I thought it would be lovely to compile a list of member's glycolic acid products that they have personal experience with and would be willing to recommend to others who are fighting either 1. comedonal acne or 2. combo comedonal acne and small inflamed areas 3. aging 4. any of the above!

General Recommendations
Please also remember that using warm rather than hot water is one good step to add into your skin care regimen. Hot water is very irritating to most skin and can increase the redness/inflammation of pimples.

A gentle skin cleanser or one for sensitive skin is also an essential addition to your skin care regimen. If your skin feels 'tight' after you finish washing your face, your cleanser is too harsh or you need to apply moisturizer right after you wash.

Please try to avoid harsh scrubs or products that are advertised as for 'acne-prone' or 'oily' skin, or for 'blackhead clearing', as many of them are just too harsh and will tear minute holes or breaks into the skin, causing a worsened inflamed breakout.

Gentle chemical or manual exfoliation is the best for clearing pores out!

Sunscreen of at least SPF 30 is very important when using an AHA product. The AHA makes the skin more susceptible to sun damage and hyperpigmentation (melasma). I did not heed the warning and forgot sunscreen one day. I had a very obvious area of hyperpigmentation that looked like mud smeared across my forehead on one side only. It has faded with continued use of the glycolic and strict use of sunscreen.

In no particular order:

1. Avon's ANEW CLINICAL Advanced Retexturizing Peel. Can be bought on eBay for much less. I bought five containers for $48 including shipping. THIS is my holy grail of skin clearing and beautiful complexion.

2. Alpha Hydrox Souffle. Can be bought at Walgreen's and other places. Walmart and Target don't carry it anymore from what I read. The Alpha Hydrox website lists other places it can be purchased. Feels lovely on and works extremely well, even on the body!

3. Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner. Quite refreshing. It has Alpha Hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. It smells nice and feels so clean and good on the skin. I also highly recommend it. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle and other AHA products. Very good recommendations.

4. Many recommendations coming in for: Aqua Glycolic products. Their toners and cleanser in particular get good reviews.

5. Paula's Choice AHA body lotion or AHA products. The BHAs are exceptional, but of course don't fit in this topic of glycolic acid.

6. Platinum Skin Care has exceptional glycolic acid peels and products, along with a wide array of various skin care products.

7. MD Forte Glycare products. This link allows you to choose the product on the website that is best for your skin type.

8. lookgr8, a UK company!. Several members have reported using several of their products with success. I do not have personal experience with their products.

9. Pimple Eraser. Glycolic products recommended by a few members.

10. Olay Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher. Has glycolic acid, does not appear to have comedogenic ingredients.

http://www.lookgr8.co.uk/index.php?main_pa...;products_id=34

This is what i have using of late. Had only been 3 days so really don't know how my skin would shape.

Price is affordable as well...especially for U.K sufferers.

See prior post.

I'll put the above quoted post here to make it a bit easier for others to find without lots of clicking. Heartless, if you don't like this idea, please PM me and I'll delete this quote.



I have ordered from Platinum Skin Care: Very fast shipping. I like their spray SPF 30! When I run out, I'm ordering more. It is light, clean-feeling.

I like the MD Forte line... very high concentration with almost no irritation.

http://www.mdforte.com/right004.asp

i personally use the Level III cleanser and the Replenish Hydrating cream

Hey Wynne, I found a little tub of them Avon ANEW clinical advanced retexturizing peel wipes that my mum has got but she's on holiday so I'm going to steal them! muaha

Could you explain to me what they actually do? Will they literally make my skin peel? How many times to use them and when?

Thanks

Your poor mum. If you're young, you likely won't benefit as greatly as we old codgers... BUT, it might help a bit. The directions say to use it at night every three or so days. Then every other day once your skin gets used to using it every three days. So one tub should last more than a month. Just be absolutely SURE you wear sunscreen if you go out. It won't make you peel obviously, but will brighten up your complexion over time, particularly if you have sun damage. There may be an initial breakout as your skin gets used to the rapid exfoliation. There was for me, but each lesion did not last so long and left no scar!

You really should ask your mum if you can raid her stuff... She might even buy you your own off eBay. Let her know that she can buy it for less on eBay and she might forgive you. I bought it from 'anewmorebeautifulyou' or something like that. If you look back to early June, you'll see my rating for the product. Similar name on eBay to the one here.

Is this the same product?

http://avonshop.co.uk/avonshop/default.asp?department=shop

Sorry the link doesnt go straight to the product, but i think its on there just by a different name.

