Sizzlers! Talk to me about glycolic acid

[BallroomWithNoBalls]

Calling all experienced sizzlers! I am up for some peeling!

I want a product I can use a couple of times a week to exfoliate overnight.

Is Bravura 10% my best bet? Under a tenner compared to Liquid Gold at £33 which isn't apparently as effective anyway.

Bravura 10%

Or their 15% cream ? I have dry but not especially reactive skin.

Oh it says don't use if you're pregnant. My quick google a minute ago said glycolic acids were fine in pregnancy - any advice?

If you want a proper sizzle, then, yes. I started with liquid gold -and much trepidation, but tbh all I noticed was, well, nothing really! Then I had some iirc 10%GA from Bravura, by which point I was happy eniugh to throw caution to the winds, and went for 30% from an ebay seller and paid less still. The 30% was the only one that made a visible difference, not so much on lines, but definitely on texture.

I currently use the 20% Salicylic Acid from SR Skincare. Cheap, sizzles, very effective. Recommended on here on a previous sizzlers thread.

Don't see why I have to pay extra for fancy packaging and marketing.

Will prob change to the Mandelic when I run out as supposed to be better for pigmentation.

www.sr-skincare.co.uk/chemical-peels-52-c.asp

That one looks good Kundry - how do you use the neutralising gel, would you mind describing the whole process?

The 15% cream from Bravura sounds easier as it's just whack it on and leave overnight, but if I'd be better going straight to 20% maybe I should go for this one.

The higher % peels all come with a neutralizing gel. Lower % ones are self-neutralizing. The gel is only bicarb in a fancy gel if you want to be a real cheapskate. Basically you put the peel on, wait however many minutes, put a 50p size bit of neutralizing gel in your hand and dab it all over your face. Then wash it. Dead easy. Calling it a peel is exaggerating how effective it is - there will be no actual visible peeling.

Sounds more dramatic than it is. They recommend you start lower (I started at 10%) and for fewer minutes and work up. 10% didn't sizzle at all, 20% was a bit of a shock the first time but now barely bothers me. %s for glycolic are higher than those for salicylic so 15% glycolic prob isn't as strong as 15% salicylic.

Ok - so then wash your face - with a gentle cleanser? Follow with a moisturiser? What products do you recommend? I currently use Elemis Rose Petal Cleanser which is a gentle cleansing cream and splash off, and use Nivea blue pot overnight sometimes with an oil too. Should I use Cetaphil or something on sizzle nights and follow with my Nivea?

OK so more detail :

Wash face with Cetaphil
Let face dry
Put peel on dry face (they helpfully send you a packet of cottonwool thingies)
Wait however many minutes you feel like
Smear dollop neutralizer over face
Wash off with water
Moisturise.

I use Cerave night as not too expensive, oil-free and loads of ceramides - however I have combination skin so Nivea blue pot just makes me into an oil slick. Nivea is a good moisturiser but I'm always looking for my products to do a bit more so wanted the ceramides too.

Just having a look at the Bravura site... How does one decide which product to go for? Also, it says the 30 and 50% are for professional use only - how does one get around that? And has anyone tried it for rosacea? Sorry to hijack thread

There is a mahoosive thread somewhere in the MN archives, I'll try and find it, may be useful.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/a1432574--sounds-klaxon-30-GA-peel-shizzle-that-you-can-do-at-home

Amethyst, I think some posters on that thread got as far as the 50% one. All at home.

Thanks so much Drank (love that song ) - will have a read.

I loved that thread

I've been meaning to get sizzling, rather than pussy footing around with regular exfoliants. Have emailed Bravura explaining all my various skin concerns, so see what they recommend. Will my face be seen from the moon at the end of my sizzling???

Nope. Nothing they sell without a prescription is going to be that strong. Max you will get is some redness that is gone by the morning. Still notice a positive difference though.

Bravura won't sell the 30% to regular customers any more, you have to be a professional...

Thanks for the link - I lurked on that thread, will pore over it again and possibly order.

Do you think it's ok to do in pregnancy? On the Bravura site it says not to use in pregnancy but the internet in general says it's only retinoids you need to avoid in pregnancy.

Intrigued, I have googled for other glycolic acid peel kits at 30% and I found this one:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Glycolic-Acid-Chemical-Peel-Facial-20-40-50-or-60-Neutraliser-Free-Brush-/261545892623

I'm sure there are many others... how do you have any idea if what you're buying is OK?

Sadly, you don't, high feedback I suppose. I'll look tomorrow which seller I got mine from and post a link.

My seller was called Bluebell-uk.

Just had a quick look, but ebay is playing up for me, so can't see if they are still operating.