Comparison

Exfoliating Serum — 18% AHA + 2% BHA vs AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Name: AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Brand: Minimalist
Price: 10 USD

Deconstruct vs Minimalist — side by side, no bias.

Deconstruct

Exfoliating Serum — 18% AHA + 2% BHA

8.2/10exfoliant

Minimalist

AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

8.7/10exfoliant

Our pick

AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

8.7/10 · Minimalist

	Exfoliating Serum — 18% AHA + 2% BHA	AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Brand	Deconstruct	Minimalist
Category	exfoliant	exfoliant
Editor Rating	8.2/10	8.7/10 ★
Category	exfoliant	exfoliant
Texture	Thin, water-like liquid with no viscosity	Watery 10-min peel
Finish	Smooth, slightly tingling, mattified	Resurfaced
Skin Types	Oily Combination	Oily Combination
Targets	Acne Dullness Pores Hyperpigmentation	Dullness Pores Hyperpigmentation
Pros	+Five-acid system — lactic, glycolic, tartaric, malic, and salicylic work at different skin depths +Lactococcus ferment lysate provides probiotic barrier support to offset acid intensity +Only 15 ingredients — zero filler, fragrance-free, purely functional +Under ₹650 (~$8) for a 20% total acid concentration — exceptional value	+five-acid stack covers AHA + PHA + BHA pathways +turmeric root extract adds Indian botanical brightening +sodium hyaluronate buffers +₹549 budget pricing for clinical peel
Cons	−20% total acid concentration is too strong for sensitive skin or acid beginners −No soothing agents like centella or allantoin — acid-only approach −Must be followed by sunscreen — significant photosensitivity increase	−32% acid concentration = NOT for sensitive skin −use 10 min max + strict SPF 50 the next day −propylene glycol high in INCI
Verdict	Deconstruct's Exfoliating Serum is the Indian answer to The Ordinary's AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution — but formulated with more nuance and at an even lower price. The 18% AHA is a multi-acid blend: lactic acid (gentle, hydrating exfoliation), glycolic acid (deep-penetrating texture refinement), tartaric acid (antioxidant AHA from grapes), and malic acid (apple-derived surface-level brightening). The 2% salicylic acid handles oil-soluble pore clearing. Five acids working at different depths and mechanisms is genuinely sophisticated formulation — this isn't a one-acid-at-high-concentration bludgeon. Green tea extract adds antioxidant support, and lactococcus ferment lysate provides probiotic-derived barrier conditioning that helps the skin tolerate the acid load. The formula is only fifteen ingredients, fragrance-free, and brutally straightforward. At ₹649 (~$8), Deconstruct is delivering prescription-grade exfoliation at convenience-store pricing. Use twice weekly, not daily — this is a treatment, not a toner.	Minimalist's 32% acid blend is India's answer to The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution — same active stack (glycolic + lactic + mandelic AHAs + gluconolactone PHA + salicylic BHA), plus turmeric root extract for additional brightening. ₹549 ($10) for a 32% acid weekly peel treatment.

Ingredient Breakdown

Shared Ingredients

Glycolic Acid Salicylic Acid

Only in Exfoliating Serum — 18% AHA + 2% BHA

None — all ingredients are shared

Only in AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Lactic Acid Mandelic Acid

View Exfoliating Serum — 18% AHA + 2% BHA View AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution Compare other products →

Exfoliating Serum — 18% AHA + 2% BHA

AHA 25% + PHA 5% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Brand

Deconstruct

Minimalist

Category

exfoliant

Texture

Thin, water-like liquid with no viscosity

Watery 10-min peel

Finish

Smooth, slightly tingling, mattified

Resurfaced

Skin Types

Oily Combination

Targets

Acne Dullness Pores Hyperpigmentation

Dullness Pores Hyperpigmentation

Pros

+Five-acid system — lactic, glycolic, tartaric, malic, and salicylic work at different skin depths
+Lactococcus ferment lysate provides probiotic barrier support to offset acid intensity
+Only 15 ingredients — zero filler, fragrance-free, purely functional
+Under ₹650 (~$8) for a 20% total acid concentration — exceptional value

+five-acid stack covers AHA + PHA + BHA pathways
+turmeric root extract adds Indian botanical brightening
+sodium hyaluronate buffers
+₹549 budget pricing for clinical peel

Cons

−20% total acid concentration is too strong for sensitive skin or acid beginners
−No soothing agents like centella or allantoin — acid-only approach
−Must be followed by sunscreen — significant photosensitivity increase

−32% acid concentration = NOT for sensitive skin
−use 10 min max + strict SPF 50 the next day
−propylene glycol high in INCI

Verdict

Deconstruct's Exfoliating Serum is the Indian answer to The Ordinary's AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution — but formulated with more nuance and at an even lower price. The 18% AHA is a multi-acid blend: lactic acid (gentle, hydrating exfoliation), glycolic acid (deep-penetrating texture refinement), tartaric acid (antioxidant AHA from grapes), and malic acid (apple-derived surface-level brightening). The 2% salicylic acid handles oil-soluble pore clearing. Five acids working at different depths and mechanisms is genuinely sophisticated formulation — this isn't a one-acid-at-high-concentration bludgeon. Green tea extract adds antioxidant support, and lactococcus ferment lysate provides probiotic-derived barrier conditioning that helps the skin tolerate the acid load. The formula is only fifteen ingredients, fragrance-free, and brutally straightforward. At ₹649 (~$8), Deconstruct is delivering prescription-grade exfoliation at convenience-store pricing. Use twice weekly, not daily — this is a treatment, not a toner.

Minimalist's 32% acid blend is India's answer to The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution — same active stack (glycolic + lactic + mandelic AHAs + gluconolactone PHA + salicylic BHA), plus turmeric root extract for additional brightening. ₹549 ($10) for a 32% acid weekly peel treatment.