AHA’s are chemicals exfoliants that slough off dead cells to gradually reveal brighter, smoother skin Common AHAs include glycolic, lactic and mandelic acid These exfoliants are safe for all skin types, with a few caveats Chemical exfoliants fall into several categories determined by their molecular properties.

An AHA exfoliant is typically used for anti-aging benefits, even though they can effectively treat acne as well. AHAs are recommended for normal to dry skin types because they have a greater moisturizing ability than BHAs. Alpha hydroxy acids include water-soluble acids like glycolic, citric, and lactic acids.

AHAs are water-soluble acids derived from fruits and plants. They’re considered a chemical exfoliant, which means that they use chemicals — specifically acids or enzymes — to buff away dead skin cells.

There are several skin exfoliating AHAs, but the two most effective, common, and well-researched are glycolic acid and lactic acid. Other AHAs— malic acid, citric acid and tartaric acid— also have benefits, but research on them is limited in comparison.