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.
So far I like the PPSO and the way the oil quickly absorbs into the skin
So far I like the PPSO and the way the oil quickly absorbs into the skin. The only issue is that I keep forgetting that I have it in the refrigerator.
Prickly Pear Seed Oil - The Secret to Timeless Radiance
Andrea S
Banishes redness
Bought this for my husband to treat redness on his face. It's hard to get him to use products. Started with a sample. I worked, so he asked me to order more. He must really like it. Thanks Garden of Wisdom!
Cherry Fruit Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Andrea S
Great on my sensitive skin
I use this cleanser every evening. Love the scent and my skin feels so smooth afterwards. I will continue to keep this as part of my daily routine.
Soothing Cream Cleanser with Matcha Green Tea
Andrea S
Great for clogged pores
This product works well on my sensitive skin. It has helped clear clogged pores on my nose as well as reduce small bumps that frequently appear on my cheeks. I'll keep this one on hand at all times.
Sulfur Clearing Serum
Patricia Portis
So far, so good!
To be honest, I use Serum as a Scalp Oil Treatment....I mixed it in with another scalp treatment that I do weekly....I'm very sensitive to everything, but far. so good....Thank you!
Happy Scalp Detox My Itchy and Dry Scalp Serum
Peg
Best lotion ever!
This lotion is the best I’ve ever found! Sinks in beautifully, providing moisture to dry, cracked hands and itchy, flaky legs. After many years of searching for the perfect lotion, I’ve found the one! The aroma is subtly beautiful (sea of blue)- love everything about this product :). Thank you Garden of Wisdom!,
Creamy Hand and Body Lotion
Amelia Thome
This Is THE Lotion
All the things skin is supposed to do, (like holding in hydration and moisture, shedding naturally, and remaining intact to provide a barrier against the elements) my skin doesn't. What it does do, is react to everything (including my own sweat) as an enemy, and block and inflame random pores as revenge upon me for trying to moisturize so the itching doesn't drive me to madness.
This lotion has been genuinely miraculous. At best, others help one problem but cause another. This one interrupts the cycle, and has actually made my skin healthier. To echo another review, please never stop making this.
Exfo 15% Lotion
Cynthia Wells
Bakuchiol
Love it for my neck. Will try on my face at some point. I have Rosacea so I have to be careful with my face. Love Bakuchiol for the body too.
Bakuchiol (Sytenol®A) Botanic Facial Oil Booster
Michelle Castro
Winter Skin MUST HAVE
I love the other GOW hydrating mists but has not tried this one yet. My skin is on the struggle bus this Fall. Due to weather plus perimenopause I felt like I couldn’t get enough hydration no matter what! Purchased the 1oz size of this mist to try and it’s a game changer!! I just ordered the 4oz size during a sale. Never want to be without this during Fall and Winter.
Customer Created Deep Hydrating Mist
Jamie Lyn Ross
Another WIN from Garden of Wisdom
I've never not loved Garden of Wisdom products 100%, and this is no exception... I alternate the C3 Elixir with other GoW products (the C3 does great on off-days that I don't use peptides), and it's been a great addition to my skin's arsenal. Some products can be drying or irritating to my skin but this isn't, at all!
I have to say... Markey and the entire team at Garden of Wisdom is a blessing. They do what they do out of a passion for helping people, and crafting high-quality, clean and safe products, at an affordable price - along with the utmost customer service (and I love the little hand-written notes I get with each order :)
Thank you, Markey, Leah, Jen, and the rest of your awesome team. xo
So far I like the PPSO and the way the oil quickly absorbs into the skin
So far I like the PPSO and the way the oil quickly absorbs into the skin. The only issue is that I keep forgetting that I have it in the refrigerator.
Hi Beverly 🙌
Thank you for the PPSO ~ Prickly Pear Seed Oil ~ review.
This is truly one of our favorites here and most definitely my favorite!
It's cute that you forgot your oil in the fridge! We have all done that numerous times. You can decant some into a
smaller bottle to keep on your bathroom counter. It will remain stable, just not be sweetly chilled.
Wishing you a happy, healthy, and beautiful skin in the new year. ⋆꙳•❅‧*₊⋆☃︎‧*❆₊⋆
Bought this for my husband to treat redness on his face. It's hard to get him to use products. Started with a sample. I worked, so he asked me to order more. He must really like it. Thanks Garden of Wisdom!
Hi Andrea
I have seriously, honestly, protectively ... waited for feedback on our fruity HA Serums. I think they are so fun and fantastic.
Again, thank you and your hubby for the kind review.
Markey ☺️
I use this cleanser every evening. Love the scent and my skin feels so smooth afterwards. I will continue to keep this as part of my daily routine.
Andrea
Thank you for sharing this. Knowing the Soothing Cream Cleanser with Matcha Green Tea has been kind to your sensitive skin and that you enjoy the scent truly matters to us. We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review and for choosing Garden of Wisdom. ⋆☀︎.⋆☀︎.⋆☀︎.
This product works well on my sensitive skin. It has helped clear clogged pores on my nose as well as reduce small bumps that frequently appear on my cheeks. I'll keep this one on hand at all times.
Andrea
Thank you for sharing this. It means a lot to know the Sulfur Clearing Serum helped clear your clogged pores and smoothed bumps while remaining gentle on sensitive skin. This is so exciting for both you and us.
Your GoW Team °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・°
To be honest, I use Serum as a Scalp Oil Treatment....I mixed it in with another scalp treatment that I do weekly....I'm very sensitive to everything, but far. so good....Thank you!
Patricia
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with our Happy Scalp Detox My Itchy and Dry Scalp Serum!
We are glad to hear it is working well for you and that you have found a way to incorporate it into your weekly scalp treatment routine. We understand the importance of being sensitive to certain products and are happy to hear that our serum is not causing any issues for you.
Thank you for choosing our product, and we hope it continues to deliver outstanding results.
Your One and Only GoW Team