My five favourite acids….

Skincare Week kicked off here on the blog yesterday with a post dedicated to my five favourite cleansers. Today my attention switches to acids so naturally I have wasted the past two hours searching through acid house mixes on Soundcloud rather than actually writing this post. But I’m ready now! I’ve raved with my Cheerios and the thinking can finally begin.

Acids are possibly my fave skincare category so to narrow this post down to five favourites was really hard. You’ll notice over the next couple of days that a few of the products I’ll include as masks and treatments could technically be described as acids too.

I’m aware that the term “acids” sounds a little bit bonkers if you’re not familiar with them, but rest assured this is about glycolic, lactic and fruit acids…not the type of dangerous chemicals that could melt through RoboCop.

Acids like the ones below help exfoliate, brighten, resurface, rejuvenate, smooth, soften, tone and clarify. They are completely brilliant and I would not be without them.

You do not need harsh scrubs in your life if you have acids.

Aceeeeeeeeeeeds make everything better. (Except sunburn, do obviously follow the product instructions when it comes to sun exposure and SPF on your new lovely post-acid skin as this is important).

Enough rambling, let’s get to the products!

1. Alpha-H Liquid Gold – £33.50 for 100ml (other sizes are available)

Now I’ve already written an in-depth review of this miracle potion but the best summary I can give is that I was extremely sceptical that this could possible be THAT good until the day I bought it. I’d seen every blogger, editor and YouTuber sing its praises for years and I just assumed it would be one of those faddy products that has a good blogger outreach strategy. Well, it’s not a fad and it’s as good as everyone says.

This glycolic acid treatment is designed to be used alone every other night (i.e you cleanse then sweep this over your face with a cotton pad without following with serums/moisturisers etc) and it gets to work whilst you sleep to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, hyper-pigmentation, sun damage, acne, scarring and breakouts. A pretty impressive claim list, but I’ve seen with my own eyes how it has completely fixed my milia issues and made my skin tone much more even.

Like with Oskia’s Renaissance Cleansing Gel in yesterday’s post, this has become one of those products that I buy people for Christmas and birthdays as if I’m on a one woman mission to convert everyone to its majesty.

My one word of warning would be that I can’t personally tolerate this product on my neck and “upper boob area”, it makes me sore. On my face though? THE DREAM.

Buy here.

2. Pixi Glow Tonic – £18

In my group shot pic above I’ve snapped my travel size version of this as I have nearly run out of my big bottle, so don’t panic that £18 only buys you a teeny travel size. £18 gets you 100ml of this fabulous toner.

And it really is fabulous.

Again, I’m well aware that every blogger goes on about this one but I’ve gotten through bottles and bottles of it and I really do rate it the highest for an everyday toner. I use it every single morning after cleansing and it’s gentle enough to use frequently (I’ve gone through long periods of using it twice a day) whilst also being powerful enough to make a difference.

Extra points for the ginseng kick which is *exactly* what I need first thing in the morning. (As well as a banging acid house mix, if I’ve learnt anything from writing this).

Buy here.

3. Sunday Riley Good Genes – £85

I’m never excited to recommend spending £85 on a product because I know it’s an absurd amount of money BUT I really do adore Good Genes and I can 100% rely on it to make an instant difference overnight.

It stinks and it’s not always comfortable to use (you expect a slight tingle with acids, but I can find this actually stings) and yet I continually consider it one of my all time favourite products because it really really works for me. With lactic acid, liquorice and lemongrass it claims to smooth, refine, clarify and brighten whilst improving skin’s thickness and elasticity. The results speak for themselves.

I’ve read reviews where people say they use it every day but that would be *major* overkill for my face (not to mention wallet – it’s £85!!!!) and I prefer it as a booster whenever my skin needs a helping hand or I fancy a treat.

I *have* used it daily under moisturisers in the past, but I get by far the best results using it as a mask or as an overnight treatment. I can’t help think that you’re wasting it really by slathering moisturisers on top straight after applying but I could be wrong.

Perhaps this goes without saying, but you probably want to steer clear of this if you have sensitive skin.

Buy here.

4. Ole Henriksen’s Lemon Strip Flash Peel – £35

I first bought this as a travel size as part of the Ole Henriksen – The Works Kit but have subsequently re-purchased it after Ole facials. And facials are a relevant point when describing this product, you really do feel like you’ve had a proper facial after using it.

It’s a clear gloopy gel and you brush a teaspoon sized amount across cleansed skin and leave it to work its lemony magic as a ten minute mask. You then wash it off and follow with moisturiser, so it’s not like the other acid products mentioned in this post in that regard.

It has lactic, glycolic and fruit acids coming together to help renew, resurface and brighten and if you ever have an acid peel during an Ole Henriksen facial then this is the exact product they’d use on you. They don’t use something stronger in the spa and then fob you off with something half as good in store.

It’s recommended as a weekly treatment but if you were using Liquid Gold every other night and Pixi every day AND Good Genes every once in a while then you probably wouldn’t want to use it every week! I’d just use your common sense when it comes to how often to use, but they don’t recommend using it more than once a week, whatever your current acid set-up.

I really love it.

Buy here.

5. Radical Skincare Age Defying Exfoliating Pads – £45 for 60

I first became obsessed with pre-soaked acid pads in Australia a few years ago when I had a few samples of Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pads. Unfortunately for me, the cost was prohibitive to keep as part of my daily routine (£110 for 60 pads as opposed to £45 for these, for example) and I’ve been on the look out ever since for similar products.

These pads have AHAs and BHAs and work to banish dull skin and promote cell turnover for a brighter more radiant complexion. They come pre-soaked in a jar (making them wonderfully easy for lazy types!) and they don’t dry out as you work your way through the pot…which has definitely been an issue I’ve come across with cheaper brands.

They claim to be able to reduce the visibility of crows feet by 50% in two weeks although I can’t attest to that myself as that’s not a skin complaint I’m trying to address. Yet!

I’ve tried a few pre-soaked acid pads and these are definitely my fave in this price bracket from the ones I’ve tried.

Great for livening up dull complexions.

Buy here.

 

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing my five favourite masks before moving onto moisturisers and treatments on Thursday and Friday 🙂

Aceeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!

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