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.
Spring Water hydrating
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.
This product has unclogged my pores and smoothed the bumps on my cheeks. I have very sensitive skin and this did not irritate my face. It does not work overnight, you need to stick with it for a while but it worked for me!
Azelaic Acid 8% Serum
Kim
My skin's texture and firmness have improved
I have noticed that my skin's texture and firmness have improved since I have been using this product. The fine lines seem a little smoother and it does not irritate my skin.
Eternal Youth Elixir - Rejuvenation Formula
Natali Hartley
Perfection :)
Love this product!! Especially during summer my skin just thrives with this! Not too thick or rich but leaves my skin happy and moisturized.
Wickedly Rich McDreamy Cream
Magdalena Manion
Work horse in my skin care routine
Work horse in my skin care routine. Have used for years. I spray a few sprays after cleansing on my face, neck, and chest, then use the extra moisture it provides to spread my serum. Resets the ph of my skin, makes everything feel more comfortable, and cost effective. Love it.
Clarifying Tonic
Anonymous
Tremendous product
Tremendous product. Only thing that consistently keeps my skin clear.
Blemish Prone Cleansing Oil
Caroline M.
Feels great on the skin
Feels great on the skin. I use it after cleansing but before serums, and it feels much more useful than a mineral water spray. I also like that it can be used throughout the day for a little boost. I had it in my purse last time I took a flight and I think it helped my skin stay happy during the journey.
Calm and Hydrate Mist
Lisa S
I recommend it to everyone!
I love this schampoo!! I was a little skeptical if an all natural shampoo would work, especially since I have fine, straight hair that tends to get greasy after only a couple of days with regular high quality shampoos, but this really works. I can go for 3 full days without washing it and I immediately noticed how powder soft my hair felt after the first wash. I think it even washes out the hard water. I will definitely be buying this again!
Locks of Lovely Shampoo (Unscented): Pure, Nourishing, and Gentle Care for Your Hair
Anonymous
Interesting new product
Interesting new product. I prefer the beautiful eye serum but this has some great ingredients
Blue Lotus Veil Peptide Infusion: Eye & Facial Renewal Serum
Teal Schinkel
ONLY MOISTURIZER THAT DOESNT CAUSE ACNE
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.
This product has unclogged my pores and smoothed the bumps on my cheeks. I have very sensitive skin and this did not irritate my face. It does not work overnight, you need to stick with it for a while but it worked for me!
Kim
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with our Azelaic Acid 8% Serum!
We especially appreciate that you mentioned both the results and the patience it took to get there. Skincare can sometimes be a journey rather than an overnight transformation, and feedback like yours helps set realistic expectations for others considering this or any product.
We're delighted to hear that it helped unclog pores and smooth the bumps on your cheeks while still being gentle enough for your sensitive skin. Finding that balance between effectiveness and comfort is always something we strive for when formulating.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for allowing us to be part of your skincare routine. We love hearing success stories like yours! 😊
I have noticed that my skin's texture and firmness have improved since I have been using this product. The fine lines seem a little smoother and it does not irritate my skin.
Hi Kim,
Thank you! for sharing your experience!
We're so happy to hear you've noticed improvements in your skin's texture and firmness, and that the formula has been gentle on your skin. Hearing that your fine lines appear smoother makes us smile. 😊
Thank you for choosing Garden of Wisdom and for taking the time to leave a review!
Your GoW Family
Love this. So simple but effective. I use it daily on my face as it soothes my sensitive skin. Whenever anyone in our family has had too much sun or a sunburn, we use this - it's incredibly soothing and hydrating. Even my picky kiddos happily put it on sun-parched skin.
😁
Thankyou ❤️ so much for your wonderful review!
We love hearing that our Aloe Vera Inner Fillet Gel has become a family favorite. There's something special about a simple ingredient that does its job so well, and we're delighted that it's helping soothe both sensitive skin and sun-parched skin alike.
The fact that even your picky kiddos are happy to use it made us smile! 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience and for being part of our family and for so long too!
Your GoW Family
Love this product!! Especially during summer my skin just thrives with this! Not too thick or rich but leaves my skin happy and moisturized.
Hi Natali,
Thank you so much for your kind review! 😘
We're delighted to hear that Wickedly Rich McDreamy Cream is keeping your skin happy, especially during the summer months. Finding that sweet spot between nourishing and comfortable is exactly what we hoped for when creating it.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!
Your GoW Family
Work horse in my skin care routine. Have used for years. I spray a few sprays after cleansing on my face, neck, and chest, then use the extra moisture it provides to spread my serum. Resets the ph of my skin, makes everything feel more comfortable, and cost effective. Love it.
Hi Magdalena,
Thank you for being such a longtime supporter of the Clarifying Tonic! We appreciate taking your time to write this review for us.
Knowing has been a workhorse in your routine for so many years is fantastic to hear. There's no better compliment than earning a permanent place on someone's
skincare shelf.
It's especially helpful to hear how you use it to add a bit of moisture before applying your serum. This is a process we suggest all the time. It keeps from tugging the skin and also helps save money with products!
Thank you for sharing your experience and for being part of the GoW family all
these years!
Markey