All scans / Exfoliants / The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution ingredients: is it worth it?
This is a high-powered acid peel that works, but it is absolutely unforgiving and easy to misuse.
This is a high-powered acid peel that works, but it is absolutely unforgiving and easy to misuse.
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The efficacy comes from very high-strength AHAs (lactic, tartaric, citric) combined with 2% salicylic acid, which can deliver significant exfoliation, texture refinement, and pore unclogging when used on intact skin for a short contact time at the correct low pH. However, the extreme acid load, lack of barrier lipids, and reliance on only light humectants and minimal soothing agents mean the formula trades comfort and tolerance for intensity; this justifies a strong exfoliation score but demands strict limits on frequency and application and makes it unsuitable for sensitive or compromised skin.
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DemythSkin rates The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 4.4/5 for efficacy and 3.8/5 for safety.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (12)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/leaf Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (23)⌄
- Water
- Primary solvent
- Sodium Hydroxide
- pH adjuster / neutralizer
- Daucus Carota Sativa Extract
- Botanical extract, antioxidant
- Propanediol
- Solvent and humectant
- Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
- pH adjuster / buffering agent
- Salicylic Acid
- BHA exfoliant for pores
- Potassium Citrate
- Buffering agent, pH control
- Lactic Acid
- AHA exfoliant, hydrating acid
- Tartaric Acid
- AHA exfoliant, pH adjustment
- Citric Acid
- AHA exfoliant, pH adjustment
- Panthenol
- Humectant and soothing agent
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
- Film-forming humectant
- Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
- Soothing botanical extract
- Glycerin
- Core humectant for hydration
- Pentylene Glycol
- Humectant and solvent
- Xanthan Gum
- Viscosity controller / thickener
- Polysorbate 20
- Solubilizer / emulsifier
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- Chelating agent
- Potassium Sorbate
- Preservative
- Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Preservative booster
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Solvent and preservative booster
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Humectant and preservative booster
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Salicylic Acid: Kligman, A.M. et al. Salicylic acid as a peeling agent. Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology, 1989.
Lactic Acid: Stiller, M.J. et al. A double-blind study comparing alpha hydroxy acid (lactic acid) and beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) as exfoliating agents for facial photodamage. Cutis, 1996.
Citric Acid: Ditre, C.M. et al. Improvement of photodamaged skin with alpha-hydroxy acid (citric acid). Archives of Dermatology, 1996.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution: common questions
Is The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution worth it?
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution scores 4.4 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Effective) and 3.8 out of 5.0 for safety (Mostly Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a high-powered acid peel that works, but it is absolutely unforgiving and easy to misuse.
What are the key active ingredients in The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution?
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid.
Does The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. It scores 3.8 out of 5.0 for safety.
How is The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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