AHA Peeling Concentrate
AHA Peeling Concentrate
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COSMOS
Resurfacing that happens while you sleep. No scrubbing required.
Your skin replaces itself roughly every 28 days. The problem is what happens to the old layer. Dead skin cells don't simply fall away they stay bonded to the surface, trapping oil beneath them, blocking pores, and scattering light in a way that makes skin look dull and uneven no matter what you apply on top.
Most men reach for a scrub. Physical exfoliation removes some of that layer, but it does it by abrasion and on skin already stressed by daily shaving, abrasion causes the micro-damage and inflammation that make congestion worse. Chemical exfoliation works differently. Lactic Acid dissolves the bonds holding dead cells in place, so the old layer releases on its own. Nothing scrubs. Nothing tears.
Lactic Acid is the gentlest of the alpha hydroxy acids its larger molecular size means it penetrates more slowly than glycolic, delivering the same resurfacing with significantly less irritation. White Tea and Sage extracts protect the skin while the acid works. Sodium Hyaluronate offsets the moisture loss that exfoliation normally causes. Applied twice weekly before bed, it works overnight and you wake up to smoother, clearer, more even skin.
How to Use
Twice Weekly — Evening
Cleanse with Daily Control Cleanser and pat completely dry unlike most steps, this one goes on dry skin.
Dispense 3–4 drops into your fingertips.
Press evenly across the face, avoiding the eye area and lips. A brief tingle is normal and subsides within a minute.
Leave on overnight. Do not rinse. Nothing else goes on top.
Apply Active Shield SPF50 the following morning without exception freshly resurfaced skin is measurably more UV-sensitive.
Important: AHA nights are AHA-only. Don't layer other actives on top, don't use it the same night you shave, and don't increase the frequency to speed up results. Over-exfoliation compromises the barrier and produces exactly the dullness and congestion you're trying to clear. Twice weekly is where the results are.
Key Ingredients
10% Lactic Acid
Dissolves the bonds holding dead skin cells to the surface. The largest AHA molecule, which means slower penetration and far less irritation than glycolic acid at the same strength.
White Tea Extract
Antioxidant protection during the resurfacing window, when newly exposed skin is at its most vulnerable to environmental damage.
Sage Leaf Extract
Calms the inflammatory response that chemical exfoliation can trigger. Keeps the treatment tolerable on skin already stressed by daily shaving.
Sodium Hyaluronate
Offsets the moisture loss exfoliation causes. Skin resurfaces without the tightness and flaking that untreated acid products leave behind.
Full Ingredient List — INCI
Aqua, Lactic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin**, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract*, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract*.
*From organic farming · **Made using organic ingredients · Vegan · Paraben-free · COSMOS NATURAL certified by ECOCERT Greenlife
Questions
Why lactic acid instead of glycolic?
Glycolic acid has a smaller molecule, so it penetrates faster and deeper which sounds better but usually means stinging, redness, and peeling. Lactic acid resurfaces at the same level with a fraction of the irritation. For men whose skin is already compromised by daily shaving, that difference decides whether you keep using it.
Can I use it every night to get faster results?
No. Your skin needs the days between treatments to complete the renewal cycle the acid started. Nightly use strips the barrier faster than it rebuilds, which triggers oil overproduction, sensitivity, and the dull congested look you were trying to fix. Twice weekly is the effective dose.
Can I use it on the same night I shave?
Avoid it. Shaving removes a layer of skin along with the hair, so freshly shaved skin is already exfoliated and considerably more reactive. Schedule your AHA nights on days you don't shave, or leave at least 24 hours between the two.
How long until I see a difference?
Smoother texture after the first two or three applications. Visible brightness and reduced congestion at 3–4 weeks, matching a full skin cell turnover cycle. Dark spot fading takes longer 8–12 weeks with consistent SPF use alongside it.
Is there a bundle that includes this?
Yes the Clear Skin System pairs it with the Deep Cleanse Clarifying Gel, Zinc Defence Gel, and Active Shield SPF50, on the daily-plus-twice-weekly schedule that actually works. Read the full breakdown of chemical exfoliation in The Lab.
Two Nights a Week. Everything Else Works Better.
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