A rinse-off AHA/BHA peel is not left on the skin like an acid toner; it stays on for a set time and is then washed off. The directions on the Red Of Love box come down to three points: leave it on for 5–10 minutes, rinse thoroughly with water and use it on no more than 2 evenings a week.
In short: Apply a few drops of an AHA BHA peel in the evening to cleansed, completely dry skin, leave it on for 5–10 minutes and rinse thoroughly with water; do not apply it around the eyes. Use it on no more than 2 evenings a week; on dry skin, 1–2 evenings is enough. After rinsing, follow with a hydrating serum and a moisturiser. Red Of Love contains glycolic and lactic acid (AHAs) with 2% BHA (salicylic acid); its pH range is 3.6–3.9.
What is a red peel, and why is it red?
“Red peel” is the common name for red-coloured AHA/BHA peels; the name describes the colour of the product, not an ingredient or a method. Red Of Love gets its colour from purple carrot extract (Daucus Carota Sativa Extract). The colour tells you nothing about the type, concentration or strength of the acid: it is the AHAs and BHA that help clear dead cells from the surface, and according to the FDA the degree of exfoliation depends on the type of acid, its concentration, the pH of the product and the rest of the formula. So when you choose a red peel, look at the acids, the pH and the directions on the label rather than the colour. In a routine, Red Of Love is used for a renewed look of the skin's surface, radiance and the look of uneven tone.
How to use an AHA BHA peel, step by step
Red Of Love comes after cleansing in your evening routine and is rinsed off the face completely before moisturiser.
- Dry your skin completely. After your evening cleanse, make sure there is no moisture left on your face.
- Spread a few drops. Smooth the product over your face with your fingertips, keeping away from the eye area and the corners of the lips.
- Keep to the time. Wait 5–10 minutes. You may feel mild tingling during the first few uses.
- Rinse thoroughly with water. Wash until no product is left on your face, then pat your skin dry.
- Move on to hydration. A hydrating serum, then a moisturiser.
- Apply sunscreen the next morning. AHAs can increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun: apply sunscreen every morning while using this product and for one week after you stop.
How long do you leave an AHA BHA peel on, and do you rinse it off?
Red Of Love is left on for 5–10 minutes and then rinsed off thoroughly with water; it is not left on the skin overnight. This is the key difference between it and acid toners, which are applied with a cotton pad in the evening and stay on the skin.
The timing is an integral part of the directions. With an acid product, the degree of exfoliation depends on the type of acid, its concentration, the pH of the product and the rest of the formula; with a rinse-off product, contact time is added to that list. Going beyond ten minutes or leaving the product on the skin means using it outside the directions on the box.
How many times a week can you use an AHA BHA peel?
No more than 2 evenings a week; on dry skin, 1–2 evenings is enough, and on sensitive skin the evenings are spaced further apart. The table below shows how the peel evening is kept separate from the rest of the week.
| When | Order | Not used at this time |
|---|---|---|
| Peel evening (no more than 2 a week) | Cleanse → Red Of Love → rinse → Hydra Back Baby → moisturiser | Retinol, acid toner, granular scrub |
| The next morning | Cleanse → moisturiser → sunscreen | Acid products |
| Other evenings in the same week | Hydration-focused care | Another peel or a strong exfoliant |
If you also use an acid toner, put it on other evenings rather than on your peel evening. For a framework on increasing frequency and the signs of over-exfoliation, see: how often to do a chemical peel.
What do you apply after Red Of Love?
After rinsing, only the hydration step follows: Hydra Back Baby Hydrating Serum, with 2% 8D hyaluronic acid and 1.2% Pentavitin (saccharide isomerate), then a moisturiser; the next morning, SPF 50+ Just Protected From Sun as the last step. Do not add a second exfoliant or retinol on the same evening. Which products can be used straight after a peel and which should wait is covered in the post-peel care guide.
Can you use a red peel in summer?
Yes, but in the summer months sun protection matters even more. The FDA states that products containing AHAs can increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun and, in particular, the likelihood of sunburn; it recommends using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing and limiting time in the sun while using the product and for one week after you stop. This advice applies even though Red Of Love is used in the evening and rinsed off: apply sunscreen every day, including the mornings after a peel evening. Do not apply a peel to sunburnt or irritated skin; if that happens, postpone your peel evening until your skin has calmed down.
Red Of Love: what's in the formula?
