Simple, less aggressive form of Alpha-hydroxy Acid. This product works effectively by clearing away dead skin cells that have built up on the skin without the irritation some experience with the Glycolic Acid form of Alpha-Hydroxy Acid
Method of Application If you are new to acids, use this product every three days. In total, exfoliate no more than 3 to 4 times per week. Use on clean skin (these pads will also tone the skin). Swipe gently across the face using short strokes, 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.
Due to the low pH of this product, it will not grow bacteria, therefore it does not require a preservative.
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.
Shipping Transit Note: Some customers have asked whether products can be affected by time in transit, especially during warmer months. Our products are formulated and preserved to remain stable during normal shipping times and should not spoil simply from being in transit.
That said, if you are concerned about heat exposure, you are welcome to add an ice pack to your order for extra peace of mind. Click here to add an ice pack.
I love this product; it helps keep my complexion acne free and does not irritate my sensitive
I love this product; it helps keep my complexion acne free and does not irritate my sensitive, mature, redness-prone skin. It has a clean and simple ingredient list…just what I like and look for in my skincare choices. This is a definite reorder product, for me.
Hi Susan 🪷
It's wonderful to hear you are pleased with the ability for these pads to give you desired results while also remaining gentle enough for your sensitive skin.
Wishing you the very best in your skincare journey.
Markey ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎
M
Madelon Kneule
Dermatologist Recommended
My dermatologist recommended your product and I like it. Clean beauty.
Hi Madelon, (such a cool name) ✌︎㋡
We are thrilled to hear your dermatologist recommended our Lactic Acid Exfo Pads! That is really so cool and we appreciate running it past your Dr for their feedback. I wish it was doable to have a derm who was straight up honest to support companies like ours that offer products created with the customer in mind, not, the dollars.
Thanks for your kind words and support.
Wishing you the very best in your skincare journey.
Markey ִ໋͙֒ᰔᩚ
L
Linda J
I just started using this product
I just started using this product, thus it is too soon to write a review since I have only used this product 3 times.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this
You’re absolutely right… it can take a little time to really see how a product works with your skin.
We'd love for you to come back and update us once you’ve had more time with it!
Markey ☮️
K
Kate
Recommended from a holistic aesthetician
I was recommended this product from a holistic aesthetician. She focuses on protecting the skin barrier and finding products that work with your skin type. I’ve had really dry postpartum skin, and she said to buy these as part of my new skin routine, and these are great! My skin was already used to using acids, so these do not sting for me. They gently exfoliate and leave my skin so hydrated. I’m happy I bought these in bulk!
Hi Kate 😊
We all truly appreciate this review. Supporting the skin barrier while still allowing gentle
renewal is something we care about deeply.
Hearing that your skin feels hydrated and comfortable means the formulation is doing
exactly what we hoped. Tell your aesthetician we said 'thank you.' ❤️
Thank you for trusting us with your routine.
Thank you for taking the time to write this for us,
Markey
T
Teresa J
Gentle preservative free lactic pads
These pads are one of my favorites! I have used them for a few years. They don't flare up my rosacea (do a patch test first) or cause excessive dryness. I only use 1-2 times a week so the product lasts for many months. I like that it only has one ingredient and no preservatives. Great price and shipping is fast.
Hi Teresa
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review for our Lactic Acid Exfo Pads! We're so glad to hear that they have become one of your favorites and that they don't irritate your rosacea or cause dryness. We always recommend doing a patch test before trying any new product. We're also happy to hear that the product lasts for a long time and that you appreciate the simplicity of one ingredient and no preservatives. Thank you for choosing our product and for the kind words about our price and shipping. We truly appreciate your support!
Markey and Her Amazing Crew @ GOW
In my 70yrs still having breakouts, trying EVERYTHING!!! Prescription and over the counter. This is the 1st product I’ve ever used, that really works!! Will definitely reorder and recommend!
Christine
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this! Since I just turned 70 myself I know how frustrating our skin can behave. I am (we are) truly excited for your skin and your heart. ;-) Your outcome will hopefully help many others with their frustrating skin issues.
Wishing you all the best on your skin's journey to health.
Markey ✺◟(👁 ͜ʖ👁)◞✺
Such a lovely oil!
