Garden of Wisdom is getting rave reviews for this product as well as customers feel relieved to step away from the butylene and propylene glycols in most products that are alcohol-free. Beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid) are able to penetrate inside the pore to help clear away dead skin cells that have built up within the pore. Beta hydroxy acids are not as aggressive in nature as alpha-hydroxy acids.
Application Method If you are new to acids, use them every three days. In total, exfoliate no more than 3 to 4 times per week. Use on clean skin (skin can be dampened with hydrosol, toner or fruit mists, or it can be dry). Apply a few drops with clean fingertips or a brush designed for acids, then wait 20 minutes before using any other products. The acid will self neutralize and then you can continue with your routine.
The exception to the 20-minute wait rule is if the acids are very uncomfortable. If so, rinse immediately and build up a tolerance to the acids over about a month's time, increasing the length of time every few days. Acids, however, are not meant to be comfortable as they are a remodeling tool.
Shelf Life and Storage Information for Our Products and Ingredients
Finished Products - generally don't need to be refrigerated as they are preserved, but you can refrigerate them to extend their shelf life. The shelf life for most products is 9-12 months. Vitamin C Serum(s) and VitaResurface products should continually be refrigerated to extend their shelf life. Sample Sizes - do have a shorter shelf life (generally 3-6 months), and items in jars can dry up quicker than this if the lid is not tightened well enough (Vitamin C Serums - use within 90 days).
Please Keep Your Products Out of Humidity, Heat, Direct Light and in a Dark Cabinet When Possible
Exfoliating Acid - products have a shelf life of 9-12 months. The only things we don't suggest refrigerating are the Mandelic Acid Serums or Salicylic Acid Serums, as they can crystallize in the refrigerator. If this happens, you can set the product into a hot water bath to see if the crystals will dissolve.
Additional Items That Require Refrigeration and/or Kept in the Dark
Hydrosols and Distillates - remove 1 ounce of hydrosol and add it to a separate, sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator. Carrier and Exotic Oils - generally refrigerate all carrier oils, although some very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take the oil out, warm it up at room temperature, and it should liquefy. If not, set the bottle in a hot water bath and occasionally shake the bottle, which will hopefully turn into a liquid. Some oils, like coconut cream and jojoba oil, have a super long shelf life.
Refrigeration of The Following Ingredients is Not Necessary, But it Won't hurt
Essential Oils - essential oils are best stored in a cool, dark place. Co2 Extracts - these should continually be refrigerated. Butters - we suggest refrigerating our "skincare" butters. You can remove what you need and keep the rest in the fridge. Clays - keep in a dry, dark place. Shelf life is at least 2 years. Herbs All herbs <i>(whole or ground)</i> should be kept in a dark, cool, and dry location. Herbal (liquid) Extracts are created using grain alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents (properties) from each herb, root, trunk, leaf, and flower. They have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be stored in the refrigerator or a dark, dry place. Other Raw Ingredients - such as Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc., will all have different shelf lives.
Zemea™ Propanediol (100% Certified Organic, fermented corn sugar) the first Non-Petroleum-Based Glycol for Personal Care Formulations, 100% Corn derived, revolutionary in the skincare world, luxurious with a non-sticky feel
What a terrific product to burn down! I use it usually once a week on my face and choose another day once a week for my neck. It's a nice way to bio-stimulate your skin. Thank you, Garden of Wisdom
Hey Dawn! You described this perfectly and the routine as well. You're a peachy keen gal. Love the term bio-stimulate!
K
Kimberly
My all time favourite skin care product
While I agree with the other reviewers that the pads are rough, I simply dab them on my face - which I prefer to wiping anyway, as it aggravates my face less and leaves more product on the skin.
These pads are my all time favourite skin care product. I have been consistently repurchasing for years. No high-end product has ever done a better job. I dab these pads on my face when I have a bit of time, let the acid sink in, and bam! My skin is baby soft, pores minimised, redness and active blemishes look visibly clearer. Despite feeling like a strong acid when first applied, my skin ends up feeling so hydrated and supple. I apply an oil or moisturiser on top after about 1.5 - 2 hours and my skin looks visibly brighter and clearer.
I hope GoW never stops making these, as I'd be lost without them in my skin care routine!!! Thank you!
