A proprietary blend of AHA and BHA acids, this tonic gel is great for those with really troublesome skin, acne, and consistent blemishes. Great for cystic acne and deep pore acne. Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid and lactic acid) help clear away dead skin cells that have built up on the surface of the skin. Glycolic acid penetrates the skin's layers to enable them to be exfoliated. Beta-hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) is able to penetrate inside the pore to help clear away built up dead skin cells. This is a strong acid blend. Use caution when applying and listen to your skin.
Recommended for experienced skin.
Method of Application If you are new to acids, use 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, 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 that if the acids are very uncomfortable. If so, rinse immediately and build up a tolerance to the acids over about a month, increasing the length of time every few days. Acids, however, are not meant to be comfortable as they are a exfoliating/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 into a separate,sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator. Carrier and Exotic Oils - generally, you can refrigerate all carrier oils, although some very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take it 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. There are some oils with a super long shelf life, like Coconut Cream and Jojoba Oil.
Refrigeration is not necessary, but it surely 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 (whole or ground) should be kept in a dark, cool and dry location. Herbal (liquid) Extracts - these are created using alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents (properties) from each herbs - root, trunk, leaves, and flowers. They have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be kept in the refrigerator or a dark place. Other Raw Ingredients - i.e., Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc. will all have a different shelf life.
My skin is very picky and can’t handle even common ingredients like aloe or oat. This exfoliant doesn’t cause an allergic reaction AND it helps keep my tenacious acne at bay. I even asked to increase the amount of AHA (worked my way up from the original 4%) and it has been working great. Skin is smooth and acne has been reduced to one pimple every now and again. This has become a power player in my routine. Please don’t change a thing.
We really are happy you are happy with this product! Thank you for your review :D
M
Marlene
Reduces Acne and Inflamed Hair Follicles
This is the only combination acid product I've found that actually reduces my acne and other skin lumps (like irritated/inflamed hair follicles). Other salicylic acid products don't even make a dent. This gel is no joke because even after using it for years, I still find the tingle/light stinging a bit too much sometimes. But, the side effect is brief, and the results are fantastic. Sometimes, smaller acne bumps are gone the next morning. The bigger acne lumps take a bit more time, but they too are reduced in size and pain when I put this gel directly on them overnight. And it definitely exfoliates because a few days later, I find I need to slough off the dried layers of skin with a toner and cotton pad.
