Paula's ChoiceSKIN PERFECTING 8% AHA Exfoliant, Gel Exfoliant with Glycolic Acid Chamomile & Green Tea, Leave On Gentle Face Exfoliator for All Skin Types, Fragrance- Free

I absolutely adore this stuff. I have had skin issues and blemishes for over a decade and my skin is finally much clearer than I ever thought possible and that is completely thanks to chemical exfoliation.If you cannot afford Paula's Choice I highly recommend CorSx or other asian beauty brands that have AHA/BHA that are cheaperThis is the first AHA I tried, and it is the only AHA I use now. It prevents acne, improves my skin texture and helps me get rid of CCsImportant: if you have closed comedones (those little black things in your nose that you might think are blackheads) chemical exfoliation and oil cleansing could be a miraculous thing for you (as it was for me)The strange way I oil cleanse with this product to get as many grits as possible (grits are CCs, sebum, dead skin that you can get out of your skin with oil cleansing, it is so wonderfully satisfying and fun to do this! please try this at least once to see how your skin responds, my skin looks so clear and smooth the day after it's amazing).apply Paula's Choice BHA 2% (or a similar product, stridex in the red box works as well but only in the red box and not the green because the green does not have the proper PH, if you are new to any of this I highly recommend researching online!) - wait 20 minutes for it to workapply Paula's Choice AHA 8% - wait 20 minutes (a lot of people say you don't have to wait, but I find it makes a huge difference - also you could just use one of these, but I've found that both together yield the best results.)apply your oil of choice, I use: Life-Flo Organic Pure Safflower Oil, 16 Ounce it has plenty of 'slip,' and gets me more grits than any other oil (I also mix the oil with other oils like rosehip if I feel like it) - wait five minutes (you can skip that if you're sick of waiting)now massage your face!! so much stuff will come out it's insane. after you do that for at least 5-10 minutes (be gentle! don't rub your face too harshly) - wash your face with a good cleanser (I prefer Cerave foaming cleanser because it has a low ph and it is good for acne-prone skin - also, cleansers should not make your face feel tight or 'squeaky' at all! do not strip your skin) - I also use a konjac sponge for gentle removal (I get these for 89 cents on ebay).Other people recommend putting on a mask like the aztec healing clay mask (which I don't recommend for dry skin) between oil cleansing and the chemical exfoliation for more grits, but that has not worked for me so I don't use the mask.I do this kind of reverse process (normally you apply chemical exfoliators after you cleanse) at least three times a week and my closed comedones are significantly diminished if not entirely gone! (they refill themselves if you stop, there's no permanent way to remove them so this is the best method I've found for emptying them).If you have acne, if you have skin-texture issues, if you want clearer, healthier skin - this product is a must for you! Chemical exfoliation is much gentler than physical exfoliation and much more effective in my experience.This is a holy grail product for me and I urge you to try it out! (IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are new to chemical exfoliants please work up to using it multiple times a week! don't stress your skin out by using it constantly and only use it once a day. Make sure to use plenty of sunscreen with an AHA because it will make your skin more photosensitive!)

I found out a long time ago, I can't use AHA on my face. Paula's Choice wasn't the only AHA product I tried. All of them sting my face, so I use BHA on my face. The first time I bought the Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel, I decided not to waste it and used it on my hands. I finished that bottle very happy with the results, but didn't buy it again for a long time, because I always have BHA product.But for several years, I have had a great deal of dryness on the base knuckles of my forefingers and middle fingers. It's as though the oil glands stopped working altogether, and as a result, I had very red knuckles in the winter. Though I've had great results with BHA, it wasn't cutting the mustard, so to speak on my hands. So I decided to try the 8% AHA again, before winter set in.Shortly before bedtime, I wash my hands halfway up my forearms, then apply one pump to the backs of my hands and wrists. I follow that with a couple applications of a good moisturizer, such as Olay Quench Body Lotion, Normal to Dry Skin with Green Tea 8.4 fl oz (250 ml) or Gold Bond Ultimate Restoring Lotion, With CoQ10, 13-Ounce Bottle. Of course, I have to apply moisturizer during the day, too, but this I do as a nightly treatment.I couldn't be more pleased, either. This gel absorbs quickly, and helps draw moisturizer deeper into my skin. My hands are much smoother, my knuckles look better, and due to the exfoliation, a lot of sun damage disappeared. What started as an idea to help my knuckles succeeded, and then some. My hands look and feel great!I would caution you not to use this on broken skin; it will only irritate it. So, if your skin is cracked, you'll need to get it healed up some before starting use of either AHA or BHA.It takes two weeks to a month for results to show. If you're ready to start your exfoliation regimen, prepare to be amazed. Two wings up!

Bought this product about two months ago and my skin is looking the best it has in years. Would absolutely recommend. Below are my personal pros and cons for this product:Pros:- It works well! My skin is the clearest it's been my entire adult life. Not only has all the acne cleared, but I rarely if ever break out anymore and my acne scars are slowly becoming less noticable.- A little goes a long way. You don't even need a full pump to give enough product to cover your whole face. This helps to offset the fact that it's slightly pricey.Cons:- while it does work very well, it takes time to work. It was about 2 months if consistent use before I got the results I'm enjoying now, and the slow progress can be discouraging.- it is somewhat pricey (but like I said, a little goes a long way)- it has a mild but unpleasant odor- it is very drying, so you MUST use a moisturizer- it makes your face light sensitive, so you MUST use sunscreen. Get yourself a good moisturizer with SPF 30+ to protect your face while using this product. Seriously your face will get sunburnt super easily while consistently using this product, so you have to wear sunscreen.Overall, this is a great product that I would highly recommend. However, if you use it, a moisturizer with a sunscreen is a must. You'll also want to up your water intake, because hydrating helps combat the drying of your skin as well as decreasing acne.

I have used Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING for about 6 + months, I did notice it dose even my skin tone, and my age spots gone lighter. I'm very happy with the results, will continue to used it.