Chemical exfoliants dissolve the bonds holding dead skin cells on, so they shed the way they’re supposed to.
- AHAs (glycolic, lactic, mandelic): water-soluble, work on the surface. Texture, dullness, pigmentation.
- BHA (salicylic acid), oil-soluble, gets inside pores. The one for blackheads, congestion, and oily skin. If you only learn one acronym, learn this one.
- PHAs (gluconolactone, lactobionic acid): larger molecules, gentler, slower. The sensitive-skin entry point.
Physical exfoliants (scrubs) aren’t evil, but walnut-shell scrubs that scratch visibly are. If you scrub, make it gentle and infrequent. Chemical exfoliation is more even and easier to control.
Non-negotiable: exfoliation + sun \= pigmentation risk. Any exfoliating routine requires sunscreen, or you’re undoing your own work.
Keep reading
AntioxidantsAntioxidants neutralise free radicals: the unstable molecules generated by UV exposure anSurfactantsSurfactants are what make cleansers clean: molecules that grab oil on one end and water oPreservatives (in defence of)Preservatives stop your products growing bacteria, mould, and yeast. Phenoxyethanol, parab
The BYOUT Library is educational content, not personalised medical advice. For persistent or severe skin concerns, a dermatologist beats any article, including ours.