If your complexion looks dull, it may be time to rethink your skincare routine. AHAs and PHAs, renowned for their effectiveness, gently exfoliate the skin and promote cellular renewal to reveal a brighter, more radiant complexion.
Pollution, stress and fatigue can all diminish the skin’s natural luminosity on a daily basis. More than simple cleansing, the skin needs targeted action: exfoliating acids have become essential allies for smoothing the skin and restoring its radiance.
The Science of Radiance: How Do Acids Work?
Over time, dead skin cells accumulate on the skin’s surface, reducing its ability to reflect light and leaving the complexion looking dull. AHAs (fruit acids) and PHAs work gently by loosening the bonds between these cells, encouraging their removal and stimulating cellular renewal. The skin appears smoother, more even and naturally more radiant.
AHAs & PHAs: Two Complementary Areas of Expertise
AHAs are recognised for their rapid action on skin texture and complexion radiance. PHAs, being gentler, provide progressive exfoliation while helping to maintain hydration, ensuring better skin tolerance.
The Expert Step: PAYOT’s Intense Peeling Mask
This advanced formula was developed for skin exposed to daily aggressors. By effectively removing dead skin cells, it reveals the skin’s natural radiance from the very first application. Its fresh gel-cream texture provides a pleasant sensory experience, transforming exfoliation into a genuine skincare ritual.
Clinically Proven Results
Clinical tests confirm the effectiveness of this acid combination, delivering visible improvements in skin quality:
- +45% increase in radiance*
- 96% of women reported softer skin from the very first application*
- With continued use, 87% of testers observed a genuine “new skin” effect, without resorting to invasive aesthetic procedures.
The Acid Glossary: Understanding Your Routine
To choose the right peel, it is important to understand the active ingredients it contains. Here are the key ingredients at the heart of the NUE Intense Peeling Mask:
Glycolic Acid (AHA): Known for its small molecular size, it penetrates effectively to stimulate cellular renewal and restore radiance to the complexion. It can also be naturally derived.
Lactic Acid (AHA): A gentler acid that exfoliates delicately while helping to maintain the skin’s hydration levels.
Gluconolactone (PHA): Ideal for sensitive skin, it provides gentle exfoliation without irritation and helps protect the skin thanks to its antioxidant properties.
Fruit Acids (AHAs): Derived from plant-based sources, they help clarify the complexion and gently refine skin texture.
What Is the “New Skin” Effect?
The “new skin” effect refers to both the sensation and appearance of skin that has been freed from its layer of dead cells. Skin texture appears refined, pores are less visible, the skin feels silkier and light reflects more evenly across the surface. The Intense Peeling Mask delivers this result thanks to its +72% smoothing action*.
Why Does My Skin Become Dull?
A dull complexion is often caused by the accumulation of toxins and pollution particles. These impurities can “suffocate” the skin and slow its natural renewal process. Using skincare products formulated with AHAs and/or PHAs—naturally derived acids—helps remove impurities that traditional cleansing alone may not fully eliminate.
Are Acids Harmful to My Skin Barrier?
It all comes down to formulation. While acids were once associated with harsh, stripping treatments, modern skincare products such as those in the NUE collection incorporate PHAs—larger molecules that exfoliate without penetrating the skin too aggressively. This ensures effective skin renewal while preserving hydration and respecting the skin’s protective barrier.
Three Golden Rules for Using Acids Every Day
- Strategic Application: Apply your peel to clean skin twice a week.
- Master the Timing: Acids work best in the evening, when the skin barrier naturally enters its regeneration phase.
- Sun Protection Is Essential: Remember, newly renewed skin is more vulnerable. The day after using your treatment, always apply an SPF50 sunscreen.
* Dermatological scoring conducted on 23 volunteers. Two applications per week over 28 days.
** Consumer test under dermatological supervision conducted on 23 volunteers over 28 days with two applications per week. Percentage of volunteers who perceived the effect