Three nights a week for three months on dry skin: tingles briefly, cheeks smoother, sun spots a shade lighter, no smell. Wear SPF with it.
Latest exfoliants reviews
From users, and from around the web with the source linked.
Redness from overuse calmed and came back after two weeks.
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“I’m about 2 weeks out from overuse and redness. It calmed but then came back.”
Works like a miracle on combination skin used one or two nights a week.
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“I have combination skin and this works like miracle for me.”
No difference on acne scars but improved texture, tone, clarity and glow over years.
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“Acne scars? 0 difference. Skin texture, tone, clear skin and glow? Yes.”
Popular this week
most new reviewsFades redness around old scars far more than the indent itself.
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“It fades the redness around my old scars way more than the actual indent itself, the texture stayed about the same for me”
Gentle enough for their very sensitive skin once or twice a week, unlike harsher exfoliants.
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“I really like first aid beauty’s facial radiance pads,which have a combination of low percentage glycolic (2% I think) and lactic acid that doesn’t irritate my insanely sensitive skin.”
60+ days as directed and it did nothing.
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“I was so excited to get this product and also found it did nothing?! I have been using it for 60+ days, as directed etc.”
Exfoliates with Good Genes once a week, leaving it on 15–30 minutes then washing it off; left on, their face peels.
On very dry skin, Sunday Riley Good Genes keeps their skin clear and bright.
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“I have very dry skin so I have to be careful with what I use. I really love Sunday Riley’s Good Genes — it keeps my skin clear and bright.”
Dabbed on milia for 10 minutes over three nights and they cleared; needs great care.
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“I used the ordinary aha and BHA over about three nights, a tiny bit on them for 10 mins and that got rid.”
Didn't do enough for them; switched to peel pads.
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“The TO peel just wasn’t cutting it for me, unfortunately.”
Remembers it stinging and burning their face badly.
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“sitting on my bedroom floor, face stinging and burning like hell, convincing myself it was good for me”
Used it but noticed no visible results, and suspected their bottle might not be genuine.
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“I dont think i noticed anything from TO peel either.”
Mixed with a toner it's incredible on their 51-year-old skin: no dryness, fresh skin and nearly invisible pores.
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“I actually mix it with Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Leave-On Exfoliant and it's incredible.”
They've used it for about 15 years, around 60 bottles, going through four a year.
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“Sunday Riley Good Genes. Been using for 15 years ish. Probably on like my 60th bottle”
A hand-me-down bottle of Good Genes made their skin look amazing within a couple of days; it's pricey, and after buying it on and off for a while they eventually stopped noticing results.
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“it was earth shattering how amazing my skin looked in just a couple days”
They love using The Ordinary red peel in the late afternoon before an evening event to help their skin look its best.
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“I love to use the Ordinary red peel or Drunk Elephant babyfacial (similar) before an event.”
On a night off tret they layer Good Genes after a BHA and their skin loves the combination.
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“I break from tret one night and use Paula's Choice 2% bha followed by Good Genes a few minutes later. My skin loves the combination!”
Built up from 3 to 8 minutes once a week without trouble.
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“I use the ordinary peel, I started out at like 3 minutes (and am now at 8)and I only use it once a week”
Found Good Genes a bit heavy and sticky to layer, so only used it on bare skin, and is sticking with glycolic acid.
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“I found it a bit heavy/sticky for it to be layered. I’ve only tried it on bare skin.”
Names Good Genes as a long-standing holy grail product that still is one.
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“Used to be Sunday Riley lactic acid so good genes. And still is.”
Really likes it once or twice a week as a jump-start for clogged pores.
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“The ordinary has a BHA AHA serum that you do once or maybe twice a week that I really like.”
Alternates Good Genes with tretinoin at night and finds it has really helped their overall brightness and texture.
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“I alternate it with my tret at night and it's really helped with overall brightness and texture.”
Has used it off and on for ten years; it works wonders if built up slowly.
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“but it does work. It works wonders and removing the outer dead layer of your skin leaving fresh younger newer regenerated skin”
Worked wonders on pores under a clay mask, but burned their skin the first time; build up tolerance slowly.
