Natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and your Skin

We tend to forget that the skin is actually the largest organ of our bodies. The two square metres of skin covering the average-sized adult constitutes approximately 15% of the total weight of the body.

Each square centimetre of your skin contains millions of cells, as well as many specialised nerve endings for sensing hot, cold and pain. In addition, each square centimetre contains numerous oil glands, hair follicles and sweat glands. Your skin protects your vital organs. tt also serves as your heat regulator. When you are hot you perspire; the evaporation of the sweat on your skin lowers your body temperature. When your body is chilled, these blood vessels become narrowed and your skin becomes pale and cold. This constriction decreases the flow of blood through your skin and so reduces the heat loss and conserves heat for the rest of your body.

The average thickness of your skin is about 1mm, ranging from very thin on your eyelids and inner folds of your elbows to very thick on the palms of your hands and on the soles of your feet.

HOW ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS (AHAs) HELP THE SKIN

In order to survive, your skin needs three main ingredients: nourishment, moisturisation and the ability to breathe.

As we get older, the intercellular cement between the skin cells starts to get thicker and thicker - creating a suffocating barrier. Your skin then ceases to breathe with its only oxygen supply coming from the bloodstream. If this process is allowed to continue, the skin becomes depleted of nourishment, moisture and oxygen and it starts to look lifeless and unhealthy. As the cell width thickens, the skin loses its luminosity and texture with visible losses in clarity and appearance. Indentations or wrinkles appear more readily as the external layer becomes dysfunctional.

Your skin has a naturally acidic pH balance and tends to thrive in an acid medium. The ageing process alters the pH of the skin to a more neutral state; less than ideal for the production of healthy new cells.

AHAs promote exfoliation - the natural shedding of dead skin cells. The natural alpha hydroxy acids found in the Grace Infiniti range breakdown the fatty, cement-like substances binding the dead skin cells together, allowing more efficient exfoliation of the outer skin layers. Moisturisation and oxygen can now flow freely to nourish the skin's deeper layers. Continual use of Grace Cosmetics Infiniti promotes a revitalised appearance of the skin, creating a softer cleaner, more youthful looking complexion. Sun related pigmentation, age spots and superficial acne scars may also be hidden as may the appearance in the size and depth of fine lines and wrinkles.