Okay, confused about the whole AHA/BHA combo thing
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free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:33 am

I've been using both for many years. Yesterday, I saw posts here that you should use one in the a.m. and one at night, as they "cancel each other out." I never heard such a thing before. If this is true, how do ISC, ifeelpretty, Sage Skincare, etc. have products that combine the two?

What is the real story here? Chemical wizards? Is there really any reason to not combine them, other than skin sensitivity?

My skin needs both. Hell, I feel like my skin needs everything right now. Laughing

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:38 am

Hi Sidda - I've never read that anywhere. Combining both is fine and good; AHA resurfaces, ABH scours out pores. A perfectly complementary couple.

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:45 am

Hello Sidda,
I would be very interested to see where you found this information? I love IS Clinical Active Serum and and AHA and BHA work fantastic together Confused

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:55 am

Sidda wrote:

I've been using both for many years. Yesterday, I saw posts here that you should use one in the a.m. and one at night, as they "cancel each other out." I never heard such a thing before. If this is true, how do ISC, ifeelpretty, Sage Skincare, etc. have products that combine the two?

What is the real story here? Chemical wizards? Is there really any reason to not combine them, other than skin sensitivity?

My skin needs both. Hell, I feel like my skin needs everything right now. Laughing

Sidda - are you sure you didn't read about using Vit C in the AM, then Copper Peptides in the PM?

Those are the only things I can think of that need to be used on opposite ends of the day.

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:47 am

Oh, gad, now I have to retrace my steps from yesterday to find the thread. I'm not een sure it was on this forum -- but a whole group agreed. AHA at night, BHA in the morning, because of photosensitivity. Not used together. The pHs contradicted or...

I was ready to dismiss it, but half a dozen seemingly knowledeable people were nodding and murmuring affirmatives.

If I find it, I'll post the link. But that's a major undertaking today. And you've now convinced me I'm not wrong.

Enter more nodding and murmuring affirmatives here.

Thanks.

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:21 pm

BHA and AHA donot cancel each other out. And can easily be used together.

And both use roughly the same pH ranges 3.0 or less.

However IF you have an AHA for example at 1.9 ph AND a BHA at 3.0 pH - then in that case applying at the same time would raise the pH of the lowest pH product (the AHA). Limiting its effectiveness. Which you really don't want to do.

So in THAT case then either apply the products 30 minutes apart OR one in AM one in PM.

This is of course assuming both products are indeed at the proper pH to work effectively for an acid. If either is not, its useless anyway.

Sun sensitivity is not from useing either in the AM or PM. It is not from the actual product on the skin surface really, yes that can contribute a bit, but rather the biggest issue is thinning action on the skin surface, from continued use. (which is what it is supposed to do by the way to soften lines, remove dullness etc)

So if you used it in the PM only - skin surface is still thinned once you step outside in the AM. Smile

Thats what an effective sunscreen, antioxidants, hats etc are for.

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:28 pm

THANK YOU. Tangal, you treasure. This is just what I thought. As I read the thread (which I still could not find, after an hour of looking), I frowned more and more. The whole "cancel each other out" was just... Farci to me.

Many thanks. As you were, everybody. Cool

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:18 pm

Sidda wrote:

THANK YOU. Tangal, you treasure. This is just what I thought. As I read the thread (which I still could not find, after an hour of looking), I frowned more and more. The whole "cancel each other out" was just... Farci to me.

Many thanks. As you were, everybody. Cool

just an FYI: i read the thread too so you weren't hallucinating and i thought the same thing. couldn't find the thread either....

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:58 pm

There was a thread recently about not using BHA and Benzoyl Peroxide together due to one cancelling out the other. This is also not accurate.

The two can be used together without impacting the effectiveness of either product and it is often recommended to use them together if your skin can tolerate it.

Retinoids, on the other hand should not be used at the same time as benzoyl peroxide as that will cancel the effectiveness of the benzoyl peroxide. The two should be used at opposite ends of the day.

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:58 pm

That's not true. If your skin can tolerate it, combining AHA and BHA is supposed to be the most effective.

free skin care · Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:34 pm

My thought, if I apply AHA and BHA in the same time is quite strong and irritate my skin. My skin cannot tolerate it. Rolling Eyes

Because there are acid and increase photosensative. I am ASIAN in sun shine waether.
Anyhow, it was depend on % concentration of them.
I heard, AHA will be effective when have >8% concentration.

free skin care · Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:23 am

OH! Thanks, la vie en rose! I'm so glad I wasn't hallucinating or translating wrong. I want to find the thread now mostly to enter an "Um. No." But it has seemingly vanished.

I appreciate your weighing in to back me up.

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