It glides on so smoothly, feels like a substantial oil without leaving me greasy, and I love that it has a mild color so I can put it on directly. I live in the Southwest so it’s so fun to use the oil from a plant that I see around me all the time! Thank you Garden of Wisdom for being the oasis in the desert and delivering such wonderful products!
Hi Sarah
Thank you for your kind words and support!
I always have a goofy but huge grin when anyone speaks about prickly pear oil. I can't even explain, for me, how proud I am of my skin when someone stops to tell me I am glowing. When does this happen? After I apply my Prickly Pear Seed Oil! It pretty much amazes me.
Wishing you all the happiness your skin can bring to you.
Markey and the GoW Team ִ໋🌷͙֒
if i could give this serum more than five stars, i would.
i developed rosacea out of nowhere after never really having skin issues before. suddenly my skin was red, bumpy, dry, dehydrated and unbelievably reactive. i tried so many products that were marketed as natural, sensitive-skin friendly or rosacea-safe, and NOTHING worked. every new product seemed to give me a brand-new version of a reaction.
then i had a consultation with jennifer. garden of wisdom offers consultations for new customers, and i cannot recommend doing one enough. jennifer was incredible. she helped me put together a very simple routine using this serum, their soap free cleanser, aloe as a toner and evening primrose oil. she also talked to me about supporting my skin internally, which i really appreciated. it felt like she was looking at the bigger picture instead of just trying to sell me another topical product.
more than that, she was kind, supportive and genuinely gave me hope during a time when i was feeling incredibly discouraged about my skin.
and boy did she deliver.
i used the cleanser and oat enriched facial serum and woke up the NEXT MORNING with skin that felt smooth, calm and unreactive. i genuinely could not believe it.
and it wasn't a fluke. over time, everything improved - the redness, the little bumps and texture, the dryness, the hydration, the flushing, the way my skin responded to heat, and even how quickly it recovered when something did make it reactive. my skin didn't just look better. it started to feel healthier, stronger and more resilient.
the serum itself feels like a pretty normal serum on the skin. i will warn you that it has an interesting smell, but you get over that very quickly once you realize how magical the stuff inside the bottle is. most importantly, it has never - literally NEVER - irritated my skin. no burning, stinging, redness, bumps or mystery reaction of the week.
i've now been using it for almost three months, and the difference in my skin is enormous. instead of constantly reacting to something new, my skin just kept getting healthier.
the craziest part is that at this point, i pretty much forget that i even have rosacea. when i think back to how reactive, uncomfortable and unpredictable my skin felt just a few months ago, i can't believe i'm saying that.
after months of feeling like my own face had suddenly become something i couldn't understand or control, garden of wisdom gave me my skin back.
i never want to be without this serum. ever.
Oh, Karissa, this brought tears to my eyes. Knowing how discouraged and uncomfortable you felt, and then hearing that your skin now feels calm, strong and like your own again, means more to us than I can possibly say.
Jennifer (JenJen as I enjoy calling her) cares about every person she speaks with, and I cannot wait to make sure she sees every beautiful word you wrote about her.
We have always believed that sensitive, reactive skin needs patience, simplicity and thoughtful support, not a dozen new products thrown at it. Hearing how well this little routine has worked for you is absolutely thrilling.
And yes, we must acknowledge the Oat Enriched Serum’s rather “interesting” natural aroma! She may not be the prettiest-smelling girl in the garden, but thankfully, she knows how to do her job. 😂
Thank you for trusting us when your skin had made it difficult to trust anything. Thank you for giving the products time, and especially for sharing your experience so openly. Reviews like this help others who may be feeling just as overwhelmed and hopeless as you once did.
“The product that gave me my skin back” may be the most meaningful thing anyone could ever say about something we created. We are so incredibly happy for you, Karissa, and so grateful that you found us.
With all our gratitude,
Markey, Jen and YoUr Garden of Wisdom family 🌻
i developed rosacea seemingly out of nowhere after having basically no skin issues my entire life. suddenly i had redness, bumps and texture, dryness, a completely compromised skin barrier, and it felt like EVERYTHING i put on my face caused some new version of a reaction. i had already used natural/holistic skincare for years, and even products marketed as "sensitive" or "rosacea-safe" were not working for me.
then i found garden of wisdom.
this cleanser is definitely a different experience from a traditional face wash (read the directions!) but i got used to that almost immediately. and honestly, i would wash my face standing on my head at this point if that's what it took to keep my skin this happy.
