NeoStrata Smooth Surface Daily Peel Pads

What is it?
'A daily home use peel is expertly formulated at an effective pH using a NeoStrata-developed delivery system for gentle yet optimal skin penetration.'

Aka - acid toner with a kick

Who is it for?
All skins but particularly oily/acne and sun-damaged, mature and/or dull.

What’s in it?
Aqua (Water), Glycolic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Ammonium Hydroxide, Arginine, Acetyl Tyrosinamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

What's not in it?
Parabens
Fragrance

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
Alcohol
Chlorphenesin

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Man made/vegan

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?
No/unknown (will confirm if I find out)

How does it smell?
Fragrance free

How does it feel on the skin?
Mild tingle, nothing unusual for acid

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?
NeoStrata recommend PM use only, after cleansing.

How long before you should see results?
Obviously it depends how long you have been using acids, so either immediately or over a short period of time - but acids are generally quick.

How long did I test it for?
A few months

How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?
£47.00 - £50.00 depending where you purchase - 36 pads so approx £1.30(ish) a pad.

What’s good about it?
NeoStrata are a professional brand only available through clinics and every product is backed up by a clinical, not consumer, trial.
These pads are the complete antithesis of something like the Juice Beauty pads previously reviewed here. The set comes with the liquid in its own bottle and the pads are dry and ready to be soaked, meaning it stays completely sterile before use and then the pads are well and truly soaked when you empty the 'juice' into the pads container.
The pads contain a 10% concentration of glycolic acid along with amino acids delivered via a patented system called Aminofill, amino acids basically being the building blocks of collagen and thus helping to smooth out the lines and wrinkles. These really do 'start' your routine once your face is clean.

What’s not so good about it?
They're not cheap, but the price is basically the only negative if you have budget concerns. This is by far the best acid packaging I've seen thus far. It's SO satisfying emptying the liquid onto the pads and shaking them around.

Works well with?
Any serum you follow this up with will penetrate better than without using an acid - but in all fairness you can say that about a lot of acids - that's rather the point of them.

What’s the website like?
This is where there is room for improvement. The downside of brands only being available in professional clinics/spas is that the websites are usually non-transactional and lacking information, and sadly, like Biologique Recherche and SkinCeuticals, this is the case with NeoStrata in the UK. The 'Where to Buy' page doesn't work for me, so I can't even help you with a few London addresses. Don't let that put you off though. There's a phone number. Call them and ask where you can buy because the products are brilliant. Properly brilliant. The exception to the website 'fail' is the 'Heritage' page, which goes into good detail about how the brand started, and why they lead the path in many ways.

Similar products?
Zelens PHA+ Pads
Dennis Gross MD Acids
Kate Somerville Clinic-To-Go Pads
Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Pads


NeoStrata Smooth Surface Daily Peel Pads are approx £47/50.00 and more information on where to buy can be found here in the UK: www.neostrata.co.uk along with an online stockist here: askinology.com/neostrata

and here in the USA: www.neostrata.com - the USA website is good.

And if you are outside the UK and the USA go here: www.neostrata.com/restoftheworld

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Nightly Brightening Pads

What is it?
'Help brighten, smooth and tone while reducing the appearance of dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. These luxurious, eco-friendly bamboo pads are saturated with antioxidant-rich organic fruit acids to brighten..'

Brightening Pads for PM use.

Who is it for?
Designed for all skin types but especially useful for those with issues relating to dull or discoloured skin.

What’s in it?
Organic juices of pyrus malus (organic apple juice)*, citrus medica limonum (organic lemon juice)*, aloe barbadensis (organic aloe juice)*, niacinamide (Vitamin B3), organic vegetable glycerin*, gluconolactone, polysorbate - 20, palmaria palmata (red dulse algae extract), saccharum officinarum (organic sugar cane extract)*, citrus medica limonum (lemon extract), citrus aurantium dulcis (orange fruit extract), pyrus malus (apple extract), aloe barbadensis (aloe extract), cucumis sativus (organic cucumber extract)*, sodium benzoate, caprylyl/ capryl glucoside, sodium hydroxide, camellia sinensis (organic black tea leaf extract)*, potassium sorbate, glycyrrhiza glabra (organic licorice root extract), arctostaphylos uva ursi (bearberry leaf extract), sodium hyaluronate

What's not in it?
parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
not really

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
All of the above except it's listed as vegetarian, not vegan.

