Photo 7/7
The "Holy-S&%$-That's-Strong" Anti-Aging Acid
Comes from: a lab (it's synthetic)
Strength: 5/5
Why: If you want the strongest chemical peel available, you're probably looking at trichloroacetic acid, a powerful ingredient more commonly known as TCA. Tanzi says TCA is best for patients with extensive scars or damage because of its ability to "retexturize" pores and reduce the look of sun damage.
"The concentrations [of in-office treatments] range depending on the depth of the peel," says Tanzi. A dermatologist may use as little as 15 percent TCA for a light peel or as much as 50 percent for a deep peel that requires several weeks of post-treatment downtime.
TCA is somewhat rare in store-bought treatments because of its inherent strength. "[You'll] see no more than 3 percent in over-the-counter products," says Tanzi.
Buy: Peter Thomas Roth 40% Triple Acid Peel, $88
Alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids are the workhorses of your skin care routine. They exfoliate dull skin and fade imperfections, minus scratchy microbeads. Pretty much everyone can benefit from having acid in her routines -- but you shouldn't pick just any ol' AHA cleanser. If you wanna get nerdy about it, the various alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids (like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and malic acid) work differently on a molecular level, and choosing which one to use can make or break your skin. We asked Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., a Washington, D.C.-based dermatologist, to decode some of the most common AHAs and BHAs and tell which one you should be using.