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“First time I tried this over a decade ago I burned my entire top layer of skin off.”
Falling asleep with it on left red bumps all over their face.
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“I accidentally fell asleep wearing the ordinary aha 30% peeling solution and my face has red bumps all over it.”
Comparing glycolic toners, this user finds the INKEY 10% Glycolic Acid Toner too strong for their face and uses it only on their body.
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“At 10% this one is noticeably stronger so I only use it on my body.”
Says Good Genes genuinely works for them and their mom.
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“This isn’t an ad either. It genuinely works for me and my mom”
DDG peel pads irritated their skin, but Good Genes gives them smooth, soft, glowing skin.
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“Sunday Riley Good Genes works much better for me personally, giving me smooth, soft skin with the glow I expected from the DDG pads.”
A favourite used twice a week that clears buildup.
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“This is one of my favorite products. I try to use it twice a week. Make sure that your face is dry. I feel like it gets rid of the buildup.”
Two uses in, this user wakes up with a new whitehead each time after the Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant, unlike Paula's Choice's BHA.
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“I just started using Naturium's BHA Liquid Exfoliant, and I noticed that each time after I use it, I'll wake up with a small whitehead or pimple on a random spot on my face the next morning.”
Used the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid on sometimes-sensitive skin: very gentle, and it clearly improved pores, texture and brightness.
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“I’ve used the liquid form and it was very easy on my skin -which can be very sensitive at times. It definitely improved pores, texture and brightness.”
Their acne secret weapon for over a decade; breakouts come back when they stop. The liquid did nothing for them.
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“My personal secret weapon against acne has been Paula's Choice BHA exfoliator GEL (not the toner-like liquid, which does nothing for me).”
A couple of weeks in: no purging and less clogged pores.
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“Have been trying Paula's Choice BHA for a couple of weeks and it's good so far! I did not purge and my pores are less clogged now.”
Didn't work for them and clogged their pores even more.
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“CosRX BHA didn't work for me and caused my pores to clog even more”
Likes Good Genes Lactic Acid but finds the EU glycolic version superior.
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“I like Good Genes but being in the US the only one available is Sunday Riley Good Gene with Lactic Acid”
The Strawberry serum didn't seem to do anything for them.
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“I have tried that strawberry serum and didn't really feel like it was doing anything.”
First night shrank their closed comedones and flattened some.
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“I used it last night for the first time and woke up all my closed comedones shrunk and some have flatten out. I’m so happy I was worried it wont work since its pricey.”
Found the reformulated mask awful: it smelled terrible and left their skin feeling burned.
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“But the reformulated version is awful for me. It smells terrible and left my skin feeling burned.”
Left on overnight three days running; skin is still seriously peeling months later.
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“Left it on overnight, three days in a row... I haven't looked at the bottle in 9 months. My skin is still seriously peeling.”
Pores basically gone beside nose on cheeks and nose improved.
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“My pores are basically gone on either side of my nose on my cheeks. My nose is improved and I am really happy.”
Gets a lot of pink and red afterward if left on the full ten to twelve minutes.
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“I have similar coloring and have a lot of pink and red afterward if I leave on for the full ten to 12 min.”
After laser resurfacing it helps redness and texture with no limit on time.
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“now I can leave it as much as I want and tbh it helps a lot with redness and texture, nothing crazy as the concentration is still not that high, but pretty nice.”
One of the changes that improved their skin most.
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“double cleansing, retinol, acids, especially the bha red peeling one from the ordinary”
Used 2–3 times a week for 3–4 months; their closed comedones are nearly gone.
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“I have been using this 2-3 times a week for the past maybe 3 or 4 months, and mine are all nearly gone.”
Two hours after first use their sebaceous filaments were jumping out of their pores.
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“The sebaceous filaments were like jumping out of my pores”
A long-time holy grail for sebaceous filaments; a bottle lasts ages, though they dislike the shrinking size.
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“paula’s choice 2% bha liquid exfoliant has been a holy grail product for many of us for DECADES.”
Recommends sampling first because to them it smells like sour milk.
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“see if you can get a sample first. To me it smells like sour milk”
Rinses off after the Facial Radiance Pads to reduce irritation; they make the chest itchy.
