Our AHA peeling mask recipe will give you a real “Aha!” moment!

Freshen your face for fall with this revitalizing DIY facial! 

Seasonal changes are hard on our complexions, as the temperature, humidity, and other external conditions seem to shift overnight. So, now’s a great time to give your face a little extra care. Aha!, our AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) homemade face mask, is designed to do just that! 

The key ingredient in this peeling mask recipe is lactic acid, which is an AHA. AHAs help slough off dead skin cells, “peeling” them off to uncover the fresh cells below. Your skin is left looking smooth and is better prepped to absorb moisture. In addition to providing your skin with a deep cleanse, this DIY face mask will help reduce the appearance of imperfections, including fine lines, brown spots, and acne scarring. It will make you feel like you have a whole new fresh face! 

Get ready to shout “Aha!” as you rediscover your natural glow—it was there all along, just hiding under dead skin!

How to make your own AHA face mask 

Ingredients

Phase A

• 38.5 g (38.5%) demineralized water
• 5 g (5%) vegetable glycerin
• 0.5 g (5%) gum Arabic

Phase B

• 5 g (5%) coco glucoside
• 5 g (5%) coco betaine

• 1 g (1%) citric acid

Phase C

• 1 g (1%) baobab oil
• 1 g aromatic essence of your choosing
• 2 g (2%) elderberry extract
• 1 g (1%) vitamin E
• 5 g (5%) lactic acid (an AHA)

Phase D

• 30 g (30%) bentonite clay
• 5 g (5%) colloidal oatmeal

Tools

• Four small stainless steel bowls
• Large stainless steel bowl
• Components to make a double boiler
• Small silicone spatula
• Regular-sized silicone spatula
• Scale, accurate to 0.1 g
• A few pipettes
• A few ramekins
• Thermometer
• Two amber glass jars, 50 ml
• A few strips of pH paper

 

Good to know!

• Glycerin is a wonderful natural emollient (skin softener) that will help your skin maintain hydration and strengthen the hydrolipidic film, which is the natural protective film covering the full surface of your skin. 
• Gum Arabic is a choice ingredient in firming creams. It’s rich in polysaccharides and glycoproteins, making it a lifting active ingredient.
• Coco glucoside will help restore your skin’s hydrolipidic film, giving it a smoother, suppler appearance. 
• Bentonite clay has absorbent properties. Known for its ability to absorb impurities and detoxify your skin, it’s the perfect ingredient for giving your complexion a deep cleanse. You can replace it with pink clay, which is particularly suitable for sensitive or delicate skin.
• Citric acid is rich in antioxidants. It will revitalize your skin and refine its texture, giving you a brighter, more radiant complexion. 
• In addition to deep hydration on a daily basis, colloidal oatmeal will soften and soothe your skin.
• Lactic acid is the star ingredient in this peeling mask recipe. It will help remove dead skin cells, improving your skin’s hydration.
• Softening and restructuring, baobab oil helps revitalize skin tissue, for visibly suppler skin that’s soft to the touch.

Steps to follow

1. Prepare and disinfect your equipment and workspace.

Phase A

2. Weigh the demineralized water and vegetable glycerin in the first small bowl. Heat on the double boiler until the solution reaches 70°C. 
3. In the meantime, weigh the gum Arabic in a ramekin and set aside. 
4. When the solution has reached between 70 and 80°C, remove it from the heat and add the gum Arabic. Mix well with the spatula and set aside.

Phase B

5. Weigh the coco glucoside and coco betaine in the second small bowl and gently mix to combine using a spatula.
6. Weigh the citric acid in a ramekin and add it to the mixture from step 5.
7. Check the pH of the mixture using pH paper; it should be between 5 and 7. If the pH is above 7, dust a half teaspoon of citric acid over the mixture, mix together, and check the pH again. Repeat until the pH is between 5 and 7, then set aside.

Phase C

8. In the third small bowl, weigh the baobab oil, aromatic essence, elderberry extract, and vitamin E. Mix well, then set aside. 
9. Weigh the lactic acid in a ramekin and set aside. 

Phase D

10. Weigh the bentonite clay and colloidal oatmeal in the fourth small bowl. Mix and set aside.

Final stage

11. Add Phases A and B to the large stainless steel bowl and mix thoroughly.
12. Continue to stir as you add Phase C. Keep stirring and add Phase D. This will help break up clumps and ensure your face mask has a smooth texture.
13. Gradually, bit by bit, add the lactic acid. You want to avoid a sharp increase in pH, which will cause the phases to separate, so it’s important to add only a small quantity of lactic acid at a time. Mix well between each addition.
14. Transfer to the two jars. Your DIY face mask is ready!

Use and conservation

This homemade face mask is formulated for all skin types; however, we do not recommend using it if you have irritation-prone skin as it will aggravate any irritations. 

We recommend doing this face mask once or twice per week. Apply to cleansed, make-up-free skin, leave on for two to five minutes only, then rinse thoroughly with water. 

When made in optimal sanitary conditions, this face mask will keep for at least three months.