8 facts about AHA By: Rebecca James Gadberry Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) might be the anti-aging miracle workers of the ‘90s. These New Age, wrinkle-smoothers from plants or milk products also help clear blemishes, hydrate the skin and lighten pigment spots by loosening one to several layers of dead cells clinging to the skin’s surface. AHA’s are so powerful on the skin and at the cash register, cosmetic companies are putting them in everything from cleansers and creams to masks and body lotions. In 1993 alone, over 50 new products containing some form of AHA hit store shelves or infomercial time slots from coast to coast. Yet, consumers complain they do not know much about them except that they will take years off the skin in a matter of weeks. So here are 8 facts to know before choosing any AHA product: 1) AHA’s do more than other cosmetics but not as much as might be expected. No other ingredients in cosmetics are as powerful as AHA’s when it comes to peeling away dead, rough and/or uneven layers of old skin - not shells that grind, beadlets that polish or enzymes that dissolve surface skin cells. That is because AHA’s work by dissolving the glue-like lipids holding cells together and can penetrate deep into the skin to loosen these clingy bonds. “When dead cells are decreased, there are fewer cracks and fissures that can lead to irritation - so skin is healthier acting and younger looking,” says lean Haddad, a cosmetic manufacturer in Huntington Beach, California, “
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Indications – Helps clear blemishes, hydrates the skin, and lightens pigment spots.
Actions – Loosens one to several layers of dead cells clinging to the skin’s surface by dissolving the glue-like lipids holding the cells together.
Definition as cosmetic (FDA) – AHA’s work on the skin’s surface to produce surface improvements such as creating smoother lines, freeing pores of clogged cells and lightening pigment marks.
• Use of aged wine in France as “Youth Cream” over 200 years ago.
• Use of lemon and other fruit in skin tonics, Hungary, and other European countries.
• Use of naturally occurring non-toxic acids in other fruits, vegetables, sugar cane and sour milk.
• Acid based peels with AHA concentrations over 20% and used for over five minutes, are administered by Doctors (with local anethstesia and with heart monitoring for cardiac irregularities if over 50%) to help with severe acne and skin rejuvenation.
• Cosmetic industry use increases - with chemists manufacturing AHA product approved by the FDA.
• Because the base of AHA originates from natural substances, the government considers AHAs as cosmetics and do not require stiff federal regulation. As a result, beauty parlors now perform AHA peels.
• By 1993, over 50 new products containing AHAs were introduced into the U.S marketplace.
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Cleanse Tone Moisturize 3 Step Process1–CLEANSE; 2–TONE; 3–MOISTURIZE Twice daily - morning and evening. 1. SKIN CLEANSER: Apply to skin with cotton for deep cleansing. Gentle enough to use as an effective makeup remover, will not burn eyes and is safe for contact lens wearers. For use by all skin types. Follow with Skin Tonic. 2. SKIN TONIC: After Skin Cleanser, apply toner to skin with cotton. Will tighten your pours and will make it ready for moisturizer. For use by all skin types. 3. FOLLOW SKIN CLEANSER AND SKIN TONIC WITH ONE OF OUR 4 MOISTURIZERS BRILLIANT MOISTURIZER: Excellent for normal or combination skin. It contains 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acids – A.H.A. - in a moisturizing base. Gentle enough to use around the delicate eye area. Our A.H.A’s are from natural sources of bilberry, apples, oranges, grapes, and sugar cane. PROTEIN MOISTURIZER: Wonderful for dry skin. Contains 5% A.H.A’s. The oil of orchid found in this moisturizer acts as a buffer for the skin to absorb the Alpha Hydroxy Acids and helps soothe more sensitive dry skin. The protein that gives this cream its name is from organic soymilk. Contains more wheat germ oil - it is richer but not heavier than the Brilliant. NEW CONDITION MOISTURIZER: Great for those with oily-problem skin that is prone to breakouts. With 5% A.H.A it contains essential oils such as tea tree, peppermint and eucalyptus which are beneficial to oily skin. The combination of the grapefruit seed oil and the essential oils helps in clearing up breakouts and the A.H.A’s exfoliate the dead skin cells gently. 10% A.H.A MOISTURIZER: This is the basic recipe of our Brilliant Moisturizer with the addition of orchid oil and with 10% A.H.A instead of 5%. This moisturizer should be use by those who have been using Alpha Hydroxy Acids for more than 6 months. Mostly for a more mature skin.
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