Hey guys!
I get a lot of questions about skincare so I thought I'd tell you about my absolute favorite products I generally fall back on when I have a blemish or two. My boyfriend is actually using this line-up while I am testing sponsored products right now, and it's helping clear up the little bumps near his hairline and blackheads he used to get on his cheeks.
There are two things you need to know about if you want to achieve acne-free (or less blemished) skin:
AHA's: or Alpha Hydroxy Acids are acids which according to Paula's Choice "at concentrations over 4% and in a base with an acid pH of 3 to 4, [...] can exfoliate skin cells by breaking down the substance in skin that holds skin cells together. The most effective and well-researched AHAs are glycolic acid and lactic acid." Basically the acids help take off skin cells that aren't doing you any good by exfoliating the outer layer. If you have scarred or sun-damaged skin, AHA's can basically kick start regrowth of new cells by helping get rid of the old ones.
BHA's: or Beta Hydroxy Acids refers to Salicylic Acid in skincare usually. Paula says it better than I can, so here's the explanation. "A beta hydroxy acid (BHA) product with salicylic acid exfoliates skin, reduces redness, provides a mild anti-bacterial action, and stimulates collagen production. It is a multi-benefit ingredient used to improve acne, blackheads, white bumps, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, large pores, oily skin, and reddened/sensitive skin. Beta hydroxy acid can be helpful for improving redness related to the skin disorder rosacea. In order for beta hydroxy acid products to function as exfoliants, the pH of the product must be between 3 and 4 (lower pH values are effective, too, but much below pH 3 is very irritating to skin)." Basically BHA's are good for getting rid of acne, and if you have acne you probably should be using one.
Now that you're edumacated, let's talk about AHA's and BHA's!
When I'm having an outbreak, I tend to go all out and use a BHA foaming cleanser after my oil cleanse, an AHA/BHA toner, an AHA serum, and a BHA moisturizer. Some might argue this is overkill, in my opinion it probably isn't because all those products probably aren't all going to fit the criteria listed above (pH/percentage-wise). If you have hardy skin like myself, you may feel a tingle or slight burn from all these acids, but if you have sensitive skin I would limit your AHA/BHA treatments to one or two products, and test them out slowly to see how often you can handle it. These are the two AHA/BHA products I recommend over others.
Mizon AHA & BHA Daily Clean Toner
I won this in a giveaway from Peach and Lily.
Sorry for the dark photos--my photo lamp was dying back when I took these!
Thank you English!
More English! English for everyone!!!
Pros:
Not over-drying
Cleans excess sebum out of pores
Not heavily fragranced
Seems to help keep acne away
Cons:
Would prefer a pump top dispenser
Expensive
Review:
Toners are really difficult for me to review because they don't usually have a profound effect on your skin. That said, I think that this in conjunction with the peeling serum have made a bigger difference in my skin and my boyfriend's than just using the peeling serum alone.
This is a watery toner with neither a slippery nor drying feel to it. It basically feels like water in my opinion. I've noticed that even though it says alcohol on the label, it smells more like the extracts in the formula than anything else-slightly nutty I guess you could say.
I used this toner on a cotton pad, and both I and my boyfriend always have yellowy sebum looking stuff on the pad even after we've just cleansed our face (since he doesn't wear makeup, I've come to the conclusion it's extra sebum). This stuff seems to really get excess sebum out of the pores, but it doesn't feel drying like other alcohol based toners because it has moisturizing oils.
This toner isn't strong enough that it burns really. If you have ultra sensitive skin I suppose it could tingle maybe? Overall, I would definitely buy this again though I wish the bottle came with a toner pump top.
Rating: 4/5 would buy again, but I docked a point for the high price
Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum
I bought this from RoseRoseShop for $11.20 but they are out of stock, and so is Peach & Lily. :(
Dear Mizon, please stop making reflective packaging. It's really hard to photograph--harder than mirrors are. Plus side: there's English.
This bottle is SO COOL! I have never seen a serum bottle like this before so forgive me for being easily impressed. On the left you can see the bottle full closed--notice how the "button" is down? Give it a quarter turn and the button will pop up so you can draw serum up into the eye-dropper. Unscrew the cap the rest of the way and you can use the button to dispense the perfect amount for one use!
Straight eyedropper, clear serum
Pros:
Fades acne scars
Not drying nor oily
Awesome/hygenic packaging
Lasts quite a long time
Cons:
Not sure it helps with wrinkles at all
Hard to find
Review:
If anyone has Paula's Choice 8% AHA Gel (Kerry? :D) please do a comparison review! The ingredient list between these two is quite different, but I quite liked this one myself.
The bottle in itself is amazing because it has a built in, hiding pump for the eye-dropper. The liquid is clear and semi-viscous. It's neither oily nor particularly moisturizing, and it definitely isn't drying. If anything I feel like it's slightly filmy, and it does give you that nice "feel the burn" tingle some other AHA products give. My boyfriend loves the way it burns, lol.
I bought this on a whim in hopes of clearing up acne scars. I used this back in the beginning of the winter and I definitely think it helped lighten my acne scars up. Sorry I didn't take pictures because I used it maybe 5/7 days of the week for a month and a half or two sporadically rather than committing to a month straight. Even with sporadic use, it helped lighten the hyperpigmentation on my cheeks.
The one thing I can't say for this product is that I didn't see any improvement in the fine lines under my eyes, though I didn't buy this product with that intention. You can't win em all. :)
Rating: 5/5 would buy again if it's available for purchase
Overall rating of both products: Unfortunately this, and the other product are a tad bit expensive and harder to find than other Mizon products, which is sad considering how good I've found almost all their products to be! If I still got regular acne, I would choose this line over any other brand's (even Etude House AC Clinic and Ciracle).