7 acids you can (safely) put on your face

Chemophobia is rampant in the consumer products industry. Especially for things that people put on or in their bodies, brands often lean into notions of naturality and sometimes even slap on the scientifically nonsensical label “chemical-free.” Organic acids, though, have carved out a curious exception. Chemicals such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid are found in all manner of personal care product. In particular, people love to rub acids on their faces.Organic acids are used in an exfoliation treatment called a chemical peel. Versions performed by dermatologists in a clinical setting are aggressive enough to cause visible peeling of the dead and departing skin, says Michelle Wong, a cosmetic chemist who also goes by the social-media-influencer handle Lab Muffin Beauty Science. Products for at-home peels use many of the same ingredients but at lower concentrations. For people who have persistent skin problems, Wong says, chemophobia takes a back seat to a desire for strong measures that seem to have scientific backing. “The gory terminology makes the product sound more effective,” she says. “The target audience is already steeped in the world of ‘beauty is pain’ marketing.”Though resurfacing your face with harsh chemicals may sound extreme, it’s considered safe if done carefully because it merely accelerates the skin’s natural renewal process. The outermost layer of skin is made of dead cells that are structurally and chemically similar to hair. In a process called keratinization, the living layers beneath slowly fill with the protein keratin, die, and move outward as