18 Skincare Products With AHA/BHA For Smoother Skin

Remember when your AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) had to stay far away from your BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids) for fear of irritation? Skincare has come a long way since then. In fact, those chemical exfoliators that once upon a time did not play nice together actually work better together. Salicylic acid (BHA), while an acne-treating all-star, is not simply for the breakout-prone, and glycolic acid (AHA), an ingredient traditionally praised for working anti-aging wonders, offers benefits for all skin types and concerns.

“As exfoliants, AHA and BHA combination treatments help to improve the overall skin texture and tone,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist. “More specifically, by eliminating dead skin cells AHAs and BHAs can help with textural irregularities and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also helping to improve skin tone and discolorations.”

If you have dry or sensitive skin, however, dermatologist Britt Craiglow MD, FAAD, says to be cautious with these and any new products. “These treatments can cause dryness, redness, and irritation and may also increase sensitivity to the sun,” she says. “It can be helpful to first test the product on a small area of skin to ensure no reaction,” says Garshick. 

Whether avoiding dullness, fine lines, and wrinkles or keeping skin clear is your top priority, with the latest multi-acid treatments, you don’t have to choose—you can get all the many benefits of chemical exfoliation in one product, sans side effects.

Meet the Expert

• Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
• Britt Craiglow MD, FAAD, is a Yale-trained, double board-certified dermatologist.

Keep scrolling as we round up the top 18 skincare products with AHA/BHA for smoother skin.