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“If it helps, sometimes after using the FAB pad, I’ll wet a cotton round and “rinse” off”
Triggered bald spots in their eyebrows every time they retried it.
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“It made my eyebrows get bald spots and I still don't know why.”
Twice a week it leaves skin very soft and smooth, keeps their nose and face clear and removes texture.
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“I use it every three days, which works out to twice a week. My skin feels so soft and smooth, it's actually kinda ridiculous”
On their 4th or 5th bottle in six years; Good Genes gently exfoliates, plumps and leaves a glow.
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“Very gentle exfoliation (yet powerful, ironically) + plumping = smooth skin! A noticeable glow on my face after using it.”
Destroyed their skin barrier at a sensitive time.
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“This product destroyed my skin barrier at a very sensitive time for my skin.”
Three months in the purge-like breakouts never stopped.
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“I am so tried of this constant nightmare purge since starting Paula's choice 2 bha liquid exfoliant. I started using it 3 months ago and my skin is still breaking out.”
Every other day then daily; skin feels amazing and texture is gone.
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“I started using it every other day and my skin looks and feels amazing! It got rid of the texture”
Worked somewhat on tiny spots over four months but wouldn't spend that much again.
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“It worked to an ectent I guess just wouldnt spend that much money on it again”
Credits Good Genes plus vitamin C with clearly improving the sun spots on their forehead.
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“I *think* the good genes + vitamin c in the AM are the cause since the rest of my routine is really just hydration.”
After a year, sun spots are fading and melasma has almost disappeared.
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“It took a year of using it biweekly/weekly but the spots are fading and the melasma has almost disappeared.”
Using the lactic acid every other night cleared their acne so much.
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“I use the glycolic acid once a week on my scalp before I wash it & I was using the lactic acid every other night and it cleared my acne so much.”
One 10-minute use left their oily skin's texture worse, not clearer.
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“Woke up the next morning and it feels like my skin has gotten a bit worse?”
Uses sparingly on breakouts and it wipes them out fast.
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“I love this stuff! I use it very sparingly and only if I get breakouts!”
Now uses it twice a day after the pore-reducing toner and skin changed dramatically.
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“I started a few times a week but now I use it twice a day.”
Too drying for regular use; now only about once a month on oily areas.
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“I can’t use this one regularly, it dries my skin too much. I use Paula’s choice once a month now probably if I don’t forget.”
In their trio it keeps very oily, easily dehydrated skin smooth and calm without acne or irritation.
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“The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution (2 drops) Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil (1 drop) => super smooth, soft, calm skin without acne, shine or irritation”
Disliked the tacky feel at first, but as a spot treatment it's the only thing that helps their hormonal cysts.
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“It is the only product that actually helps my hormonal cysts, immediately bought the full size.”
Used overnight, it cleared every single milium by the next morning after years; glycolic the first night did nothing.
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“Night two, I used lactic acid. I woke up the next morning and every single milia was gone.”
Five years of use and still using it.
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“I’ve used Paula’s Choice for 5 years and still do, but these peel pads are beyond anything I’ve ever used on my skin.”
Leaves it on for an hour weekly and is totally fine with it.
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“Yes, I do an hour once a week. wanted to check —am I the only one who is totally fine with it”
Called it swamp water and gets better results with Dr. Dennis Gross pads.
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“Paula’s choice is swamp water! My opinion anyway. I get far better results with Dr. Gross peel pads”
Broke out their extremely sensitive skin.
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“I have extremely sensitive skin and Paula’s choice BHA broke me out but DDG peels didn’t and improved my skin texture a lot!!”
PC clears their zits overnight.
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“I get zits and PC clears them overnights. DDG peel pads are just ok.”
Just started it and already likes it more than the DDG pads.
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“I did just start the pc exfoliant and I already like this product much better.”
Didn't remember seeing any improvement.
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“I've used PC Bha maybe 2 years back and I don't remember seeing any improvement.”
Great for acne and gentle, alongside DDG peel pads.
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“I use both. Paula’s Choice BHA is great for acne and gentle.”
Can only spot-treat pimples with it as it's too much all over.
