and jaw area, towards the back, so it would be hidden by my hair if I did react. Some people also test patch on their ear or behind their ear. I waited about 48 hours from my patch test to go ahead and try the product on my face.
The instructions state to leave on for 10 minutes. If you’re just starting and your skin isn’t used to acids, leave it on for 5 minutes and maybe 8 minutes the next time, until you build up to 10 minutes. If you don’t build up a tolerance, your skin might might get ‘stressed’ and it may lead to inflammation or other issues. The Ordinary states to not use more than twice a week.
I highly recommend using this only in an evening routine. This has a “sunburn alert” and will make your skin sensitive to the sun. You should always be wearing sunscreen, but especially after using this.
Also, the red color is super cool to look at, but it stains, so be very careful how you apply it. You do not want to apply a thick amount. You would be wasting a lot of product. Just a thin, even layer is perfect.
When you’re removing this peel, be sure use warm water and be gentle. I just use my hands and rinse the product off. I would not recommend rubbing it with a towel. This is a chemical exfoliating mask, and if you physically rub something on your skin, that’s a physical exfoliation. Your skin is already sensitive from the chemical, so avoid any other exfoliation. Also, it will stain a towel because of the red color.
Another thing I recommend before using this product, take a photo of your skin. Just take a quick photo and look at the results. Maybe it’ll take a few week or even months, but you should definitely see some changes.
My Final Thoughts…
My final thoughts on this product are that I really like it and see the hype! This was my introduction into the world of acids and I think The Ordinary is a great brand because their products really make you question what the ingredients actually do.
If you’re a beginner or you prefer a straight-forward and simple routine, definitely check out this brand. Personally, I love experimenting and trying new things, hence I have this blog and my Youtube channel where I do reviews. This peel will definitely stay in my favorites, but I want to branch out and try some other brands and see how other BHA or AHA peels work on my skin.
Let me know what you guys think about this product and if you’ve tried other AHA or BHA products. Also, feel free to subscribe to my Youtube channel for video reviews too!
AmandaSushma 
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