Acid Myths, Busted: Your Skinmart Q&A

Acids don’t thin your skin — they strengthen it. Here’s the truth.

At Skinmart, we often hear: “Acids are too strong for my skin.” “I can only use them in winter.” “They’ll make my skin thinner.”

These myths are persistent and powerful — and they often keep people from unlocking the benefits of ingredients like glycolic, salicylic and polyhydroxy acids. But acids, when understood and applied correctly, are some of the most effective and barrier-supportive actives in your entire routine.

Consider this your Acid Myth Busting Guide — a Q&A with your Skinmart experts to debunk, explain, and guide.

The Fear: Acid exfoliants, especially glycolic, will “eat away” at the skin and leave you fragile.

The Truth: Acids actually do the opposite. By removing excess dead cells on the surface, they encourage healthier cell turnover underneath. Over time, this strengthens your skin function, improving resilience and texture. Some, like glycolic acid, even stimulate fibroblasts — the cells responsible for producing collagen. Stronger, not thinner.

The Proof: Dermalogica's Daily Glycolic Cleanser exfoliates daily to reveal brighter skin, whilst maintaining moisture thanks to a blend of hydrating ingredients.

Skinmart Says: “Strength comes from balance, not avoidance. Two to three nights a week of a well-formulated acid is enough to reset skin without compromising the barrier.”

The Fear: Acids = redness, tingling, sensitivity.

The Truth: While some tingling can be normal in stronger acids like glycolic, irritation is not the goal. Today’s modern formulations use targeted percentages, pH balance, and supportive ingredients to deliver results without inflammation. And not all acids behave the same. PHAs (polyhydroxy acids, like gluconolactone) are gentle humectants — they exfoliate and hydrate.

The Proof: Medik8's Press and Glow,  exfoliates and hydrates daily, revealing a smoother and more radiant glow.

Skinmart Says: “If acids feel like burning or peeling, it’s probably not the acid family that’s the problem, it’s either dosage, frequency, or layering. With guidance, there’s an acid for literally every skin personality — even sensitive.”

The Fear: Acids + sun = automatic disaster.

The Truth: Acids do make your skin more photosensitive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them in summer — especially here in Australia where the sun is year-round. What’s essential is pairing acids with daily broad-spectrum SPF. In fact, using AHAs or BHAs through summer can help manage UV-induced pigmentation before it worsens.

The Proof: Protect your glow with ASAP SPF 50+ Ultimate Defence. It blends both the highest quality protection with hydration and barrier support.

Skinmart Says: “We don’t put acids on holiday when the weather warms up — we just up the ante in the sunscreen department. Consistency beats seasonality.”

The Fear: Doubling up on two powerhouse actives = guaranteed damage.

The Truth: It’s not about avoiding the combo, it’s about knowing the rules of engagement. Retinol and acids can absolutely complement each other — think smoothing texture and boosting cell turnover. The key is not to use them in heavy layers at the same time unless the formula is specifically designed for it.

The Proof: Societe Refinishing Plus retextures skin with retinol, AHAs and advanced pigment-regulating technology.

Skinmart Says: “Formulated together, they’re a dream team. Introduced separately, alternate nights is best practice. You don’t have to fear, just follow the right rhythm.”

The Fear: If you flush after cleansing or sting with serums, acids must be off the table.

The Truth: Acids exist on a spectrum. PHAs (Polyhydroxy Acids) are larger molecules that work slowly and gently, providing exfoliation without penetration sting. They even hydrate, making them ideal for rosacea-prone or skin that describes itself as fragile.

The Proof: Alpha-H's Midnight Reboot Serum balances PHAs with other actives, showing that sensitive doesn’t mean missing out on skin renewal.

Skinmart Says: “There’s a misconception that sensitive skin must stay in a bubble of only moisturiser and SPF. With therapist guidance, gentle actives can actually help strengthen a sensitive barrier, not aggravate it.”

We know acids carry baggage. But leaning into the truth — especially with clinically proven pioneers like Alpha-H — means tapping into decades of results and trusted expertise.

You don’t have to navigate the alphabet soup of AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs alone. That’s what we’re here for — your Skinmart therapists act as calm translators, separating internet myths from personalised reality.

✨ Have an acid myth we missed? ✨ Ask our Skinmart therapists in a complimentary skin consult. Together, we’ll match you with the Alpha-H formula that’s right for your story — no fear, just fact-backed glow.