All About Acids

ALL ABOUT ACIDS

Exfoliating acids can be your skin’s superhero; they can exfoliate, smooth and visibly brighten many stubborn skin concerns. As some of the most well-proven ingredients in skincare, they have the potential to transform skin tone and texture in just a matter of weeks.

At Medik8, we have 3 categories of products and treatments containing exfoliating acids:

Daily Acid Exfoliation

At-Home Treatments

Professional Peels

HOW DO THEY WORK

Before we get into our different acid categories at Medik8, let's look at how they actually work. Exfoliating acids break down the bonds between skin cells to allow them to shed off more easily, helping to stimulate faster skin cell turnover. As a result, they can help to resurface the texture of the skin and minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation. They can even reduce congestion and the likelihood of blemishes forming, all while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

There are many different exfoliating acids to choose from, and it’s super important to tailor your ‘acid wardrobe’ (as we like to call it) to your individual skin type and concerns.

AHA vs BHA vs PHA

So let's meet our 3 types of exfoliating acids: AHAs, BHAs and PHAs. They all have different ways of working on the skin, all with slightly different end results.

AHA - Alpha hydroxy acid. Usually water soluble and work to exfoliate the upper layers of the skin. Examples include glycolic acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid - see Sleep Glycolic our true 10% glycolic acid at-home peel, or Pore Minimising Tonic which contains a blend of lactic and mandelic acid.

BHA - Beta hydroxy acid. Oil soluble and can therefore penetrate deep into pores, unclogging blockages to prevent blemishes. Examples include salicylic acid - found in our Blemish Control Pads, Blemish SOS and Press & Clear at a maximum strength of 2%.

PHA - Polyhydroxy acid. Water soluble, and are made up of big molecules therefore they stick to working on the top surface of the skin. Examples include gluconolactone - found in our everyday, twice a day acid toner Press & Glow.

So now we’ve established each type of acid - let's get into our different categories at Medik8.

MEDIK8'S GUIDE TO: DAILY EXFOLIATION

When high strength exfoliating acids are used every day, multiple times a day, the skin can become overwhelmed. Over exfoliation of the skin can lead to an impaired skin barrier and, ultimately, sensitised and dry skin which is less able to repair and protect itself. We wanted to overcome this problem at Medik8, by developing exfoliating acid products that can be used in an everyday regime.

At Medik8, we have two clinically proven stars of daily acid toning: Press & Glow and Press & Clear. Born out of the need for powerful, exfoliating acid toners that can be used every day, twice a day, both formulations are non-drying, non-sticky and always gentle on the skin. Press & Glow and Press & Clear are suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skins. The perfect upgrade to your daily Medik8 regime.

Press & Glow features hydrating polyhydroxy acid gluconolactone (at 5.5%) and is designed to deliver radiant, glowing skin. It is perfect for those experiencing skin dullness, uneven texture and those wanting to boost their vitamin A results, due to its gentle, hydrating properties.

Or if skin clarity is your main concern, then our new-to-market Press & Clear is for you. Utilising the power of 2% salicylic acid with cutting-edge encapsulation technology, this toner provides triple-action blemish care that’s as powerful as it is gentle.

Both toners are ideal for use alongside your daily CSA routine.

MEDIK8’S GUIDE TO: AT-HOME TREATMENTS

As we explained earlier, the overuse of high strength exfoliating acids can result in a damaged skin barrier. Of course, your skin barrier is crucial for overall skin health. Keeping this in mind, our ultimate guidance on using at-home, high strength exfoliating acid treatments is simple - treat your skin 2-3 times a week, rather than every day. Remember, it is a marathon not a sprint to reach your skin goals. Long-term skin health is the most important aim.

And with that, let us introduce Sleep Glycolic. With an innovative take on at-home, high strength glycolic acid, this hydrating leave-on treatment delivers the powerful exfoliation potential of glycolic acid in a way that keeps our skin barrier in perfect health. Recommended for use 2-3 times a week, Sleep Glycolic is crafted with Time-Release Technology which gradually delivers the 10% true glycolic acid throughout the night - minimising the potential for irritation. This is ultimate glycolic power, without the downsides.

MEDIK8’S GUIDE TO: PROFESSIONAL PEELS

Zooming in on our Medik8 Professional treatments, let's have a closer look at how we administer exfoliating acids in-clinic. Chemical peels are fast-becoming the number one clinical skin treatment worldwide due to their ability to go deeper into the skin, meaning they can target the most stubborn of skin concerns. Offering the ultimate in skincare results, professional peels need to be delivered in a controlled environment and are recommended for less frequent use, compared to at-home treatments. Medik8 has an extensive range of Professional Peels that are specifically formulated to target different skin concerns, such as hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone (see Even™), or for congestion and oiliness (Clarity™ may be the one for you), or for concerns around fine lines and wrinkles (Rewind™ is our go-to peel for signs of ageing). Delivering visible results with less discomfort and downtime, we take clients on a unique peeling journey, with high performance peeling results alongside reduced sensation.

Our Peels range features an assortment of exfoliating acids; lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, gluconolactone, pyruvic acid and lipohydroxy acid. We keep the acid concentrations high and the peel pH low for optimum penetration and results, but with the addition of irritation-reducing Time Release Technology. In each peel formulation, we have included arginine – a naturally occurring amino acid that slows down the penetration of exfoliating acids on the skin, causing the stinging sensation to build up gradually in order to ease the client into the peel experience. We never compromise on experience for results, or vice versa.

12 weeks → 8 clinic appointments → 6 professional peels

Medik8’s 12 Weeks to Wow programme introduces a form of ‘personal training’ for the skin - a 12-week programme of 6 in-clinic peels tailored to your specific concerns, combined with a prescribed at-home regime of CSA products. Clients are assigned a dedicated Medik8 professional who will guide them through their treatment journey with educational tips, personalised homecare and a unique peels experience. Over the 6 treatments, therapists have a choice of 12 peels from our portfolio to treat various skin concerns which can be built up in strength and layered for maximum results. The final appointment is the ‘WOW Reveal’ where clients will be able to measure their skin results by comparing them to photos taken in their first consultation.

THE MEDIK8 DIFFERENCE

At Medik8, you can be certain that we take every step to avoid any unnecessary discomfort when using exfoliating acids. When developing our exfoliating acid products in our in-house laboratory, there are many areas we take into consideration: careful selection of what exfoliating acids we want to use based on extensive research, trialling and testing different inclusion levels (%) and experimenting with different ways of delivering the acids into the skin (see Encapsulation Technology in Press & Clear and Time Release Technology in Sleep Glycolic). We also ensure that our ‘directions of use’ are crystal clear, and combine these amazing acid ingredients with hydrating and nourishing actives to counteract any drying or flaking. We believe that when exfoliating acids are used correctly, they are comfortable on the skin and can promote a healthy skin barrier - resulting in noticeably smooth, glowing, and resilient skin.

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