Thank you for this lovely review! We're so glad you love them :)
K
Kristian
Not quite right
I've ordered this a few times and my only complaint was that the wipes are very rough. This is not something that just a few people have an opinion on, I think this is something where everyone who buys these will agree. This is a niche brand and I've still come across multiple people bringing up the roughness of the pads in this product on forums, and even the other reviewer is here to say just that. Dabbing the pads on your face so that you don't have to rub them across your skin is not a realistic option, the point of wipes is to wipe your face with them. I don't know why the wipes haven't been changed; little cotton pads/wipes are super cheap.. I can get 4x more than are in this product for like half a dollar. If I made this product and it had this issue, even if I had a warehouse full of those cotton wipes stockpiled I'd still cut my losses and switch to new ones because the ones in use now are really, really bad.
Anyway.. I put up with them being rough and just ordered two more jars. In the past the smell, feel, everything has always been consistent, but this time they smell rather sweet? like some kind of food almost, instead of the super consistent plain chemical smell. The bigger issue is that right away I found that they make my skin itch so incredibly bad that I have to rinse it off to stop the feeling. I have no tolerance issues with these in the past. I have tough skin and no allergies. Either this batch is jank or there have been bad changes made to the product.
Hi Kristian!
We sent you an email. We didn't see these reviews until recently as they were not being sent to our email. We're sorry we missed this! :) If you ever have a problem with a product, please email us directly so we can address anything right away :)
C
Coya
The Serum is Better for Me
The product works, but the pads seem a bit too rough and too much product is applied. I much prefer the serum.
Hi MLV
Thank you! for this review.
Keep us updated! It has really helped a lot of customers with body application
to slough off dead skin cells. That sounds kind of gross but very effective. 😉
Immediate results!!!
I had a big weight loss that left my skin with stretch marks and loose skin, i tried so many products and NOTHING compares to this. Within a week, half my stretch marks are faded and my skin tightened and firmed i could actively feel it working after the first use! Only part that is difficult is the ammonia smell but after applying it goes away and doesnt linger so not a big problem for me at all. I love love LOVE this and would recommend! Thank you!
Hi June ⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW… reviews like this genuinely make us stop in our tracks. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the FirmAge DMAE Serum.
We know how emotional and frustrating changes in the skin after major weight loss can feel, so hearing that you noticed such a visible difference so quickly is so exciting! We especially appreciate you mentioning the natural DMAE aroma with such honesty and grace. It’s definitely one of those ingredients that prioritizes function over elegance, but we’ve found many customers feel the results make it worthwhile.
We’re beyond grateful you gave it a chance and even more grateful that it’s helping you feel good in your skin again.
With Our Deepest Gratitude, Your Team @ GoW
My favorite serum of all time!! I don't know what took me so long to order this one, but Jen recommended it for hydration, and after finishing up some other (also lovely) GoW serums I finally got myself one of these. It is the most supremely hydrating serum I have ever used. It feels dewy but not greasy, and gives that sinking, unctuous hydration that feels like it really penetrates. I am prone to dehydration, and sometimes it feels like nothing actually soothes it, and products are just sitting on top. Not with Es-care-go!!! I don't even need a cream during the day anymore, which for me is unheard of. Before, without a copious layer or some sort of cream or oil my skin would feel tight. I credit this serum with allowing me to use some retinol again, which is another huge win. Can't live without this one!!!! Thank you GoW!
😙This review absolutely made our day. Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback and for trusting Jen’s recommendation.
Hearing that Es-Care-Go Serum helped bring that deep, comfortable feeling of hydration to your skin is exactly what we hoped this serum could offer, especially for skin that feels persistently dehydrated beneath the surface.
We loved reading your description of it feeling dewy yet able to truly sink in, because that balance was incredibly important to us when creating it. Hearing that it helped support your skin enough to comfortably use retinol again is such a huge compliment. It's a great example of the 'proof is in the pudding'. *smiles8
We’re so grateful you’re here with us and beyond happy that this serum found its way into your routine.
˚‧。⋆⋆。‧˚
With appreciation,
Your GoW Crew
Well I can brag about the company all day because my experience is with them have been amazing. They work extra hard to make sure that us the customers are well taken care of in my experience. The prickly pear seed oil seems to be of high quality, silky, and is one the star of my anti-aging ace serum which since purchasing this oil from them has had it come out perfect every time. Great job!!
Derena -`♡´-
This means so much to all of us, thank you. We put a great deal of care into sourcing ingredients that feel beautiful to work with, so hearing that the Prickly Pear Seed Oil has become such a standout in your serum brought a smile to our faces. This is my favorite oil!
