Acid toners

[ephemeralfairy]

I'm sure this has been done before but search keeps timing out for me on here today so apologies! Any recommendations?
Is Pixi Glow true to the hype? Or the Nip+fab pads?
I have weird skin, dry flaky patches on cheeks and chin, oily forehead, some hormonal spots, occasional bouts of cystic acne.

Fanks!

Reading this thread with interest.
So what's the difference between lactic, glycolic and salicylic?

pix glow is shit

Other than that I would say that acid toning is the single thing that has completely changed my skin, for the better.

Aspirin is apparently a type of salicylic acid, and if you crush up a few uncoated aspirins with water it makes a great mask, leaving skin smooth.
Unbranded aspirin is so cheap too.
I tried Pixi Glow and I did like the smell but it never worked as well as aspirin and I resented having an extra step in my daily routine.

I have dry sensitive skin and a lot of products give me a rash. I have used the nip and fab pads for some time and they are very good. Last week I bought Pixi Glow for the first time and the results have been spectacular!

I also bought a Pixi mineral shadow set and they are rubbish. The colours look great on the palette but there is very little pigment so they just look grubby and drab on the skin.

I have recently (from threads like this) bought Nip and fab pads (ok not madly impressed), dragon blood pads (love them), super drug radient cleansers and serums (OK not bad) Botanics all bright cleanser and toner (love them both) and Clinique toner (bit 'meh').

I have normal to dry skin but lots of filaments on my nose. Drags on blood pads and Botanics both seem to suit my skin best. Haven't yet started the super drug vitamin e stuff yet

I use the Nip and Fab pads. I haven't tried a cheaper version but I think the cost of these is worth it - I've always had good skin but since starting a proper regime with these plus double cleansing and a retinol, my skin looks fabulous, the best it's been in years. (And I have a six month old who doesn't sleep, so I should look terrible!)

My sister swears by pixi glow though. These products are so individual that I'm not sure you can know if it's right for you until you've tried it. For instance, I don't get one with Paula's Choice products at all but so many people swear by them.

I currently use the Nip Fab pads and really like them. Next I'm going to try the Peter Roth 10% toner.

mother re different acids, this is from memory and I'm sure someone will correct me if I get this wrong...

Lactic, glycolic, malic, mandelic are all AHAs, so are most effective on dry skin. They can't generally break down oil (mandelic is a bit of a hybrid and can break down oil but is the exception) but work by exfoliating/releasing dead skin cells. Lactic and malic are generally seen as milder. I think it might be to do with molecule size.

Salicylic (as in aspirin) is a BHA so is most effective at breaking down oil.

I don't know if this is strictly correct but I remember it as AHA - water soluble, BHA - oil soluble.

They are all most effective at different ph levels so combining them in one product = not getting the best out of either.

Salicylic is best for oily/congested skins - but it breaks me out dreadfully (dry skin here). Of the AHAs, lactic or malic are usually recommended for sensitive skins, glycolic is the universal/original and easiest to get!

I've tried quite a few over the years at diff strengths, but regular low-ish % glycolic works best for me.

Oh I really like Pixi Glow - it smells lovely (like a really old school toner from the 90s that I can't put my finger on!) and feels lovely as well. Much nicer than the nip and fab pads which just felt claggy and irritated my skin a bit as well.

I have a bottle of Pixi Glow that I don't know what to do with. My skin reacted quite badly to it, I don't know whether it's the acid that's a problem or the perfume (it smells quite perfume-y).

Which is the best Paula's choice for acne? Looking at website and confused

This thread is great! Now I know this is a daft question but WHEN do you use them? After cleansing right?? Had a sudden moment of confusion!

Yes after cleansing. Before you add any serums or moisturisers or anything.

Great thread! Reading the label of one of toners the other day it emphasised need for sun protection after using it - concerned me rather. Does it make you more sun sensitive?

Smartname - yes. If you are acid toning then you need to use an SPF. During the cooler months (assuming that you're UK based) then our climate means that an SPF in your moisturiser should be sufficient. During the warmer months, assuming that you don't shade your face with a hat(!), then you should be using something with a bit more to it, unless you don't spend any time outdoors at all.

Clinique do a good tinted SPF, but beware as the fomulations are different between the 25 and 50. I use Biore watery essence which I absolutely love apart from the fact that you can't get it in the UK! La Roche Posay do some good facial SPFs though.

This is quite a good one for spf under make up. Used it in Las Vegas and California

Nip and fab dragons blood cleansing pads are brilliant used as a second cleanse and toner for me.

Wolpertinger I have read about Retinol and Retin A and struggled to understand what I was reading! I use the LRP Redermic R which I like and it seems to be helping my acne. But what exactly is the difference between that and Retin A? And where could I buy the latter?

Thanks in advance for help!

Bravura London lactic acid 10% is the best acid treatment for the price. You can leave it on for a quick 3 minute boost, mix it with masks, use a serum if your skin isn't too sensitive. Really amazing results!

Wadingthroughsoup Retin-a is the stronger version which is only available through prescription. It's in another league in terms of results- imagine retinol X 5. But it has a long adjustment period and you have to commit to it. Best thing I have ever done for my skin. I don't know if you use Instagram but I've documented a bit about my Retin-a use of there with a few pics. My name is jennyblondeskincare. Hope this helps

Mizon AHA and BHA toner, though I use it mainly to lower my ph level so my skin can accept the Vitamin C serum.

I also use it in the morning to remove all that lovely sludge my sleep mask has removed, lovely jubbley!

I wouldn't be without acids now and couldn't go back to traditional western toners.

maybemyrtle
Thank you - that does make a lot of sense. My skin is broadly normal and a little bit sensitive, and I've had brilliant results with Sunday Riley's Good Genes, which is mostly lactic acid I think. Some other acid toners I find uncomfortably stinging, and looking at labels these seem to be more glycolic.

Try Amazon for nip fab- they have great prices on the pads at the moment- especially if you subscribe and save (which you can cancel at any time).

I use the Kale Exfoliating Cleanser from Nourish - it's very natural and gentle but has a fantastic effect on my skin. It leaves it very soft and hydrated. You can get it on line

Placemarking.