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?
No/No

How does it smell?
It doesn't really smell of anything, it's very faint.

How does it feel on the skin?/Absorption rate?
Although there are warnings about the tingle and the skin feeling 'flush' afterwards, I experienced none of that.

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?
Post-cleanse, pre-serums.

How long before you should see results?
Well it's supposed to be fairly quickly, but I didn't experience that.

How long did I test it for?
Two months, on and off.

How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?
£42.00 for 60 pads. £0.70 a pad

What’s good about it?
Not a lot. They contain niacinamide, which is an excellent ingredient, but how much of it is a guessing game.

What’s not so good about it?
I had really high hopes for Juice Beauty. Between the hype, Gwyneth, the seemingly never-ending good reviews in the press, I jumped in and bought these, the moisturiser and a starter kit. Being the acid freak that I am, I went with these first, almost as soon as I got back from LA in February.

In short, to make me 'tingle and flush', these would have to be thrown at my face from above and hit me from a great height. The pads (albeit eco-friendly bamboo ones) are a bit too flimsy, and the pot was almost dry when I opened it. I turned it upside down and left it overnight to try again the next day. No joy.
Maybe it's that there wasn't enough 'juice' in it to start with, or I got a bad batch, or maybe this is standard. In fairness, they are not sold as a traditional 'acid pad'. They are sold as nightly pads to use for brightening, but the descriptions on all their retailer websites use the word 'acids' freely, and mention that the pads are 'saturated'. No they're not. Sadly. Lesson to me to be even more anal than I already am when scanning ingredient lists.
Either way, these made no noticeable difference to my skin and were, in short, a very expensive pot of pads that I will keep and use to apply my acids that come in liquid form - you never know, there must be something on them and I am loathe to bin them. I may well add some P50 to them and leave them in the pot. P50-Pads-on-the-go. You heard it here first people. :)

Works well with?
Supposedly the rest of the range, but I tried that too and it made no difference.

Would I repurchase?
No.
What were your experiences with Juice Beauty? Please let me know. They're a big brand, it can't be all bad? Although it doesn't bode well for the huge amount of money I just spent on ordering GOOP from the US, as that brand was made by Juice Beauty too.

What’s the website like?
The website is excellent. It lists ingredients and you can shop by collection, concern or product category. From the selection I've tried thus far, at this point I would say the website is better than the products.

Similar products?
Every other post-cleansing/toner/acid pads/acid toner that has ever been on the blog performs better than these, although again, in the spirit of fairness, they don't market then as a solely 'acid' pad.
www.carolinehirons.com/acidtoning

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Nightly Brightening Pads are £42.00 or $45.00 for 60 pads and available from JuiceBeauty.com





Not a sponsored post. No affiliates. Full information can be found here: http://www.carolinehirons.com/p/about-me.html

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme

What is it?

Acid pads 

Who is it for?

All skin types except those with obvious sensitivities to acids.

What’s in it?

Aqua (Water/Eau), Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Mandelic Acid, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral, Linalool

What's not in it?

parabens

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

fragrance

alcohol

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

man made/vegan

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?

No/No

How does it smell?

Nice. Citrus.

How does it feel on the skin?/Absorption rate?

Good. Only slight tingles.

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?

After cleansing, before everything else. I use AM and PM, despite the 'Night' label.

How long before you should see results?

It depends how long you have been using acids for. If you are an old-timer, they will slip nicely into your current routine, if you are new to acids you will notice a difference in the texture of your skin after a couple of uses.

How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?