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“I cannot use PC all over, I can only use it for spot treating pimples. DDG peel pads are way gentler imo.”
Effective but overuse gave them chemical burns.
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“Paula’s choice is definitely effective but when I used it too often I got chemical burns”
Never really did anything for them compared with peel pads.
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“Paula’s Choice never really did anything for me. I can easily see the difference with the peel pads.”
Works okay on sensitive dry acne-prone skin but purged for months.
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“I have the PC one and it works okay. I have sensitive dry AND acne prone skin with large pores.”
Daily use from the start left their skin itchy and peeling.
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“I just started using last week and used it everyday like an idiot 😂 now my skin is itchy and peeling”
Used it over a pimple and the whole area burned and went red.
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“I used it on my face and I had a pimple now the whole thing is burning and red and it's a big blot on my face”
One overnight treatment reduced their milia by about 75%.
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“I tend to get Milia from heavy moisturizers, and nothing has worked until I tried “The Ordinary.” Just one treatment overnight reduced them by 75%.”
No problems for two years, even starting at 15 minutes three times a week; still using it after three years.
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“but neither her or myself had any problems whatsoever till the 2 year mark. I still use it to this day(3years)”
Worked better than the glycolic toner for their KP.
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“I used The Ordinary Salicylic Acid anhydrous solution and that worked better than the glycolic acid for me.”
Larger closed comedones came to a head within a week, though unsure it's the product.
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“I use this once every 3 days starting 1 month ago. Within a week larger closed comedones came to head.”
Will use it forever; holy grail with tretinoin and toner at night.
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“I will use this until the day I die. The holy freaking grail.”
Felt oily and made them look shiny; the RESIST version layers better.
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“I agree with this one, the regular BHA felt on the oily side for me or made me look shiny.”
Sunday Riley Good Genes has been very effective for them, alongside the A+ serum.
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“SR Good Genes and A+ retinoid serum have been so effective for me.”
Good Genes is their holy grail and a high-end product they've repurchased for seven years.
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“Good Genes is my holy grail and one high end product I’ve repurchased for the last seven years!”
Good Genes has worked so well that it's the one product they consistently remember to use.
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“Good genes is the only skincare I consistently remember to do because it’s worked so well for me.”
Burned their under-eye area, which took a long time to fully clear.
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“I had burned my under eye area as well, a couple years ago/after your experience. It took a long time, but it’s completely gone now.”
Used it as a night serum without washing off; only noticed sun sensitivity.
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“The only thing I noticed was that my skin was very sensitive to the sun afterward”
A week in they're impressed and pores are getting clear.
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“I started using it a little over a week ago and I’m impressed by how great it’s been for my skin. I didn’t have major blackheads on my nose, but my pores are getting super clear.”
No issues and skin still improved after the first use.
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“No issues and skin still looks improved from pre-use. Haven't used it again.”
The only thing that cleared a years-old deep blackhead.
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“I have this deep black head on my forehead and i can never make it leave for YEARS the only thing that fix it is the peeling solution this thing is a miracle”
Makes their face oilier than normal, unlike other 2% BHAs.
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“I literally bought it to help REDUCE my oiliness, but whenever I wear it, my face is oilier than normal.”
Six months in and loving it, though the price hurts enough that they alternate with cheaper lactic acids.
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“I’ve been using Good Genes for 6 months and love it but the price tags hurts”
Four months as instructed did nothing for them at all.
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“I tried this product for four months as instructed. Did nothing for me at all. Waste of time and money.”
Pores shrunk significantly after months of use with a leave-on-then-wipe-off routine.
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“I think between the BHA and the oil cleanser my pores have shrunk significantly.”
Names Sunday Riley Good Genes among the Sephora products they love.
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“I love the Tatcha indigo repair and the Sunday Riley good genes serum.”
Two severe allergic reactions including swollen eyes.
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“I have had severe reactions to Paula's Choice 2% BHA twice now. The first time was a few years ago and I had to go to Urgent Care bc the area around my eyes was so swollen.”
Alternating Good Genes with a retinoid worked incredibly; finds it very hydrating and gently exfoliating.
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“It was incredible and the good genes is sooo hydrating and exfoliates gently.”
Works amazingly on dry rough feet and elbows.
