Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant | Gentle Leave-On Exfoliant for Face with Glycolic Acid, Soothing Chamomile & Green Tea

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 cheaper This 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 CCs Important: 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 work apply 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!

This is a great chemical exfoliant with glycolic acid! It's a clear gel texture that spreads very easily and makes my skin glow! If you've never used an AHA before, this might sting a little bit the first couple times but after that it doesn't feel like anything. It's not a super intense peel or anything so it won't irritate your skin...unless you have EXTREMELY sensitive skin, then you might have some tingling. But it will not dry you out or make your face peel. Paula's choice put hydrating ingredients in with the aha (glycolic acid) so your getting that chemical exfoliant you want along with hydration so your killing 2 birds with one stone. I have dry sensitive skin so I still need a moisturizer after using this but it would probably be enough if you have oily skin. I use this about 4 times a week in the morning after my cleanser and toner but before my moisturizer. Also DO NOT forget to wear sunscreen if you are using this. That acid is going to make your skin sensitive to the suns rays so it will be much easier for you to get sunburned and hyperpigmentation. It gets rid of the dead skin cells sitting on the top layer of the skin and sloughs them all off. It will allow all the products you put on after absorb that much deeper into the layers of the skin. It's a really great product and I would definitely recommend it!

I have sensitive, acne prone, combination skin. I started breaking out at 24 and it was on and off. Then, two years ago, I started breaking out to the point where family and friends would ask what was going on. There was no part of my face that did not have acne or congested pores. It was embarassing and painful! Well, let me tell you — this stuff got rid of all my skin problems! I had a mixture of milia, regular acne, and cystic acne on my face. I was using 16% glycolic acid, which only led to angry breakouts. Once I switched over to this, I started seeing fantastic results. Warning: clogged pores or burgeoning pimples will come to the surface or “purge.” However, you will know if something is not working for you if you start breaking out in angry and inflamed acne (especially in areas you don’t usually break out in). This was thankfully not the case for me. It took about four months for my skin to completely clear. It even cleared up stubborn spots that other products were ineffective in. My skin is very sensitive and this has not irritated it. One tiny drop is enough to spread on my entire face. I noticed that it stings a bit and can be drying when I use more than usual. I am so thankful I found this product! I had a baby two months ago and my skin has remained clear postpartum. This was not the case with my first two babies! Even when I’m tired and fatigued, my skin still has a fresh glow from the product. I haven’t had a “glow” since my early 20s. I am now 31. Please try this! I was desperate and prayed this would work for me. And it actually did- so it might work for you too! I started out with the travel product and I just ordered a full size. This is my routine for my fellow acne sufferers: FAB beauty face wash, cerave am light moisturizing fluid, Clinique moisture surge (at night), and ddf 5% benzoyl peroxide in the am. I use PC aha gel at night only. Update 5/28/19 I have consistently used this every night since my last review. My skin has continued to IMPROVE. I can now leave the house WITHOUT foundation! This is something I haven't been able to do since my college days and that was a decade ago! When I do break out on my chin, my pimple either never surfaces and disappears or comes to a head (which I pop) and heals within a day. A DAY! This is AMAZING for someone who previously had cysts that would remain under the surface for one week, and then would take another week to heal. It was embarrassing to leave the house or when I had unexpected visitors. If you constantly have breakouts, then you probably understand how it can lead you to not want to leave the house, avoid sitting in front of the window, avoid the outdoors because your acne appears more visible, despise overhead lighting (casts unflattering shadows on your face due to textured skin). Even though it's "just acne," your life is often affected because you feel so self-conscious. I cannot recommend this product enough. This is the one product I currently cannot live without. You must try this one! What can you lose?!

My complexion has not been so kind to me as of late and it's been really frustrating. I have darker skin so I deal with hyper-pigmentation from sporadic breakouts and with having combination/oily skin it's tough to find the right mix of products that make a difference. For some reason my skin has become really dull as well. With that I decided to dramatically change up my regular skin care routine in the hopes that I can get my fresh face back. My two constant problem areas are my neck & under my chin as well as the random breakouts & resulting dark spots. I have always tended to stuck to one product line but I've found a few items from a few different lines that have worked and have created 4 different routines. With the addition of Paula's Choice, my routine has kicked into high gear. The nightly use of this product has made a HUGE difference in the week I've used it. I have a morning and evening routine which alternates between acne, cleansing, exfoliating & moisturizing series of products. The one constant each night has been Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting Gel. I used this product at night after using my facewash (rotating between Kiehl's/Dermalogica/ProActive) & toner (Mario Badescu) and I have had no adverse reactions. My skin tone has improved, my spots seem to be getting lighter and my face is looking healthy, brighter and more firm again. I've tried peels, wipes, dermabrasion, exfoliators on top of Clarisonic. The darker parts hadn't budged or my skin would react but there would be no impact with the problem areas. I do wish there was a comparable eye cream to this gel as my eyelids have darkened some recently and this product advises you to keep away from your eyes. Aside from that, this is a winner and will be part of my routine so long as it keeps working.

Using this gel before bed over the past few months reduced my acne breakouts from the very first night I used it and, in the longer term, seems to have helped smooth out some of my fine lines. I’m at the wonderful age of 29 where breakouts are a continued annoyance but wrinkles are starting to stick around. I won’t lie and say it cures wrinkles or anything, because no over-the-counter product will get rid of them once wrinkles are there. But I do think this has smoothed out the visibility of fine lines in my forehead when my eyebrows are not raised. As for acne, you can tell it’s working because the Paula’s Choice gel stings like salycilic acid when it’s applied over a breakout where the surface of the skin has been broken. (does that make sense? Meaning like when a zit has just been popped and it’s not healed over yet.) Actually all of my skin felt a bit raw right after the first few uses because the product formula is a bit strong, and may not be good for sensitive skin, but that feeling stopped after about a week. The gel does feel a bit strange as compared to a cream because I worry that it’s drying as a film on top of the skin instead of being absorbed. And I worry that my skin isn’t receiving moisture like it does when I use night creams. But as long as my skin continues to respond positively to the Paula’s Choice gel and it meets my aging/breakout needs, then I will continue to use it and recommend to others. It’s a good value for the affordable price, visible results and how long a single bottle lasts.

I like the item and use it occasionally. The only reason for the three star rating is that the lid was not securely fastened, which caused the product to leak inside the plastic wrapping. Fortunately, it was packaged in plastic and the other items in the order were also wrapped otherwise the contents would have spilled onto everything.

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.

Amazing, saw results right away. A+

I have been using it for 1 month so far, EVERY morning & evening. It spreads very well & little needs to be used, so it will last a long time! I was skeptical but went off the reviews. I started noticing a difference after a couple of weeks using it twice a day. It removes a very small layer of skin, which isn't noticeable but builds up over time creating a smoother appearance. I exfoliate every few days & each time my skin looks better and better and better I generally don't trust products to do get 'magical results' but I LOVE this product & will definitely buy more when I run out (which won't be any time soon!) I have less acne, fine lines are greatly improved (even after 1 month) & my skin is less rough, has a much smoother appearance & it has even started to improve sunspots too!

Very good product , thank you

It really works but very expensive

I’m loving this gentle but effective exfoliating gel. Even after 4 uses my skin is looking clearer and just better in general. Fast shipping as always !