They are normally 60 pads for £14.95 so just under 25p for each use. BUT: they are currently on offer in Superdrug for £7.45 so 12p a pad.

What’s good about it?

I really like these pads. They're not as strong as they make out, the glycolic at 5% being the equivalent of Glow Tonic, but they do contain extra acids in the form of lactic, salicylic and mandelic. They also contain niacinamide, a brilliant ingredient that is proven to improve skin’s elasticity, enhance its barrier function and help with pigmentation. After I posted about them on Instagram, quite a few readers mentioned that these are much better than the original Glycolic Fix pads and much less drying. That would make sense as these contain less alcohol.

What’s not so good about it?

Not a lot. They're great. If you were being picky you could point out that they weren't exactly 'Extreme', but that's being pedantic. They could be 'Extreme' to someone new to acids.

Works well with?

Good before a really good serum. Your skin will be prepped and ready to go.

Anything to bear in mind when using?
Don't forget your SPF if you do decide to use them in the morning.

What’s the website like?

Good. Ingredients listed, and easy to switch between US and UK accounts.

Similar products? (links are to reviews, listed in ascending price order)

Avon Anew Pads
First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads

Radical Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads

Zelens PHA Pads

Colbert MD Intensify Facial Discs

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme are currently £7.45 from Superdrug.com and instore.

They are £14.95 normally from nipandfab.com and surprisingly, also $14.95 from ulta.com 

Why are they cheaper in the States if it's a British Brand? No clue. You'll have to ask them.

Avon ANEW Clinical Advanced Resurfacing Peel

What is it?

'Professional-grade, at-home treatment pads that exfoliate, retexturise and

resurface all skin types.'

Acid toning pads.

Who is it for?

Everyone, except people with obvious intolerances/allergies to glycolic.

What’s in it?

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

acids

alcohol

benzephones

silicones

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan? Gluten-free?

man-made, not gluten-free

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?

No/Yes

What's not in it?

parabens

How do you use it?

The advice is to apply every other day, morning or evening after cleansing, which seems fair enough.

What’s good about it?

These are very affordable, perfectly good acid pads that work well as an alternative to some of the more expensive ones. They may contain a few more ingredients than the others, but I wouldn't let that put you off. The glycolic content is 10% and it also contains what Avon have trademarked as their 'Multi-Acid 5 Complex' which I expected to be five 'acidic' acids, but it's not. The Multi-Acid 5 is glycolic, hyaluronic, TPA, oxalic and salicylic. At 10%, they sit about in the middle of the acid spectrum. 

What’s not so good about it?

They have a bit more bite than some pads, i.e. sting, but it's certainly not unbearable.

Anything else?

Yes. I am new to the Avon website, but it is without doubt one of the worst that I have seen for lack of information. No real description, no information on ingredients, no ingredient information at all, hence my very professional (not) picture of the box. This, from one on the biggest brands in the world, is just not good enough. I don't know why it's so bad, if you do, please let me know in the comments.

Ignoring that, the pads are great and on offer for £10.00. So check them out.

Similar products?

First Aid Beauty

Pixi Glow Peel Pads

Nip & Fap Extreme Pads

Dennis Gross Pads

Zelens PHA Pads

Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Resurfacing Peel Pads are £15.00 for 30 but currently on offer for £10.00 from Avon here: www.avon.uk.com/anew-clinical-advanced-resurfacing-peel

Radical Skincare Age Defying Exfoliator Pads

What are they?

'Improve skin elasticity and bid a permanent farewell to dull skin with radical age defying exfoliating pads.'

Acid toning in a pad.

Who are they for?

All ages but particularly recommended for those worried about signs of ageing. Slightly more 'grown-up' skins. 

What’s in them?

Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Allantoin, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Resveratrol, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Pca, Propylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Lecithin, Limonene, Linalool

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

essential oils

alcohol - although most acid toners need either alcohol, witch hazel or vinegar for the acids. It is worth bearing in mind that alcohols used with acids have a different effect on the skin than astringent 'toners' where alcohol is the first or second ingredient, and you can literally feel your face drying out out as you swipe.