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“I’ve found it also works amazingly on dry, rough feet and elbows.”
Gentle and absorbs easily, though they prefer the RESIST version.
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“I find it to be gentle and absorbs easily however I don’t understand why this is their star product when the BHA 2% Resist bottle (light blue) is the same thing with added antioxidants”
Did nothing for their closed comedones even with daily use.
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“For me it did nothing!”
Felt like burning on the first use, but the next morning their face looked fantastic.
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“I purchased Good Genes recently and really love it (it felt like burning the first time I used it and I got scared but the next morning my face looked fantastic”
A month of twice-daily nose use did nothing for blackheads.
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“I have blackheads on my nose. Been rubbing this on my nose twice a day for a month and have not even seen any result.”
Their face burned when they put on the reformulated mask, with a different texture and color from the one they loved.
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“i just put it on and my face is burning. The texture is different, the color is different, this really really sucks.”
Loves the tingle and uses it on dry skin before moisturiser.
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“I love it! I love the way it tingles my skin, I love the way it looks like an evil witch potion, I just love it.”
Alternates the Facial Radiance Pads with Dr. Gross pads every morning.
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“I alternate using these and the Dr. Gross pads daily; I use them in the morning.”
The Facial Radiance Pads are gentle, effective and affordable; their favourite after Dr. Dennis Gross.
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“These are my favorite after deniss gross pads . They get the job done and are gentle and effective and easy on wallet”
The Facial Radiance Pads made their very sensitive skin red and irritated.
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“I love FAB products but have very sensitive skin and this one made mine super red and irritated.”
With sensitive skin and rosacea, found the Facial Radiance Pads gentle and effective on post-acne marks.
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“I have combo dry sensitive skin + rosacea. PIE that needs fading (mostly there!) too. I went through that whole pack in like 2-3 weeks.”
The Facial Radiance Pads irritated their skin.
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“They irritated my skin. But my skin has a hard time in general with chemical exfoliants.”
Two months in it helped pore appearance and acne marks.
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“I have been using this product for 2 months personally and it has really helped the appearance of my pore size and acne marks :)”
Used the Facial Radiance Pads religiously for years: very gentle and a great introductory exfoliant.
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“They’re very gentle and great as an introductory exfoliant. I used these religiously for years”
The Facial Radiance Pads weren't effective for them.
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“Personally they weren't effective for me.”
Loves the Facial Radiance Pads as a quick morning fix before makeup.
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“I love them as a quick fix in the am prior to skincare/makeup if my skin needs it.”
At 67, a month in the larger brown spots faded and skin is softer.
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“Love how soft it leaves my face and the larger brown spots have faded significantly.”
Used it now and then for cheek hyperpigmentation with no issues.
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“I used Paula’s choice BHA every now then and I have had no issues :)”
After a year of weekly use closed comedones went almost to none and pores looked cleaner.
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“Over time I went from having many closed comedones on my forehead to almost none, and the pores on my nose and chin were fairly cleaner.”
Makes their skin clearer than it ever looked before.
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“Theordinary’s peeling solution makes my skin so clear and better than it ever looked before I started using it.”
Six weeks weekly with tretinoin: never burned, but no clear results.
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“I have been using TO AHA-BHA once weekly for about six weeks. I skip one night of Tretinoin when I use it. I use it as directed. It’s never burned. But what is it suppose to exactly do?”
Good Genes has done wonderful things for their skin but is very expensive.
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“It has done wonderful things for my skin but it's so damn expensive”
Also gets the oily, sticky residue.
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“I literally just came to see if this is happening to anybody else because it's definitely happening to me.”
Left it on 29 minutes and their lower face became dry and abrasive like sandpaper.
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“totally lost track of time while working on my lap top it was easily 29 mins and now my jawline and lower face under cheeks is very dry , abrasive , like sandpaper”
Good Genes has been their holy grail serum for 8 years.
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“It’s my holy grail serum that I’ve been using for 8 years and counting.”
Prefers it to Drunk Elephant's similar peel at a tenth of the price.
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“but I like The Ordinary one better, and it’s like 1/10th of the price.”
After a breakout they started using it nightly and their skin looks amazing.
