Beta hydroxy acid (BHA which is salicylic acid) and Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA's such as lactic and glycolic acid derived from fruit and milk sugars) are skin exfoliants that work in chemical form instead of the manual abrasive technique. AHA's are water soluble and work on the surface of your skin. It works best on skin that is dry, sensitive, or sundamaged. BHA is lipid (oil) soluble and therefore can penetrate oil in the pores. It acts as an anti-bacterial and can improve pore function. This is very helpful to people with oily, acne, and blackhead prone skin. AHA's and BHA are found in both creams and serums. Serums tend to be more concentrated than creams. BHA works best in products that have a pH balance between 3 and 4 and a concentration between 1% and 2%. AHA's work best in products that have a concentration between 8% to 10%. BHA and AHA's have shown to improve skin cell turnover, increase collagen content, and improve skin thickness.
*Note: Anyone using an AHA or BHA product should use a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection.
Studio Abasi Clinical Skincare Products Containing BHA & AHAs
- Blemish Control: non drying cleanser, toner, and mask containing 2% BHA
- Skin Renewal: milky cleanser, toner, mask, and a skin renewal gel that contains 9% glycolic acid.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants slow or impede free-radical damage. Free-radical damage occurs from exposure to the environment such as sunlight and pollution. When we don't use antioxidant protection such as vitamins A, C, and E, Alpha lipoic acid, and coenzyme Q10, to name just a few, free-radical damage can occur causing skin cells and collagen to break down. You will see the damage in the form of wrinkles and skin discoloration. Antioxidants can be used in both oral and topical form in the prevention of free-radical damage.
Studio Abasi Products With Antioxidant Vitamin C
Vibran C cream with ceramides: 10% L-ascorbic vitamin C fortified with advanced cermides. The cermides works as a water binding agent to retain moisture and act as a barrier system against free-radical damage. Vibran C eye gelee: A vitamin C protien complex to brighten, smooth and protect against free-radicals in the delicate eye area.
Sun Screens
It's advised that one should always use full spectrum sunscreen protection. Full spectrum sunscreens protect against damaging UVB (the rays that cause a sunburn) and UVA( the rays that cause damage to the deeper layers of the skin). Suncreens that contain UVB and UVA protection as well as antioxidants are your best defense against free-radical damage. The following ingredients qualify a product as full spectrum: avobenzone (parsol 1789), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide.
Studio Abasi Full Spectrum Sunscreens
- SPF 15 containing titanium dioxide and antioxidant vitamins A,C, & E
- SPF 25 containing titanium dioxide and antioxidant vitamins A,C, & E
- SPF 30 (water proof) containing titanium dioxide and antioxidant vitamins A,C, & E