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

Man-made loveliness, vegan

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?

No/No

How do you use them?

Apply after cleansing, all over the face, including eyelids and lips. Flip over, go again.

What’s good about them?

I love these pads. They contain the usual acids along with willow bark for lazy pores, Osilift for toning and tightening and witch hazel as a mild astringent. They give good sting, but no burn. They also have resveratrol and centella asiatica, two ingredients I always keep an eye out for. In a good way.

These pads are in my 'must-have' acid selection and I keep a back-up. I also love the ethos behind the brand, if you aren't aware of Radical start here: www.radicalskincare.com/our-story

What’s not so good about them?

They're £48.00 for 60, so not the cheapest option. However, if you are using them once a day it's £24.00 a month, which is more on a par with most of the others (mid-range and up) on the market. A lot of the other pads on the market come in packs of 30. Always look at quantity vs price. Skincare is no different from buying fruit. ;)

Similar products?

All the other pads. Zelens, First Aid Beauty, Malin & Goetz, PTR - all of them have something individual from these and are worth checking out. Acids and cleansers are what I keep the biggest collection of. They're like good music and excellent tea. You can never have enough. 

Radical Skincare Age Defying Exfoliator Pads are £48.00 from SpaceNK.com and $78.00 from Sephora.com

The Top 10: Acid Toners

I imagine most of you lovely readers will fully expect what products are in my Top choices so before I carry on - I couldn't stop at 5, hence there are 10. And I've linked the below to previous reviews from either here on the blog or YouTube. Do please give me a shout if there are any blatant omissions - these are in no particular order.

1. P50 - preferably 1970 formula - the original and still one of the best, in all its variants. Reviewed in more detail earlier this week on here. Good for all skins, especially older.
2. Dennis Gross MD Alpha Beta Pads - these, it has to be said, are my absolute first choice for travel. Due to the disposable packaging they can be purchased in and the quick two-step process, they are perfect for using on the go - and brilliant too. Another one that is technically good for all skin types but will show best results on older skins.
3. Pixi Glow Tonic - the best affordable option, along with First Aid Beauty and one for all skins. A great starter option for younger skins and AM tone for older skins.
4. First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads - I use these most in the mornings, usually if I'm doing the school run because they are so easy to use. Also one of the more affordable options at around £20.00.
5. Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Pads - Again for older skins, these are great for using in the evenings before a particularly active serum.
6. Zelens PHA Pads - Glycolic-free for those with problems using that particular acid, don't be fooled by the lack of glycolic. These pack a punch with PHA acids and make it easier for the skin to stay hydrated after use.
7. Kate Somerville Clinic To Go - a peel in a pad. Lush, travel well, work brilliantly, would be in my top 2 for travel except they are harder to get hold of in the UK so I have to use them really sparingly. 
8. Clearasil Daily Clear Superfruits Refreshing Pads - the real budget choice. A few pounds and a fine job for your money. If you are a teen and have a real budget, start with these.
9. Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion - salicylic acid only here, so again, if you suffer with a few spots, or simply cannot use other acids, this is perfect - it's also alcohol-free for those of you with issues with that.
10. Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner - Still lush and in my arsenal, this is better used a few times a week than twice a day.

That, by the way, is still my advice. Try and buy 2, preferably 3 acid products. A strong one for evenings, a lighter one for days and one more to mix it up. Acid toners are literally like taking your face to the gym. Different strengths and different acids do different things.

Lactic (AHA) - resurfacing, great for dehydrated and dry skin.

Glycolic (AHA) - stimulating for better collagen production, resurfacing.

Malic (AHA) - resurfacing, good for boosting collagen production

Salicylic (BHA) - best for spots/acne. Surprisingly gentle.

PHA's (Poly hydroxy acids) - best for those in need of hydration and deep penetration of product afterwards.



