I swear that every single time I get one skin concern cleared up, another just pops up right away. I don’t think I will ever have perfect skin and I am slowly coming to terms with that. However, I have faith I can get pretty darn close and that is the goal right now. So, about a couple of months ago, at the beginning of November, I started to get these super weird bumps all over my forehead. They weren’t quite pimples (or maybe they were baby pimples?). I believe they were just clogged pores due to the oiliness of my skin (remember when I had dry skin?? Yeah, not anymore) or just your average case of uneven skin texture. Whatever they were, they drove me crazy. My forehead had been consistently clear for the past number of years so it felt like I was going backwards in terms of my skin and it was pretty damn frustrating.
But, as usual, miss Paula’s Choice came to the rescue when I was sent one of the newest launches from the brand. This is the Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel ($39USD) and it really has been the perfect addition to my skincare routine. This multi-acid peel consists of a 2% salicylic (BHA) acid plus an AHA blend of 8.4% glycolic acid, 7.1% lactic acid, 5% mandelic acid, 2.5% malic acid and 2% tartaric acid. This multitude of acids work together to deliver gentle yet powerful skin resurfacing. And, in addition, plant extracts like chamomile, licorice and allantoin help to soothe the skin so it doesn’t get too irritated. Lastly, the Butterfly Pea (pea, not pee) Flower Extract also calms any signs of redness and soothes irritation. It also gives the peel this amazing metallic lilac colour. This is my new favorite colour for the Spring. It’s perfection and I’m so glad my face will now match all my outfits when I apply this peel.
So, because of the high percentage of AHA’s in this peel, it is designed to be used only once a week for just a mere ten minutes. But do not underestimate what this mask can do in such a short period of time! The AHAs help to reduce the appearance of sun damage, fine lines, rough or crepey texture and wrinkles while the BHA unclogs pores and smoothes out any rough, bumpy texture. I found that after a couple weeks of using this peel, my skin looked so clear, glowy and smooth. It’s safe to say it definitely has become a staple in my skincare routine.
Because this is a concentrated peel, there are a couple of precautions to take. This isn’t just your ordinary, everyday mask, so please listen up. First, you’re going to want to skip any leave-on exfoliants when using the peel. I know you love your Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant ($29.50USD) but you’re going to want to apply that after not before this peel (although I often skip it all together on the nights that I do this peel). Do not double up while you have this peel on your skin. Second, always patch test. Try this peel on the inside of your arm or on your neck so you can monitor any irritation. A bit of tingling at first is normal, pain or burning is not. Third, you’re going to need to religiously apply sunscreen. You should be doing this regardless but it’s even more important after using this peel as the AHAs increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Last, don’t use on skin that’s been really sensitive from other treatments lately. Give your skin a little bit of a break!
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*ftc disclaimer: Products were sent free of charge for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make When I’m Older possible!