GENERAL AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION AVAILABLE IN CANADA

Finally, The Ordinary’s AHA/BHA home page is located in Canada. Here’s why, and everything else you need to know.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is finally available for purchase in Canada, eight years after its launch in the USA. I rely on the occasional chemical peel to keep my skin smooth, and this one is very affordable, so for eight years I’ve lamented its unavailability despite the company’s Canadian roots.

So what has changed? Why is Ordinary Peeling Solution only sold in Canada? What’s in it for me, anyway? How do we use it? What about sensitive skin? The answers to come, start with the basics if you’re not familiar with them.

WHY ONLY AHA/NORMAL PEELING SOLUTION BAR NOW IS IT AVAILABLE IN CANADA?

When Ordinary Peeling Solution was introduced, Health Canada regulations limited the concentration of AHA in consumer products to 10%. High-concentration formulas were classified as for professional use only and therefore could not be sold to the general public.

A PR email I recently received simply stated that The Ordinary could not sell the peeling solution here “unless there is additional messaging on our product boxes and bottles.” To change that, The Ordinary now includes an “expert’s word of mouth” on every bottle and box sold in Canada. Simple solution, yes?

I’m not sure why it took eight years, but I’m looking into it. In the meantime, I am very happy that the solution is available here. The bottle I have is a gift that Liza Herz (Oldish.ca) gave me a few years ago when she returned from a trip to the USA. At $13 CAD ($9.50 in the US), it’s a lot, a lot A bit more affordable than my lovely AHA/BHA skin smoothing cream from Drunken Elephant which hurts my wallet at $108 CAD/ $80 USD.

HOW TO USE A COMMON PEELING SOLUTION

First, if you have sensitive skin, do not use Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. There are other, gentler options designed for multiple uses that may be more suitable for sensitive skin.

However, if you have skin that you consider particularly sensitive, which handles glycolic acid and lactic acid well, this formula fits your skin care routine. And if you’re struggling with dark patches ruining your makeup look, this could be your game changer. But there are rules of communication, starting with what to avoid.

AVOID USING NORMAL PEELING SOLUTION…

• without reading the instructions carefully – incorrect use can lead to chemical burns

• that day you use other skin care products that are light, such as hand scrubs, or toners or moisturizers that contain glycolic or lactic acid, for example.

• immediately before or after using a topical acne medication or treatment

• immediately after sliding/moving/clasping nails or upper lip

• same day using a dermal roller (poor Kyle Thomas is doing it all wrong)

• the same day you use a prescription retinoid (ie Tretinoin) or a potent retinol/retinal serum or an over-the-counter retinol/retinol moisturizer

• immediately before using the L-ascorbic acid-high Vitamin C formula

• immediately before sunscreen with non-mineral UV filters if non-mineral formulas ever make your skin itch

• for anything from Ordinary from Do not use with list below Usage Details on the product website

START AS WELL AS WEEK

The Ordinary Peeling Solution is designed to be used weekly or bi-weekly, depending on what your skin can handle. Cleanse your face, remove moisture (rubbing vigorously with a towel can make the skin more sensitive to the sting of AHA), and wait for the skin to dry thoroughly. (Moist skin absorbs ingredients like these more easily, which can increase the power of the ouch.)

FIND SHOPPING PLACES

Once you’ve applied the solution, expect a temporary tingling sensation, maybe even a little stinging. I find running my fingers over any itchy spots rather than tickling eases the sensation. I also find that any tingling or itching subsides and disappears within a minute or two.

WASH AFTER 10 MINUTES

I’m not going to lie: part of the reason I include this section is to emphasize that this is the case rinse-off the formula. Not that anyone would use it as a layering serum – the bright red color is a big clue. (The color comes from Tasmanian pepperberry extract, apparently.) And the Peeling Solution label says “10-Minute Exfoliating Facial” right there.

The instructions, which you can read while waiting for your skin to dry before you start, advise to leave the solution for 10 minutes. But if surfing is too much for you, it’s okay to wash after five minutes, or three, even. The solution will still work to some extent for less than the recommended time, and you can gradually increase it with each use.

Just do not intentionally leave the Normal Spill Solution for more than 10 minutes. Set an alarm on your phone, two if you have to (🙋🏻‍♀️). I get distracted ridiculously easily, so me be accidentally left the formula longer than requested. But my skin can handle twice daily use of a 10% glycolic acid toner, so I haven’t had any catastrophic results. However, I managed my complexion a lot gently afterwards, with a light fragrance-free hyaluronic acid serum and a layer of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5.

I always shower with cool water, by the way. It feels good after the peeling solution.

GENERAL AHA 30% + BAR 2% INGREDIENTS

Glycolic Acid, Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Taraspolyta Frotract, Leolance Talanta, Lerolance Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

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