We’re also incredibly grateful for your kind words about our team. Taking care of our customers has always been at the heart of what we do, and support like yours genuinely keeps us going.
Wishing you continued beautiful and glowing skin ahead,
Your GoW Crew ⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。⋆ ˚。
This is a great light hand lotion with a great scent that doesn’t irritate my skin
This is a great light hand lotion with a great scent that doesn’t irritate my skin. I wish it was a bit thicker. When I need something heavier, I’ll use the Sinfully Rich Hand Cream.
Thank You 😊❣️for your review.
We completely understand what you mean about it feeling a bit on the thinner side. Over the years, we’ve actually found that many skin products tend to perform best when they’re lighter in texture, as they absorb more comfortably and layer beautifully on prepared skin.
That said, if you prefer a richer feel, we do offer a couple of thicker creams that blend wonderfully with this lotion. A small amount mixed in can create a really lovely texture while still giving you the benefits of both products.
Wishing you well ❤️
Literally the only one I've ever used and I've searched for 30 yrs. Just the best!
Decadent Oat Enriched Emulsion
Teal Schinkel
Works on Melasma!
Nothing has worked so far on my Melasma as well as this. My skin has a glow that it doesn't have when I'm not using. And it's keeping acne at bay. There's a noticeable difference when I don't use this. Don't want to go without.
Clear, Brighten, and Prevent Serum
Rebekah Eustis
great for removing thick sunscreen
This micellar water is the best! I am in the ocean a lot and so wear thick mineral waterproof sunscreen. In the past, trying to get it all off so that my skin didn't break out was always a challenge because the foaming cleansers would dry out my skin. That is why this is a life saver. As another review mentioned, I shake the bottle, pour about a teaspoon or so in my palm and smooth over my face and neck. You can literally see the sunscreen (or make up) melt off. I rinse and then cleanse one more time with the gentle cleansing gel (another winner IMO). My skin is clean but not dry! I love the sensitive formula. Thank you GOW for making such amazing products!
Micellar Cleansing Dew | Sensitive Profile
CT
If I could only use one skincare brand for the rest of my life.
It would truly be garden of wisdom. I started using GOW about 8 or 9 years ago and have never looked back. I haven’t been disappointed by a single product, and I have tried soo many and would bathe in them all daily if I could. several have become staples in my routine, which is about 75% gow products now. The education they provide is genuinely game changing. You not only understand what you’re using and why, but the results are noticeably better than any other store brand skincare I’ve tried.
The company itself is lovely. It’s built on education, research, and experience, not marketing, trends, fake reviews, or the deceptive tactics most skincare brands rely on. Their success comes from a real commitment to honestly informing and educating their community while making truly amazing skincare. Thank you🤍
Garden Of Wisdom Skincare
Margie
Shrinks those bags!
I use this when I’m going out for something special I want to look my best. It really does shrink those puffy tissues around the eyes. It’s a great quick fix item.
Anti-Puffy Eye Serum
Margie
Lovely, soft skin!
Do you know the expression, “If I could bathe in this stuff, I would.”? Well, I do! I know this is an expensive option, but I use this as my body wash for my dry and sensitive body skin. Luckily, a little goes a long way. It’s so gentle and leaves my skin nice and clean, but also super soft at the same time. I use the Honey Butter cleanser on my face and this duo works really well for me.
Oats Milk and Honey Facial Cleanser
Anonymous
C3 Lipid Elixer
I tried this on a whim & I am so happy that I did! My skin is a bit sensitive, as well as very moody. This elixir works with my skin. My skin actually looks better.
Thank you!
C³ Lipid Elixir
Harmony Jensen
Perfect level of moisture.
I use this at night with a few drops of an oil and it’s the perfect level of moisture for my skin, even during winter. Heavy creams cause issue for me and this is perfect.
Decadent Oat Enriched Emulsion (No Essential Oils)
rhonda dawley
Amazingly enough
Amazingly enough... this stuff really seems to be making a difference for the skin under and around my eyes. I'm pleasantly surprised by this eye treatment. I especially love that it is all natural and no silicones, which my skin seems to immensely dislike. I have only been using for a short time but so far am very impressed. I definitely plan to order again!
Beautiful Eyes Serum with ReguAge - for Youthful Eyes
Iryna ivanova
Great experience
Great experience. The company sent me extra oil and even more squalene that I needed as a replacement. They acted quick and very professional. Thanks!r