my skin has never once reacted to it. it feels completely calm, clean and refreshed afterward, but NEVER stripped or tight, which was especially impressive considering what a disaster my skin barrier was when i started using it.
i began using this cleanser at the same time as the oat enriched facial serum, so i can't honestly tell you which product deserves more credit. what i can say is that my skin changed almost literally overnight. i woke up with smoother, calmer, more hydrated skin, and over the weeks that followed my redness, texture, hydration and overall skin health continued to improve. i kept waiting for the other shoe to drop because it genuinely felt too good to be true. it never did.
i've now been using this for almost three months, and the change is kind of unbelievable. at this point, i pretty much forget that i even have rosacea. considering how much my skin was affecting my day-to-day life when this first started, that feels enormous.
i truly believe that replacing everything that may have been irritating or inciting my skin with something this gentle played a huge role in allowing my skin to calm down and become so much more resilient.
if you wear makeup, i would pair it with garden of wisdom's micellar water, which i also love.
finding a cleanser that thoroughly cleans reactive, rosacea-prone skin without making it even remotely angry should not feel this miraculous, but after everything i tried before this, it absolutely does.
Elizabeth ᵗʰᵃᶰᵏᵧₒᵤ!
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful review to open up! We are absolutely delighted that the Vita ReSurface left your skin looking so radiant and clear after your very first use. Finding an effective retinol that does not leave your skin feeling punished can be quite a journey, especially when your barrier is already feeling vulnerable. Using your moisturizer as a buffer was a very thoughtful approach.
Knowing that our straightforward ingredient list helped you feel confident enough to try it means so much to us. We are also thrilled that Clear, Brighten & Prevent has earned a place in your routine. And yes, your plea has been officially heard: please never discontinue it! 😂
Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review, especially when you rarely leave them. We truly appreciate you and are so happy you found Garden of Wisdom. 🌻
Honestly so impressed with this gel. Very hydrating and non irritating for sensitive skin.
Encapsulated Glacier Water Hydrating Gel
Christine Rabena
A product that really works!
In my 70yrs still having breakouts, trying EVERYTHING!!! Prescription and over the counter. This is the 1st product I’ve ever used, that really works!! Will definitely reorder and recommend!
Thanakha Blemish Clearing Tonic
Sarah Dawson
Such a lovely oil!
Such a lovely oil!
It glides on so smoothly, feels like a substantial oil without leaving me greasy, and I love that it has a mild color so I can put it on directly. I live in the Southwest so it’s so fun to use the oil from a plant that I see around me all the time! Thank you Garden of Wisdom for being the oasis in the desert and delivering such wonderful products!
Prickly Pear Seed Oil - The Secret to Timeless Radiance
Karissa Michitsch
the product that gave me my skin back!
if i could give this serum more than five stars, i would.
i developed rosacea out of nowhere after never really having skin issues before. suddenly my skin was red, bumpy, dry, dehydrated and unbelievably reactive. i tried so many products that were marketed as natural, sensitive-skin friendly or rosacea-safe, and NOTHING worked. every new product seemed to give me a brand-new version of a reaction.
then i had a consultation with jennifer. garden of wisdom offers consultations for new customers, and i cannot recommend doing one enough. jennifer was incredible. she helped me put together a very simple routine using this serum, their soap free cleanser, aloe as a toner and evening primrose oil. she also talked to me about supporting my skin internally, which i really appreciated. it felt like she was looking at the bigger picture instead of just trying to sell me another topical product.
more than that, she was kind, supportive and genuinely gave me hope during a time when i was feeling incredibly discouraged about my skin.
and boy did she deliver.
i used the cleanser and oat enriched facial serum and woke up the NEXT MORNING with skin that felt smooth, calm and unreactive. i genuinely could not believe it.
and it wasn't a fluke. over time, everything improved - the redness, the little bumps and texture, the dryness, the hydration, the flushing, the way my skin responded to heat, and even how quickly it recovered when something did make it reactive. my skin didn't just look better. it started to feel healthier, stronger and more resilient.
the serum itself feels like a pretty normal serum on the skin. i will warn you that it has an interesting smell, but you get over that very quickly once you realize how magical the stuff inside the bottle is. most importantly, it has never - literally NEVER - irritated my skin. no burning, stinging, redness, bumps or mystery reaction of the week.
i've now been using it for almost three months, and the difference in my skin is enormous. instead of constantly reacting to something new, my skin just kept getting healthier.
the craziest part is that at this point, i pretty much forget that i even have rosacea. when i think back to how reactive, uncomfortable and unpredictable my skin felt just a few months ago, i can't believe i'm saying that.
after months of feeling like my own face had suddenly become something i couldn't understand or control, garden of wisdom gave me my skin back.
i never want to be without this serum. ever.
