Does anyone else find that acid toners don't quite cut it?

[ClarenceTheLion]

I've been using Glow Tonic and Liquid Gold faithfully for the last six months, and though I know they're not the strongest ones, I expected my skin to respond well over time.

I developed flaky skin on the end of my nose and in my eyebrows, which I've never had before. I kept putting more moisturizer on, but yesterday I finally twigged that a traditional exfoliator might shift it, and it did! My skin feels so soft now too.

Should I just give up with acid toners, or do I need to use the Big Boys? (If anyone can tell me who the Big Boys are that is! Paula's Choice?)

I found glow tonic over rated as well. No advice though! Also saw no results from the Clarins one.

And the pixi one smells SO bad!!!!

Hi OP, I'm a flaky person too - nice I've been using Nip and Fab Glycolic pads daily for about 6 months and have virtually no flakiness or scaliness to speak of. I use the regular ones but there's also a night time 'Extreme' version which has a stronger concentration of glycolic acid. I haven't tried them myself but have heard very good things

I've never tried Glow Tonic but haven't heard many rave reviews

Pixi is overrated IMO also. I do like Liquid Gold though. I enjoy an old fashioned scrub sometimes with something very gentle, so on the nights I do that I skip acid toning so as not to overdo it.

I have been using nip and fab dragons blood cleansing pads as my second cleanse / toner and it's worked miracles on my skin. I just moisturise straight after.

I'm not actually sure if I'm using the pads the correct way ie do I tone afterwards but they worked well for me.

If you overuse acid toners, they can make your skin flake. Liquid gold for example isn't supposed to be used every day as it's too strong.

Your cleanser might be too strong for winter and could be stripping your skin.

I only use Clinique Mild Exfoliating Toner three times a week as my face would fall off otherwise.

They all break me out terribly. I've tried all the popular ones. A manual exfoliator has never caused problems.

The best have been the dragons blood pads but even those caused spots after a few days. If I use them twice a week it seems ok.

I really wish they worked for me. I feel like I must have freaky skin when everyone else loves them.

Ive used them but to be honest I really didn't see a difference. I'd rather use a gentle scrub.

For me (oily skin) none of them are as good as a retinol. And for oily skin salicylic acid is the only way, all the others are a waste of time. And yes, the Big Boys ie Paula's Choice as you put it were 100x better than the others and in no way made my skin fall off but actually got rid of all the redness and flaking.

Why I rebought Clinique Mild Exfoliating Lotion when I knew the Paula's Choice was better is a mystery I cannot explain

I find the acid toners are what keeps me free of blackheads, which scrubs never did. BUT for flaky or rough bits I crack out my lovely Oskia exfoliating balm and mmmmmm hurts so good

I've been using a Paula's Choice 2% salicylic acid Big Boy for a couple of weeks and I'm impressed. Fewer hormonal spots, smooth cheeks and no flakiness around nose.

Crushed dispersible aspirin work for me at a fraction of the cost.
I crush six aspirin and mix with a few drops of water. Spread on damp clean face and leave until it has dried then rinse. My skin has never looked so clear. Wish I'd found out about it years ago, 16 aspirin for less than 40p

I'm using the nip and fab extreme pads. I think the normal ones suit me better but I'm going to finish the pack.

Are you hydrating enough after the acid toners?

You said you used moisturiser but do you do a hydrating tone/spritz/essence or any serums/oils etc between the acid tone and the moisturiser? I have combination/tending to dry skin and have to pile on the hydrating layers especially in winter.

For gentle scrubs, I know Hirons etc are anti-scrub but I really like one I in Japan called Cure Natural Aqua Gel, I've since found you can get it online over here, it's amazing you just start rubbing this gel in and after a few minutes you can actually see the little bits of skin coming away. I also sometimes use a gentle scrubby cleanser from Lush (Let the Good Times Roll or Angels on Bare Skin) or Origins Modern Friction is nice as well.

I love Pixi Glow Tonic though. And I think it smells lovely!