AHA BHA Exfoliating Toner
Chemical exfoliation is the skincare step that produces the most immediate and most visible results — smoother texture, brighter tone, and improved absorption of all subsequent products — in the shortest time. The combination of AHA and BHA addresses both surface and pore exfoliation simultaneously.
What This Is
The AHA BHA Exfoliating Toner combines glycolic acid (AHA) at 5% and salicylic acid (BHA) at 1% in a toner format at pH 3.5 — the pH at which both acids are sufficiently protonated (in their active, unionised form) to penetrate the skin and provide genuine chemical exfoliation. It is used as a toning step after cleansing, applied to a cotton pad and swept across the face, before serums and moisturisers.
AHA vs BHA — Why Both
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are both chemical exfoliants — they dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells and the living cells beneath them, accelerating the natural shedding process. The difference is in their solubility and therefore their mechanism. AHAs are water-soluble — they work primarily on the skin surface, dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells to reveal the fresher, brighter cells underneath. This surface exfoliation is what produces the immediate improvement in skin tone and texture. BHAs are oil-soluble — they penetrate the sebum-filled pore opening and exfoliate within the pore, dissolving the impacted sebum and dead cell accumulation that causes blackheads and enlarged pores. Surface exfoliation (AHA) and pore exfoliation (BHA) are complementary mechanisms — using both addresses the full extent of dead cell and sebum accumulation rather than only the surface or only the pore.
Glycolic Acid at 5%
Glycolic acid is the most studied AHA and the one with the smallest molecular weight — approximately 76 Da — which gives it the best skin penetration of any AHA. At 5%, it provides gentle but genuine surface exfoliation that is appropriate for regular use (every other day to daily for skin that has built tolerance) without the irritation of higher concentrations. The 5% concentration also provides the collagen synthesis stimulation that glycolic acid demonstrates in research at concentrations above 4% — a benefit beyond simple exfoliation that makes this toner more than a dead cell removal product.
Salicylic Acid at 1%
The BHA component at 1% — the concentration at which salicylic acid provides pore-clearing exfoliation without the risk of over-drying that higher concentrations in a toner format can cause. The pH of 3.5 ensures the salicylic acid is in its active form — below pH 3.5 provides no additional benefit and increases irritation; above pH 4.0 the acid is increasingly ionised and less able to penetrate the skin and the sebum-filled pore.
Supporting Ingredients
Aloe vera juice as the primary vehicle — providing a soothing, anti-inflammatory base that reduces the potential for post-exfoliation redness. Niacinamide at 3% — a lower concentration than in the dedicated serum, providing a gentle barrier-supporting effect during the exfoliation step. Panthenol at 1% for post-exfoliation skin recovery.
How to Use
Use in the evening only — AHAs and BHAs increase UV sensitivity, and evening use minimises the period of increased photosensitivity. Apply to a cotton pad and sweep gently over the full face after cleansing, avoiding the immediate eye area and lips. Allow to absorb for three to five minutes before applying serums and moisturiser. Do not use on the same evening as retinol — the combination of acid exfoliation and retinol is too active for most skin types and increases irritation risk. Alternate: exfoliating toner three nights per week, retinol night cream on the remaining nights. Apply SPF 50 the following morning without fail — the freshly exfoliated skin is more susceptible to UV damage.
Details
200ml. Glycolic acid 5%, salicylic acid 1%. pH 3.5. Aloe vera juice base, niacinamide 3%, panthenol 1%. Free from: parabens, fragrance, alcohol. Dermatologist-tested. Evening use only. Not suitable during pregnancy. Made in India.
