What are the Different Acids for Skincare?

When we think of an acid, we tend to think of something really harsh and not an ingredient that we would include in a skincare formulation. However, this is not always the case, as some of these acids have some pretty great benefits for skin. This is especially true of hyaluronic acid, an amazing skin hydrator and plumper that we love to use in our natural anti-ageing face products.

At Nakin we are dedicated to producing the best natural anti-ageing skincare using high quality natural ingredients, and because some of the cosmetic acid ingredients are natural and kind to skin we use them in our skincare products, such as hyaluronic acid and lactic acid. There are lots of different acid ingredients and we steer clear of most of them, as although they have great benefits, they can be pretty harsh and cause irritation. Instead, we use natural alternatives, so instead of using glycolic acid we use exfoliating fruit extracts and instead of ascorbic acid, which is synthetic vitamin C, we have vitamin C in our products from the naturally occurring plant extracts.

What are the Different Acids for Skincare?

One thing we do find is that there is quite a lot of confusion about what the different acids are in skincare ingredients and their different benefits for skin. So, we have compiled some easy-to-follow information to show what the different acids do for our skin.

• Hyaluronic Acid – Our favourite and helps with hydration plus plumping out lines & wrinkles. We love it because it gives lots of deep hydration without being rich, and this is why we use it in most of our face products.
• Lactic Acid – Another nice acid is lactic acid, as it has benefits that includes clearing congestion, improving skin texture, brightening, hydrating plus smoothing lines and wrinkles. At Nakin we opt for fruit AHAs over lactic acid in our Exfoliating Radiance Tonic, as these are more powerful when it comes to improving texture and brightness.
• Glycolic Acid – Probably one of the most well-known acids for exfoliating, brightening, smoothing skin texture and lines. It can be harsh on skin though.
• Salicylic Acid – Helps with skin texture, acne and brightening the complexion. It is kinder to skin than synthetic glycolic acid, but can still cause irritation for some.
• L-Absorbic Acid – This is synthetic vitamin C which is often found in skincare serums and creams, due to its brightening ability for dull skin or an uneven skin tone. This is one to especially take care of as it can be strong when applied with a noticeable irritating feeling.
• Mandelic Acid – Another multipurpose acid that is brightening, helps to relieve congestion, an uneven texture plus lines and wrinkles. Take care with irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.
• Azelaic Acid – Helps skin with congestion, hydration and texture. Another one to take care of irritation with.
• Ferulic Acid – Another brightening acid that also helps with lines and wrinkles. It can also cause irritation for some people, as with all new products and new exfoliating acid formulas, a patch test is needed.
• Kojic Acid – Good for congested. skin plus brightening and to help fade scars. As with the others noted above, take care as a new user in case irritation occurs, and patch test.

Although we earlier mentioned to not be scared of acids in skincare, each one is different. Hyaluronic acid is suitable for all and should not cause irritation, unless an allergy is present. However, the others mentioned are exfoliating and can cause irritation. At Nakin we always prefer natural exfoliators over synthetic acid versions, as we believe that they are more suitable for all skin types.

We hope that you found our feature helpful about what the different acids in skincare are, and how they benefit us in our beauty regimes. As we mentioned, we are not recommending using products with these acids in, as some can be irritating, instead this is more an information piece. At Nakin we are dedicated to producing the best plant-based formulations possible and you can find out more about our brand and products in the links below.

• Discover our award-winning natural anti-ageing cleansers.
• Discover our award-winning natural anti-ageing face treatments.
• Discover our award-winning natural anti-ageing moisturisers.
• Discover our award-winning natural anti-ageing eye cream.
• Discover our award-winning natural anti-ageing lip care.
• See our full range of natural anti-ageing products, with everything needed in an effective face care routine.

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