Actives
AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) Products
118 products across our retailers, from $1.00, prices vary 28%
also known as Alpha hydroxy acids
Surface exfoliants that smooth texture and brighten — the water-loving counterpart to BHA.
What it is
AHAs are water-soluble acids — glycolic (smallest, strongest), lactic (gentler, also hydrating), and mandelic (largest, gentlest) — that exfoliate the skin's surface. They're the counterpart to oil-soluble BHA, which works inside the pore.
What it actually does
AHAs dissolve the bonds holding dull, dead cells on the surface, so skin looks smoother, brighter, and more even, and fine lines and rough texture soften with regular use. They also help fade surface pigment over time. Because they work on top of the skin (not down in the pore), they're the go-to for texture, radiance, and tone rather than blackheads — that's BHA's job.
Why K-beauty uses it
K-Beauty tends to deliver AHAs in low-key, well-buffered 'toner pad' and gentle-peel formats rather than harsh peels — very on-brand for the gradual, barrier-conscious Korean approach to exfoliation.
Best for
- Rough texture
- Dullness
- Uneven tone
Not ideal for
- Compromised or very sensitive barriers
- Blackhead-focused routines (use BHA)
Pairs well with
Use with care
Not "avoid at all costs" — most K-beauty routines get away with these combos by splitting AM/PM or alternating nights. The caution is about how you layer, not whether you use them.
Routine placement
- Where it lives
- Toner · Serum · Mask
- AM/PM
- PM
- Frequency
- 1-3 nights a week
Pregnancy note: Low-percentage cosmetic AHAs are generally considered fine, but check with your provider.
How to use it
Start once or twice a week at night and build up. AHAs make skin more sun-sensitive, so daily SPF is mandatory. Don't stack with other strong actives while your skin adjusts.
The Plug verdict
AHA is your texture-and-glow exfoliant; BHA is your pore one. Most people don't need both — pick by concern, start slow, and never skip sunscreen the next day.
Shop products with aha
118 products across our tracked retailers, from $1.00, prices vary 28%. Ranked cheapest first, comparisons on top — never pay-to-rank.
SOME BY MI
AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam
compare 4 retailers · prices vary 63%
from $6.60
at dodoskin
APLB
Mandelic Acid Retinol Ampoule Serum
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 36%
from $8.79
at dodoskin
APLB
Lactic Acid Retinol Ampoule Serum
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 34%
from $9.09
at dodoskin
Haruharu Wonder
Black Rice Triple Aha Gentle Cleansing Gel
compare 5 retailers · prices vary 43%
from $9.33
at koreabe
APLB
Aha Bha Pha Centella Facial Cream
compare 4 retailers · prices vary 48%
from $9.80
at yesstyle
APLB
Aha Bha Pha Centella Ampoule Serum
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 34%
from $9.80
at yesstyle
APLB
Aha Bha Pha Centella Mist Essence
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 29%
from $9.80
at yesstyle
APLB
Mandelic Acid Retinol Facial Cream
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 29%
from $9.80
at dodoskin
COSRX
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 57%
from $10.00
at brand_direct
Elizavecca
Hell Pore Clean Up AHA Fruit Toner
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 59%
from $10.11
at stylevana
Arencia
Eraser Shot Glycolic Acid Exfoliator
compare 4 retailers · prices vary 44%
from $10.55
at yesstyle
FRANKLY
Aha 8.05% Toner
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 29%
from $10.89
at stylevana
COSRX
AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid
compare 5 retailers · prices vary 47%
from $11.00
at brand_direct
Cos De BAHA
Glycolic Serum (G)
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 40%
from $11.25
at dodoskin
Cos De BAHA
Lactic Acid 12.5 Serum (LS)
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 16%
from $11.45
at dodoskin
Isntree
Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 43%
from $11.64
at dodoskin
TIA'M
AHA BHA PHA Toner
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 37%
from $11.71
at dodoskin
Isntree
Hyper Acid 4 Aha Bha Pha Lha 30 Serum
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 1%
from $11.78
at dodoskin
Arencia
Eraser Shot Glycolic Acid Booster
compare 5 retailers · prices vary 46%
from $11.88
at dodoskin
SOME BY MI
AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Cleansing Bar 106g
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 3%
from $12.44
at koreabe
COSRX
Refresh AHA/BHA Vitamin C Booster Serum
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 9%
from $12.50
at brand_direct
SOME BY MI
AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Foam (OTC Version)
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 16%
from $13.30
at amazon
Hanskin
Pore Cleansing Oil - AHA
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 50%
from $13.50
at sokoglam
APLB
Aha Bha Pha Centella Facial Toner
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 2%