Oat Enriched Facial Serum
Karissa Michitsch
simple, gentle, and somehow life-changing!
i developed rosacea seemingly out of nowhere after having basically no skin issues my entire life. suddenly i had redness, bumps and texture, dryness, a completely compromised skin barrier, and it felt like EVERYTHING i put on my face caused some new version of a reaction. i had already used natural/holistic skincare for years, and even products marketed as "sensitive" or "rosacea-safe" were not working for me.
then i found garden of wisdom.
this cleanser is definitely a different experience from a traditional face wash (read the directions!) but i got used to that almost immediately. and honestly, i would wash my face standing on my head at this point if that's what it took to keep my skin this happy.
my skin has never once reacted to it. it feels completely calm, clean and refreshed afterward, but NEVER stripped or tight, which was especially impressive considering what a disaster my skin barrier was when i started using it.
i began using this cleanser at the same time as the oat enriched facial serum, so i can't honestly tell you which product deserves more credit. what i can say is that my skin changed almost literally overnight. i woke up with smoother, calmer, more hydrated skin, and over the weeks that followed my redness, texture, hydration and overall skin health continued to improve. i kept waiting for the other shoe to drop because it genuinely felt too good to be true. it never did.
i've now been using this for almost three months, and the change is kind of unbelievable. at this point, i pretty much forget that i even have rosacea. considering how much my skin was affecting my day-to-day life when this first started, that feels enormous.
i truly believe that replacing everything that may have been irritating or inciting my skin with something this gentle played a huge role in allowing my skin to calm down and become so much more resilient.
if you wear makeup, i would pair it with garden of wisdom's micellar water, which i also love.
finding a cleanser that thoroughly cleans reactive, rosacea-prone skin without making it even remotely angry should not feel this miraculous, but after everything i tried before this, it absolutely does.
Soothing Cleansing Gel 100% Soap Free
Elizabeth Kankam
The best!
I got this product last week but finally used it last night. I woke up this morning so delighted that I had to rush to leave a review. This is from someone who barely leaves reviews. I’ve always been texture and hyperpigmentation prone as a person of color. I recently started using tretinoin but even the 0.025% makes my skin flaky and irritates my skin barrier all the time. So I started looking for a gentler retinol option but every product I found had ingredients that will either clog my pores or not work at all till I finally found GOW. I was immediately attracted to the simple ingredients list. I was a bit worried about my skin barrier so last night, I used a moisturizer as a buffer before applying the serum. I woke up to see a radiant skin with my pores looking visibly clearer. This product will forever be a staple in my routine! This and the clear,brighten and prevent serum! Please never discontinue this product.
Vita ReSurface™ Serum All-Trans Retinol
Anonymous
Little bottle
Little bottle. Big results.
This stuff is the bomb! It showed results the very next day. My blemish was much smaller on day 2 and gone on day 3. Used it am and pm. Just a very tiny dab.
I’ll never be without it.
Alpha Arbutin 2% and Kojic Acid 1% Serum
Anonymous
Doesn't weigh down my hair
Doesn't weigh down my hair. Doesn't cause breakouts and instantly smooths. I have coarse thick hair and silicones just give a heavy coat, but this does not. It doesn't feel like I put anything in but smooths and looks moisturized and healthy.
Majik Lockes Hair Serum
Anonymous
Lovely Staff, Lovely Products
The first thing I want to say is how absolutely lovely the team is at Garden of Wisdom! Everyone has been so helpful, friendly, and informative, responsive to any questions I’ve had. The products are amazing, thoughtful, high quality, and all at an honest price. I’m absolutely loving the oils and CO2’s that I ordered recently, and plan to continue shopping with Garden of Wisdom! Much love to the team! <3
Garden Of Wisdom Skincare
Anonymous
I have suffered from all forms of rosacea and have improved dramatically since using this and
I have suffered from all forms of rosacea and have improved dramatically since using this and other clean and simple GOW products. I feel that the manuka honey serum is an essential base to the layering of serums I do.