Body exfoliation · Sub-chapter 03
Which acid, which surface, and how to fit it into a body routine without the barrier signalling back. The full library.
107 how-to's · Updated 30 April 2026 · Avg. 5 min per piece · Edited by Nelly · Beauty & Style Director
Editor's note
Body skin is not face skin. It is thicker, less reactive, and slower to turn over — which means acids work, but they work differently. Lactic acid in a body lotion applied to damp shins three nights a week is a quiet, consistent tool for surface smoothness. Glycolic acid in a body wash used occasionally on rough elbows is a different proposition. Salicylic acid on a congested back is a third. The category is not complicated — but it does require knowing which acid suits the zone you are working on.
What AHAs and BHAs do on body skin
AHAs loosen the bonds between dead surface cells, helping them shed more evenly. On body skin, lactic acid is the more commonly used option because it also attracts moisture to the surface as it works. BHAs, primarily salicylic acid, dissolve surface debris and are particularly useful on areas where congestion or roughness is driven by excess oil.