Thanks

Just realised that there products are just for women.

That is the old version of the product. Avon's new version is a one-step leave on. I'll look for it on eBay and put the link here. Anew Clinical Retexturizing Peel on eBay. Always go with the sellers that have a lot of positive feedback and feedback above 98% positive.

That is not just for women! Men can use it, too. Men get sun damage and acne, too. It doesn't even have a frou frou feminine scent. It has a clean, fresh scent like most toners do. The scent will dissipate shortly after it's applied, anyway.

Ok Wynne I might give this product a go, even though im in the UK.

What skin would you say its exactly suited for?

I have scars and lots a dark brown marks on my face, with some active acne, lots of blackheads. My face is kind of red as well.

I have quite sensitive skin, would this be suitable for me?

I really dont know what to use on my skin, Im so confused I use nothing at the moment. I just want these marks to go.

With sensitive skin, you will need a moisturizer with any glycolic product. I don't know that I would try Avon with sensitive skin. You might be better off with the Alpha Hydrox Souffle. It seems a much gentler formulation than the Avon. The Avon stings a LOT when one first uses it. The Alpha Hydrox did not at all. You might be ok trying the Avon but definitely using a sunscreen moisturizer during the day and a good moisturizer at night.

If you do use the Alpha Hydrox or Avon, please be absolutely sure to use a sunscreen, too.

Have you ever been to a dermatologist or an esthetician? If you go to a dermatologist, it is possible they'd be able to give you a prescription that will help you a lot. An experienced esthetician who has good references and experience with acne-prone skin will be able to give you some soothing and helpful facials, and possibly even some extractions of those blackheads (make darned sure they follow good clean techniques, and if possible, get recommendations from your friends!)

I hope you're using a gentle cleanser or a sensitive skin cleanser. I don't recommend using products that say they are for acne-prone or 'oily' skin. Those are frequently too harsh. Acne prone skin IS sensitive skin and needs to be treated gently and with respect. I use Cetaphil Sensitive Skin Bar (either antibacterial or regular) and others recommend Purpose wash. They are both gentle and effective.

Thanks for the info Wynne.

The last time I went to a dermatologist, was when I finished my Roaccutane course, I was hoping something might be said about the marks left, but nothing.

So you definatley think AHA products are the way to go?

*bumping* I have a few questions.

I'm was looking on Paula's choice website and looked at these products, can anyone tell me what the different is between all these products and if they would work really well on getting rid of red marks? What is the difference between Acid Gel and Acid Lotion?

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/search/search.asp?keys=peel

I was looking into getting a peel and I saw that Platinum Skin Care has a bunch, with different percents. I don't have oily skin nor do I have dry skin just in the middle, should I just try the 3% Salicylic Peel since its the lowest percent to start out with?

http://platinumskincare.com/all_products.htm

anyone

i'm curious.
in your country, doctors dont prescribe manipulated meds?

After Accutane, usually Retin A is one of the better choices to maintain clear skin. AHAs are the way to go for me, but they might not be for everyone.


The salicylic acids on Paula's Choice website have different descriptions and there is a link that instructs one on "Which is the right one for me?"

You'll want to look at Exfoliants for getting rid of red marks and helping with acne. Exfoliants include AHAs and BHA (salicylic acid). They're great at helping fade red marks and they help with acne as well. If you remain prone to breakouts, do expect an initial purging period and don't give up while it is going on. You might be impressed with how much your skin improves. I can't say enough good stuff about Paula's Choice products and I'm grateful to this site for showing them to me!

Peels are great for removing a decent amount of the stratum corneum; sometimes they go deeper. I myself like TCA. I do not have experience with salicylic acid nor glycolic acid in the strength of a 'peel' only as a daily treatment. They are marvelous as a daily treatment.

Platinum Skin Care has great recommendations and instructions on which peel might be right for you.

From: Peel Overview.

Salicylic acid is very irritating but very beneficial to acne prone skin. My almost as old as dirt skin likes glycolic acid 10% every other day and tolerated a light TCA peel very well. I am close to 40 (one month) so it is possible my skin just likes the anti-aging effects of AHAs.

i actually like proactiv's revitalizing toner. i believe it contains 6% AHA, and it's also alcohol free so it does not irritate skin. i really like it.

i also tried paula's choice 8% AHA gel, and although it's too harsh for putting it all over my skin, it actually works great as a spot treatment.

hope that helps!

I had good luck with a glycolic acid product called Pimple Eraser. It is an OTC product and is inexpensive.