Quick answer
Aqua peeling solution is the concentrated, water-based serum that hydro dermabrasion machines run through their fluid lines. The standard professional set is three bottles (AS1, SA2 and AO3), each 30 ml of concentrate that you dilute with distilled water to 400 ml of working solution. AS1 softens and refines, SA2 degreases pores on oilier zones, and AO3 rehydrates skin at the finish. Our aqua peeling solution concentrate is sold as single 30 ml bottles, one for each step. Below is what each bottle does, how to dilute it, and how salons sequence them in one session.
What aqua peeling solution actually is
In an aqua peel (also called aqua peeling or hydro dermabrasion) treatment, the machine flows a water-based solution across the skin while gentle suction lifts loosened sebum and dead skin out of the pores. The solution is not a passive liquid: it is a mildly acidic cosmetic formula that does part of the work, which is why salons buy it as a consumable and restock it monthly.
The three-bottle system sold for professional machines is supplied as a concentrate, not a ready-to-use liquid. You dilute one 30 ml bottle before pouring it into the machine's solution tank. Concentrates cost less to ship, sit stable on the shelf, and let the salon control the final strength: one small bottle becomes 400 ml of working fluid.
What each bottle does: AS1 vs SA2 vs AO3
| Solution | Focus | Role in the session |
|---|---|---|
| AS1 | AHA-based exfoliating formula | Step 1: soften and refine dull surface skin |
| SA2 | BHA (salicylic acid) formula | Step 2: degrease pores where oil collects |
| AO3 | Soothing botanical blend | Step 3: rehydrate and calm at the finish |
AS1 is the opener: an AHA-based solution that softens the surface layer of dead skin so the vacuum pass lifts it easily. SA2 is the salicylic-acid option practitioners reach for on the nose, forehead and chin, the zones where sebum and blackheads collect. AO3 is the soothing closer, built on a botanical blend that puts moisture back after two exfoliating passes.
The three are used in sequence, not instead of each other, and which bottles you open for a given client depends on how the skin presents that day. A dry-skinned client may need mostly AS1 and AO3; a congested T-zone gets the full SA2 pass.
The 30ml-to-400ml dilution rule
This is where most first-time buyers go wrong, so read the bottle twice:
- Dilute 30 ml of concentrate with 370 ml of distilled water — the mix reaches a total volume of 400 ml.
- Do not pour 400 ml of water on top of the concentrate. "Add 400 ml" and "dilute to 400 ml" are different recipes, and the second is what the bottle instructions show.
- Use distilled water, as the bottle label directs. Tap water brings minerals and bacteria into a fluid line you will not want to deep-clean every week.
If your machine manual lists a different ratio or water type for third-party solutions, follow the manual. Between the two printed sources, the stricter dilution is the safer starting point for your fluid lines.
Want the full mixing walkthrough, including the distilled-water rules and the mistakes that waste concentrate? See our step-by-step guide on how to dilute aqua peeling solution.
How salons sequence the three solutions
Most professional protocols follow the same rhythm, with timing and suction set by your machine's own protocol:
- Step 1, AS1. Applied with a compression pad or as the machine's first pass over the cheeks and outer face, to soften the outermost layer of dead skin.
- Step 2, SA2. The salicylic pass concentrates on the nose and the areas beside it, where pores clog most. Cheek skin is thinner and usually does not need the stronger pass.
- Step 3, AO3. The hydrating solution runs as a final full-face pass or spray to leave skin comfortable instead of tight.
- Aftercare is standard: moisture and SPF, and no aggressive exfoliation for the next day or two.
One caution: the two acid solutions (AS1 and SA2) are not meant to be mixed in the tank by default, and layering acids is a choice for trained professionals working from a protocol, not a way to speed the session up.
Three mistakes that waste concentrate
- Running it undiluted. The concentrate is far too strong for direct machine use. Dilute first, always.
- Adding 400 ml of water instead of diluting to 400 ml total. The result is a different concentration than the label intends.
- Assuming universal machine compatibility. Check that your device's fluid system accepts diluted cosmetic solutions and follow its maintenance routine; compatibility is not universal across every hydro dermabrasion machine.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use aqua peeling solution at home?
The three-bottle system is designed for professional machines with a solution fluid system. If you own a home-use hydro dermabrasion device, only use solutions its manual explicitly allows, at the dilution the manual states.
Can I mix AS1 and SA2 together?
Keep them separate. Each solution has its own step in the protocol, and combining two acid-based formulas is a decision for trained professionals, not the default way to run a session.
Do I need all three bottles?
The aqua peeling solution routine works as a sequence: AS1 preps, SA2 degreases the T-zone, AO3 finishes. Salons serving mixed skin types keep all three and restock whichever runs out first, since bottles are sold individually.
Which machine does it work with?
It is intended for compatible hydro dermabrasion and small-bubble machines that accept diluted water-based solutions. Always cross-check your equipment manual before running a third-party solution through the fluid lines.
How should I store unopened bottles?
Cool, dry place, sealed, out of direct sunlight. Check the bottle label for the batch-specific shelf life once opened.
Where to get the three solutions
Our 30ml Aqua Peeling Solution (AS1, SA2 or AO3) is sold as single 30 ml bottles, so salons can restock exactly the solution they burn through fastest. Machine sold separately.
If you are still choosing the hardware side, see our 9-in-1 aqua dermabrasion machine (WB09) and 7-in-1 H2O2 small bubble machine (W05X3.0), plus replacement hydro dermabrasion tips for the handpiece. For the running-cost side of another popular consumable, read our CO2 bubble facial machine running costs guide.
Disclaimer: All brand names and trademarks mentioned in this article are the property of their respective owners and are referenced for identification and educational purposes only. The seller is an independent aesthetic product supplier and is not the manufacturer of the products discussed. This content is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow the applicable product instructions and discontinue use if irritation occurs.
Originally published by iTech Aesthetics — professional aesthetic and physiotherapy equipment for clinics and studios worldwide.