Been tumbling down the rocky road of exfoliants for sensitive skin? 

If you don't want to venture out on the rough journey again only to return still dull skin, redder and more breakouts, we urge you just put a toe out and dip into the idea of LHA before you give up altogether. 

Famous for doing the exfoliating work efficiently without triggering the fickle temperament of sensitive skin. LHA is one of the better exfoliants for you tender gals and guys. 

Sounds too good to be true?

We get it. Experimenting with sensitive skin can make one skeptical, and you have every right to be. So instead of making a recommendation and wrapping up, we came up with this post to explain what LHA is all about and how you can benefit from incorporating this ingredient into your routine.

Read one and have yourself some skintellectual goodies. 

LHA - the names and the family

While scanning the ingredient list, you might catch LHA under other names like C8-LHA or 2-hydroxy- 5-octanoyl benzoic acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid. 

See that last one? It's no coincidence that LHA carries the Salicylic Acid last name. LHA is actually a derivative of Salicylic Acid. So naturally, the name follows. 

But make no mistake that Salicylic Acid and LHA are the same things. They work differently on our skin and bring in different benefits. 

LHA skincare benefits

Clean out the nasty without the nasties

Attempting for a smooth complexion while having sensitive skin is a headache-inducing mission. Your velvety canvas is temporary until inflammations and breakouts catch up. Or should we say flare-up?

So here's how LHA can help maintain that smoothness. 

LHA has a higher molecular weight than Salicylic Acid and a pH level of 5.5, similar to natural skin. This particular structure prevents LHA from getting too deep and prickling sensitive skin. In the meantime, it hangs around on the skin surface, diligently breaking down the dead skin cell-by-cell, mimicking the shedding process of normal, healthy skin.

Salicylic Acid, on the other hand, tackles the skin sheet-by-sheet. Much more power, yet also much riskers for sensitive skin. 

With LHA, you can slough off your dull, rough skin for a smoother, brighter surface with no flakiness or irritation. 

Beats up acne bumps

LHA loves oil, it can melt right into those sebum-brimmed pores of yours like sinking into a bubble bath. It's this oil-soluble nature that acne-prone and oily skin look out for BHAs and Salicylic Acid to take down the stubborn comedonal acne. 

But most people don't know that LHA is even more oil-soluble than Salicylic Acid! So, it is easier for LHA to get into the clogged pores and unplug all the clingy debris and sticky dead skin that has made a home for far too long under your skin. 

LHA also kicks out the residing bacteria. In a study using LHA as the chemical peel, LHA is reported to diminish the bacterial population by around 20%. Though you might think that 20% isn't something to brag about, the way with sensitive skin is always slowly but surely. So while LHA can't annihilate the bacterial population, it's a great way to deal with the problem without calling for unwanted reactions. 

Aids anti-aging

Anti-aging is a process that relies on multiple factors. While the three biggest names in the game are definitely SPF, Retinoids, and beauty sleep, it doesn't mean that everything else isn't worth being included in the discussion. 

Though more time and research are necessary to cement the statement, LHA is reported to have the ability to stimulate skin proteins and lipids, increasing cell renewal for plump, bouncy skin. And yes, we're talking about human skin samples here, so no mice DNA is mistaken in the process. 

But hey, youthful skin isn't all about plumpness and elasticity. It's also about an even complexion in texture and color, which LHA can help you achieve by being a gentle yet efficient exfoliant. 

FAQ about LHA

Can LHA cause purging?

If you have never used any exfoliant before, purging will likely happen as your skin goes through its first-ever congestion deep cleanse. 

This reaction isn't exclusive to LHA. It's quite common among acne treatments and exfoliant users to experience this. And it's nothing to be alarmed about since the purge will soon give way to better skin. 

Some good rules of thumb when it comes to purging include:

• If you see acne pops up where you often have breakouts, it's purging. If the acne and inflammation appear where you usually have no problem, you're likely having breakouts. 
• Give it 4 - 6 weeks for the purging to subside. If not, you should consult a dermatologist about your concern. 

LHA with Retinol? LHA with Vitamin C?

We recommend that you DON'T use LHA together with Retinol (or any other Retinoids) or Vitamin C in a routine.

Retinol and Vitamin C work best when they have their own stage to shine. Adding anything to the mix besides good hydrators is notorious for messing up those two queens' performances. 

That said, you can use the LHA the night before to thin out the tough dead skin cells so the Retinol and Vitamin C products can have better absorption.

LHA best skincare combo

• For acne treatment, mix with Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO): 

It has been proven that when BPO is used with LHA, the acne treatment results are even better than the typical combo of BPO and topical antibiotics. It's just as effective but results in much less redness. 

Check up with your dermatologist and see if you can switch to BPO - LHA to avoid the awkward red blotches of acne treatments. 

• For glass skin look, add hydrators: 

Unlike popular belief, glass skin isn't perfect skin. The math of glass skin is the combo of smoothness and bounciness. Blemishes. Be. Damned.  

So with the canvas that LHA gives, you're halfway through! The next step is to plump up your skin for that bouncy effect with LOTS of hydration. 

We recommend choosing a watery hydrating toner or serum for this step. These products give you more control while layering hydration so that you don't cross the fine line between hydrated and greasy as likely seen with moisturizers. 

Ooooh, on the subject, we have something great in store for you.

While your skin doesn't have to be perfect for glass skin, a perfect prep is a must-have to achieve the look, and we have just the thing for you. 

Meet Round Lab Pine Calming Cica Pad. 

An LHA toner pad drenched in a generous dose of hydration and calming ingredients. The pad smooths and soothes your skin at the same time, prepping your skin for that luminous glass skin look.