from $13.50
at dodoskin
face republic
Calming Care AHA/BHA Moisturizer
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 32%
from $13.61
at stylevana
APLB
Glycolic Acid Niacinamide Ampoule Serum
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 18%
from $13.80
at stylevana
APLB
Glycolic Acid Niacinamide Facial Cream
compare 2 retailers
from $13.80
at stylevana
BENTON
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
compare 3 retailers · prices vary 52%
from $13.90
at oy
Mary&May
Vegan Cica Teatree Aha Pha Blemish Toner
compare 4 retailers · prices vary 37%
from $14.00
at koreabe
KAINE
Rosemary AHA Night Serum
compare 4 retailers · prices vary 53%
from $14.73
at stylevana
MEDI-PEEL
Medipeel - AHA BHA Hyal Cream
compare 2 retailers · prices vary 29%
from $15.36
at koreabe
SOME BY MI
AHA-BHA-PHA 14 Days Super Miracle Spot All Kill Cream
compare 4 retailers · prices vary 29%
from $15.55
at koreabe
SOME BY MI
AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
compare 4 retailers · prices vary 21%
from $15.64
at dodoskin
TONYMOLY
Plum Bum AHA Body Buffing Bar
from $1.00
at ulta
Mimo by Mamonde
Mint AHA Pack Cleanser
from $5.83
at koreabe
Esthetic House
Toxheal Red Glycolic Aha·Bha·Pha Foam
from $6.39
at stylevana
Ottie
Soak Out AHA BHA Ampoule
from $7.49
at stylevana
Nineless
Molecule-Clear 5% Mandelic Acid Serum
from $8.10
at stylekorean
Mimo by Mamonde
Mint AHA Cleansing Oil in Water
from $8.48
at koreabe
Mimo by Mamonde
Mint AHA Peeling Gel
from $8.48
at koreabe
PRETTYSKIN
Green Tomato AHA BHA PHA Toner
from $8.73
at stylevana
The Face Shop
Dr.Belmeur AHA/BHA Sebum Control Gel Cleanser
from $9.00
at stylevana
Thayers
Exfoliating 2% AHA Pads with Witch Hazel and 2% AHA, 60 ct
from $9.99
at oy
Esthetic House
Toxheal Red Glycolic Peeling Serum
from $10.09
at stylevana
The Face Shop
Dr.Belmeur AHA/PHA Exfoliating Toner
from $11.00
at stylevana
CARE:NEL
AHA BHA Peeling Serum
from $11.60
at stylevana
Nard
Heartleaf AHA BHA PHA Peeling Pad
from $11.99
at stylevana
By Wishtrend
Mandelic Acid Spot Clearing Patch
from $12.00
at dodoskin
Bonajour
Green Tea AHA Peeling Gel
from $12.13
at koreabe
SOME BY MI
Aha Bha Pha 30 Days Miracle Cleansing Bar 1pc 2024 Version
from $12.20
at amazon
Nard
Heartleaf AHA BHA PHA Peeling Pad
from $12.24
at koreabe
SOME BY MI
Aha Bha Pha 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad 2024 Version
from $12.65
at yesstyle
MISSHA
Glycolic Acid Cream
from $13.00
at brand_direct
COSRX
Refresh Aha Bha Vitamin C Lip Plumper
from $13.30
at brand_direct
The Ordinary
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner 8.1 fl. oz.(240ml)
from $13.50
at oy
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
from $14.00
at koreabe
Cos De BAHA
AHA 30% BHA 2% Peeling Serum (AB)
from $14.39
at stylevana
coxir
AHA + BHA Pore Clearing Toner
from $14.45
at stylevana
The Ordinary
Lactic Acid 5% + HA
from $14.77
at koreabe
COSRX
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
from $15.55
at koreabe
Prices are the cheapest we last verified at an authentic retailer and can change.
Products featuring aha (glycolic & lactic acid)
59 productsEditorially picked products where aha (glycolic & lactic acid) is the hero — ranked by real value across authentic retailers.
Products with aha (glycolic & lactic acid)
6 products
Tosowoong
AHA Blackhead Out Cleansing Oil
KAINE
Rosemary AHA Night Serum
COSRX
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Arencia
Eraser Shot Glycolic Acid Booster
Hanskin
Pore Cleansing Oil - AHA
By Wishtrend
Mandelic Acid Dark Spot Correcting Serum
We match by ingredient mentions in product copy from our authentic retailers. If we missed a product you know contains aha (glycolic & lactic acid), let us know.
Related ingredients
BHA
aka Salicylic acid
An oil-soluble exfoliant that gets inside pores — for blackheads, congestion, and texture that won't smooth out.
Niacinamide
aka Vitamin B3
The all-rounder — evens tone, calms redness, and tightens the look of pores without irritation.
Beginner-safe
Azelaic Acid
aka Azelaic acid
The multitasker for redness, bumps, and dark marks — unusually gentle for how much it does.
Frequently asked
- What does AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) do?
- Surface exfoliants that smooth texture and brighten — the water-loving counterpart to BHA.
- Is AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) good for beginners?
- AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) is not typically recommended as a starting-point ingredient. Ease in slowly and watch for irritation.
- Is AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) safe for sensitive skin?
- AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) can be too active for sensitive skin — patch test and start with a low frequency.
- How do you use AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid)?
- Start once or twice a week at night and build up. AHAs make skin more sun-sensitive, so daily SPF is mandatory. Don't stack with other strong actives while your skin adjusts.