Is this too harsh of an exfoliator? / What's a good exfoliator?

Sep 6, 2016

Kitty K.

I wasn't impressed with it. The irritants present in the formula are unnecessary and the whole 'heating up' ordeal is a bit uncomfortable!
I've been using the Juju bar from drunk elephant (Available at Sephora) and it has a super fine bamboo extract and clay along with some moisturizing oils. The fine bamboo and clay help with cleansing and leave my skin feeling so clean and polished! The moisturizing oils help me from being dried out. It's in a bar soap form, so it lasts quite some time as well!

If you're willing to use a chemical exfoliant on a budget to help unclog pores, try out the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Face lotion. It has a bit of cinnamon and cedar at they very bottom of the ingredient list, but it's such a small amount that it won't really bother skin (and I personally question why they even included it.)

Sep 7, 2016

Leuca S.

For physical exfoliation I just use microfiber cloths with my cleanser in the shower each morning. Way cheaper (and more gentle) than investing in a bottled exfoliator (which is likely scratching your skin and bad for the environment if it uses microbeads).

For sensitive skin you should really be avoiding "enzyme" products as a chemical exfoliant. A well-formulated salicylic acid product is the way to go, as it's one of the only skincare ingredients that can actually exfoliate inside your pores, and because it's a relative of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) it has anti-inflammatory properties. I think Paula's Choice has the SA market dominated; they have formulas for a range of skin types in different concentrations and they make sure their products are at the correct PH to actually function.

Sep 9, 2016

Leuca S.

The problem with most SA products is that they are either cleansers (which are not left on the face and therefore cannot exfoliate) or they're not at the right PH, and still can't exfoliate. Most of the SA products on the market meet neither, or only one requirement, and therefore people get no benefit. They're also typically formulated with irritating ingredients such as alcohol, witch hazel, lavender, etc.which further prevents them from exerting benefits for the skin.

Salicylic acid must be in a product that's at an acidic PH (below 7), and within that range it must be at a PH that can actually exfoliate skin (generally below 4-4.5), while not going too low and essentially burning you (dipping below a PH of 3 generally increases this risk at concentrations of 2% or more).

Companies are not ignorant of this. The problem is that it takes a LOT of effort to properly formulate products containing chemical exfoliants in a way that maintains efficacy and balances that with pleasing aesthetics and gentle penetration enhancers, so they take the safe way and just formulate them with ingredients that don't help you.

Sep 10, 2016

Angela J.

I use Nip Fab extreme glycolic fix pads. They seem to really help clear my skin and keep it smooth. You can get them at Ulta with your discount and first paycheck:) The reviews on the Ulta website are mostly great on this product too so ik it's not just me lol:)

Sep 10, 2016

Angela J.

I've also bought the Peter Thomas Roth peel pads and tbh they were a bit better but not hugely better. Especially considering the cost difference.

Sep 11, 2016

Leuca S.

You can order PH testing strips on amazon I believe. Keep in mind that you will not be able to test the PH of oil-based formulas, as oil is not water soluble and has no PH.