Alpha Hyroxy Acids are one of those wrinkle cures that they base around the idea that old royalty such as Cleopatra used them.  They have this idea that because Cleopatra used it in baths just like she used gold supposedly it must be effective.  Granted, gold is rather effective.  But that doesn’t really pertain to the origins of the thing.  Basically speaking, Cleopatra was said to bathe in sour milk, and some of us have bathed in fresh milk more since. 

This being said, alpha hydroxy acids can now be found in various creams, supplements, and otherwise toners, masks, and scrubs.  Basically speaking, AHA’s can be broken down under different names such as glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid.  These ingredients naturally exfoliate the skin, wiping away dead skin cells, and they are generally used in small concentrations.  With larger concentrations, they actually cause damage and have to be neutralized.  But they say it allows your skin to produce more collagen and elastin and otherwise unclog the pores.  Now they definitely throw off your pH balance and really cause redness, irritation, dryness, and otherwise.  But I’m not entirely sure of the results at this point in time.