DIY BHA Face Peel for Acne-Prone Skin
Discover the benefits of a DIY BHA face peel, specially designed for acne prone skin and oily skin types. Learn how this effective treatment can reduce excess oil and clear pores, promoting healthier skin.
Beta Hydroxyl Acids also known as BHAs are lipophilic meaning they work well with oil-based ingredients. These BHAs are organic and good chemical exfoliants that have a common place but more popular than ever in the skincare community especially to those struggling with acne skin conditions. BHAs also hit a sweet spot of not being too harsh for some skin types like AHAs and not like PHAs that are less exfoliating.
Types of BHAs
These hydroxyl acids can not only exfoliate by also get rid of excess oil produced by skin sebaceous glands in the skin. When oil, dirt and bacteria accumulate in skin pores then acne can start to develop. BHAs can then clear the pores since they can stick to oils and get washed off easily. Some of commonly known BHAs are
Tropic acid
Trethocanic acid
Beta hydroxybutanoic acid
Willow extract
Many BHAs can be derived from natural sources like wintergreen leaves or sweet birch for salicylic acid, white willow for willow extract. Most of the sources are vegan friendly since they come from plants though most of the time the BHAs are made in labs.
Benefits of BHAs Face Peel
There are significant ways you can use Beta Hydroxyl Acids (AHAs) to improve your skin health by
Treat acne: BHAs has become a holy grail for anyone that needs to get rid of acne and fade out acne scars more gently. Many acne treatment products contain BHAs.
Safe for melanated skin: If you want something gentle for your dark skin complexion then using BHAs in your skincare routine can improve the skin tone without being too harsh. AHAs can be too harsh especially for those with dark sensitive skin types and even cause hyperpigmentation instead BHAs are more gentle to melanated skin.
Reduce pore size: By sloughing dead skin cells then you improve the skin cell cycle turnover that can promote your skin's youthful appearance, reduce furrows, lines and wrinkles in the skin and dullness.
Clear pores in the skin: BHAs can help to clear your skin pores by unclogging pores from oily dirt, grime and oils produced by skin in excess that can cause or exacerbate acne skin conditions.
Unlike AHAs that can cause sensitivity upon UV exposure, BHAs can be well-tolerated by people with sensitive skin type. BHAs, are more gentle and don't cause skin redness or irritation and be used with vitamin C products.
After knowing all this then you can make your own BHA face peel that can you can use to exfoliate your skin on weekly basis for more even-textured, acne-free, radiant and oily-free skin. Now let's get started making this face peel right away!
Selecting Ingredients
Distilled water: In your face peel, water-based ingredients makes the largest percent of it. So it is very important to use distilled water to avoid bacterial growth or mineral impurities in your face peel formulation. So don't use tap water or bottled drinking water since they're prone to contamination thus not right choices.
Salicylic acid 2%: This BHA type can come from sweet birch or willow bark plant sources. This percentage is generally safe since is going to be diluted with distilled water at the final product. Salicylic acid is the main active ingredient in the face peel formulation. It can improve skin texture as an exfoliant and clear acne for overall skin health.
Glycerin: This is another very important ingredient that can boost moisture in the skin upper layer. Adding glycerin to this face peel will help to reduce dryness, redness and irritation on the exfoliated skin.
Capric triglyceride: It is an ingredient made from natural plant oils like coconut oils with glycerin. It is an excellent emollient that can be used to replenish lost natural oils in the skin. It can also be easily mixed in oil-phase with salicylic acid.
Sodium acrylate: It is the thickening agent that can increase viscosity of your face peel formulation so that it would be easy to apply it on your skin and stick to it.
Xanthan gum: This is another natural thickening agent that increase viscosity to your face peel making it easier to apply with your fingers or brush. A little of xanthan gum will go a long way. It'll be mixed in water-phase since it can easily dissolve in distilled water.
Ingredients
5½ tablespoons of distilled water
2 teaspoons of salicylic acid 2% or even 1%
1 teaspoon of glycerin
1 teaspoon of capric triglyceride
½ teaspoon of sodium acrylate
⅛ teaspoon of xanthan gum
*All metrics are US based.
Arrange all your ingredients before making your face peel formulation. You can buy most of the ingredients online at affordable price. Get utensils and tools that you'll need for preparing face peel such as glass mixing bowl, measuring spoons, hand-held mixer and designated disinfected pump bottle. Prepare your workspace and work in a clean, tidy in a well-ventilated place. You can protect yourself with gloves and apron whenever possible.
Instructions
Measure out ingredients: distilled water, salicylic acid 2%, glycerin, capric triglyceride, sodium acrylate and xanthan gum and set them aside.
Start by adding distilled water and glycerin into clean glass mixing bowl and stir the mixture.
Sprinkle xanthan gum in the mixture whilst mixing it with hand-held mixer on low speed. Make sure the xanthan gum is completely dissolved in the homogenous mixture.
Add your sodium acrylate and continue mixing till you get uniform mixture.
Add your capric triglyceride and salicylic acid 2% continue mixing again. Make sure your salicylic acid is completely dissolved in oily mixture.
To adjust thickening of your face peel, add your xanthan gum and blend till you get uniform mixture.
Transfer your peel into the disinfected pump bottle. Store in a cool and dry place.
About me
Hello, my dear gorgeous! Welcome to my blog and learn with me as you walk in your skincare journey. I'm skincare enthusiast and a student. I like sharing my passion of beauty and skincare with the world. I like blogging, reading and binge watching YouTube vlogs and Netflix during my leisure time.