Before I am asked: Liquid Gold by Alpha-H is not a toner - it will be in nighttime treatment lists!

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50

What is it?

A liquid balancing exfoliator. Designed to strengthen the epidermis, exfoliate skin, regulate excessive sebum secretion, hydrate the skin, maintain the skin’s pH, and prevent and treat ingrown hairs.

Who is it for?

All skin types - there are three options available in the EU and six available in the US due to the addition of the three originals with added phenol.
P50V is for older skins lacking tone.
P50W is for sensitive skins.

What’s in it?

Water (Aqua), Gluconolactone, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Citric Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Magnesium Chloride, Malic Acid, Vinegar (Acetum), Phytic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Cochlearia Armoracia (Horseradish) Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Root (Burdock Root) Extract, Rumex Acetosa Leaf Extract, Myrtus Communis Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Allium Cepa (Onion) Bulb Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Oil, Sulfur, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

Acids, sulfur

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

A mix of man made and plant - in the best way. :)

Tested on animals/sold in China?

No/Yes

What's not in it?

Alcohol
Glycolic acid

How do you use it?

Dampen a cotton pad, swipe over the face left to right, top to bottom, all the way down the neck. Flip the cotton pad over and go back up the way you came from!

What’s good about it?

Oh where to start? This was my first ever experience of an exfoliating acid, in Paris, 14 years ago. It was used at the beginning of a facial at Biologique Recherché and was immediately effective. It still sets the bar for me, exfoliating acid-wise. The now infamous '1970 Formula' is only available in the US, as the EU has banned phenol since I first started using it. How rude of them.

In fairness, this formula works better than the 1970 formula, it has less of a 'burn' and doesn't cause the skin to turn as red. Obviously, if you are a sensitive skinned user, that is preferable anyway..

This formula has gluconolactone, a poly-hydroxy acid, which is more gentle than glycolic, that also acts as an anti-inflammatory along with a higher concentration of lactic acid - and malic and phytic acids, both AHA's used to promote cell turnover and help with hyper pigmentation. 

The acids in this tackle skin problems from every angle - resurfacing, zapping blemishes, essentially 'stripping back' the skin so that what you use after it is more able to penetrate. I try and use P50 in the evenings when I'm following it with retinols/vitamin A serums or pigmentation products. That's why I generally use the others during the daytimes. Not a solid rule, more when I remember...

What’s not so good about it?

Some people don't like the smell (vinegar), but in a formula such as this, if you don't want alcohol, you need a preservative - and that's the job of the vinegar. Personally, I don't even notice it these days, such is the length of time that I've been using it, but forewarned etc..

Where to use in your routine?
After cleansing, before serums. 

Similar products? 
All the usual suspects, in varying degrees of strength. 
First Aid Beauty Pads 
Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pads 
Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion (only the mild one) 
Colbert Intensify Facial Pads 

Biologique Recherche P50 is available in the UK from EF Medispa here: efmedispa.com is around £50.00 for the 150ml size. It also comes in a bigger size. The problem is, you can't buy it online. That's the decision of Biologique Recherché, not EF Medispa, so don't blame them if you contact them! :) You can find worldwide stockists here: biologique-recherche.com

The Month in Skincare - January

I can't believe January is at an end already! Those of you that aren't on Instagram will be unaware that I've been keeping a daily record of the products I'm using. Not so much for me, more to encourage you to mix it up a little (where you can afford to - obviously), there is never a need to only use one brand. (Although I wouldn't mix a load of retinol products. You stay classy San Diego.)

Myself, the Mr and Max are all a little under the weather so there won't be a video tomorrow - I'll aim for Monday/Tuesday - but I need to rest up.

Feel free to ask any questions about the products shown or any routines etc in the comments. Although with this cold, bear with. Yes/no will be easier than essays this weekend! :)

Also: I'm focusing more on budget skincare in February. I'd be interested to hear from you with some of your favourites. :)

Have a lovely weekend everyone!