Red Of Love AHA/BHA Peel Serum is a 30 ml rinse-off evening peel containing AHAs (glycolic and lactic acid) and BHA (salicylic acid); it is positioned for beginner and intermediate users. Along with the glycolic and salicylic acid toners, it is one of the products containing AHAs and BHA.
| Feature | Red Of Love |
|---|---|
| Key actives | Glycolic and lactic acid (AHAs) + 2% BHA (salicylic acid) |
| Position in the INCI | Glycolic Acid third, Salicylic Acid sixth, Lactic Acid ninth |
| Supporting ingredients | Tasmanian pepper, purple carrot extract |
| pH | 3.6–3.9 |
| Use | Evening; left on, then rinsed off thoroughly with water; no more than 2 a week |
| Skin type | Combination, normal, oily; on dry skin, 1–2 evenings a week |
If you do not feel ready for acid care, or if your skin reacts easily, you can start with Rice Rice Baby Brightening Rice Toner, which contains no AHAs or BHA for exfoliation, instead of an acid product. Red Velvet Face, on the other hand, is not a step that replaces Red Of Love but the next level: its box states “For professional use only.” Do not use Red Of Love and Red Velvet Face together. The details are in the guide on who high-concentration AHA/BHA peels are suitable for.
What an AHA BHA peel does not do
- Its effect is limited to the uppermost layer of the skin; it does not change the look of pitted scars or deep wrinkles.
- Leaving it on for longer or using it on more than 2 evenings a week does not speed up results.
- It does not replace sun protection; sunscreen becomes even more important while you are using it.
Who should take care?
- Eye area: do not apply Red Of Love around the eyes. In case of contact with eyes, rinse thoroughly with water.
- Irritated skin: do not apply it to irritated or sunburnt skin.
- Sensitive skin: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends trying a new product first on a small area such as the inner forearm and, with rinse-off products, leaving the product on the skin only for as long as the directions state.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Red Of Love contains salicylic acid (BHA) as well as glycolic and lactic acid. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, consult your doctor before use.
- An ongoing skin condition: if you have a skin condition that your doctor is monitoring, talk to them first about whether an acid peel can be added to your routine.
- Children: Red Of Love contains salicylic acid (BHA); the FDA advises that products containing BHA should not be used on babies and children.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a red peel every day?
No. The directions on the Red Of Love box say no more than 2 evenings a week; on dry skin, 1–2 evenings is enough. Because it is a rinse-off AHA/BHA peel, the evenings in between are kept for hydration-focused care; using it more often does not speed up results.
What happens if Red Of Love is left on the skin without rinsing?
That is outside the directions for use; the product is designed to be rinsed off after a short contact time. Rinse it off thoroughly with water as soon as you notice; if stinging or redness starts, postpone the peel until your skin has calmed down and use only a moisturiser.
Is tingling normal with Red Of Love, and when should you stop?
You may feel mild tingling during the first few uses; this sensation is also mentioned in the directions for use. If the tingling turns into burning while the product is on, do not wait for 5 minutes to pass: rinse Red Of Love off immediately with plenty of water and stop using it. If redness or stinging after rinsing has not settled within a few days, consult your doctor before your next peel evening.
What does the lactic acid in Red Of Love do?
Lactic acid is an AHA, like glycolic acid, and helps clear dead cells from the surface. A controlled study showed that its effect depends strongly on both the pH of the product and the acid concentration. Read more in our article what is lactic acid.
Can an AHA BHA peel be used for the look of blackheads?
Although Red Of Love contains 2% BHA, the needs it is positioned for are a renewed look of the skin's surface, radiance and the look of uneven tone. If the look of blackheads is your priority, the s'hevec product for this need is Slyc-Alright, a salicylic acid toner used in the evening; the two products are not used on the same evening.
What is in Red Of Love besides the acids?
In the INCI list, glycerin and panthenol appear among the acids, with allantoin further down. The last part of the list contains several different forms of hyaluronic acid, led by sodium hyaluronate. These ingredients do not replace the hydration step after the peel; you still need a hydrating serum and a moisturiser after rinsing.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Alpha Hydroxy Acids.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Beta Hydroxy Acids.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). How to test skin care products.
- Thueson DO et al. The roles of pH and concentration in lactic acid-induced stimulation of epidermal turnover. Dermatol Surg. 1998.
This content is for information only and does not replace medical advice. s'hevec products are cosmetic products and are not intended for medical treatment. It was prepared by the s'hevec Team on the basis of the s'hevec product data library and the sources listed above.