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“So I’ve had it for a long time and was never impressed and I randomly started using it due to a breakout. I actually use it every night now. Skin looks amazing.”
Worked wonders the first time, though weekly feels like a bit much alongside tretinoin.
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“I picked up TO AHA 30% BHA 2% peeling solution, and I think it worked wonders the first time I used it.”
Breaking them out and causing flakiness.
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“I do the exact same routine and it’s breaking me out + causing flakiness.”
Inconsistent: some days fine, others it burned and turned them red.
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“I would use it one day with no issue, then the next it would burn tf out of my skin and make me red as a cherry.”
Two huge jawline pimples nearly gone the next day.
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“It definitely works. I had 2 huge pimples forming on my jaw line, and they're nearly gone today.”
Their holy grail: skin feels smoother and softer the next morning.
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“Every time I use it before bed, my skin always feels smoother and softer to the touch the next morning.”
Strong but effective; irritating once they started tretinoin.
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“I love this, it's strong but so efficient. Once I started on tretinoin I had to stop using it though because it was making my skin irritated”
Good, alongside other peels they like.
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“I currently have the Paula’s choice one but have also used the ordinary. They’re both good too!”
Tried Good Genes a couple of years ago and it never did much for them.
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“I'm aware the SR Good Genes is popular, but I it just never seemed to do much for me when I tried it a couple of years ago.”
Experiencing a chemical burn from the peeling solution.
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“Hey i am experiencing the same chemical burn from using ordinary peeling solution”
In their early 40s, sees a huge difference from Good Genes alternated with Luna.
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“I’m early 40s, have seen a huge difference using Good Genes and Luna oil”
Good Genes with the C.E.O. serum makes their face look filtered; can't live without them.
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“Good Genes with the CEO serum applied together make my face look like I've got a filter on.”
At 39 with dry/normal skin, a set with Good Genes (lactic) significantly brightened their complexion.
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“I’m 39, with dry/normal skin and it’s significantly brightened up my complexion”
Works well weekly even with mild sensitivity and improved pores and texture.
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“I love this peel and I use it once weekly. It works so well and I have mild skin sensitivity. I’ve definitely seen results in my pores and the texture of my skin”
Really likes it; makes their face feel clean.
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“I really like it, not sure what she meant by shock your skin Lolll , it makes my face feel clean”
Pores stayed visible and filled into big bumps on the nose and chin.
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“I had the same issue so I stopped using it. My pores are still visible and in my nose and chin area pores are filled and forming big bumps”
After adding the Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2% to their night routine, this user's skin stung badly from every product the next morning.
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“Everything except the water stung my face pretty badly to the point that i took it off right away”
Uses Good Genes twice daily: mellow but effective, with results they like.
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“SR GG is pretty mellow but effective.”
Good Genes did nothing for their face.
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“Sunday Riley didn’t do anything for my face”
Good Genes lactic acid made their dry, sensitive skin more prone to breakouts.
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“i found that the Sunday Riley lactic acid made my skin more prone to breakouts.”
On first use, this glycolic acid newcomer felt no burning or tingling at all from the Naturium Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Gel 10% and wondered if it was working.
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“Tonight, I applied Naturium Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Gel 10% to cleansed skin. I was worried it might be too strong to start with but I actually felt nothing.”
Needed it for stubborn sensitive skin at 1-2 times a week.
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“I needed PC for my stubborn yet sensitive skin, I just use it 1-2 times a week and no more.”
Still their go-to but it leaves an oily film.
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“Paula’s choice still is my go to, but I love that the peach slices one dries down almost like water. PC leaves an oily film.”
Gives a glass skin look no other toner or serum does; uses it three times a week.
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“Exactly!! It gives me such a glass skin look that probably no other toner or serum could.”
Noticed new brown patches after a month and no wrinkle improvement.
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“once a week for 10 minutes for a month now and have noticed brown patches that I didn't have before.”
Many closed comedones come to the surface and it works really well in moderation.
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“YES. Not completely but a lot of my cc are coming up to the surface and it works really well.”
Burnt their face as a non-exfoliator user.
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“This burnt my face, I don’t use exfoliators so I think I’m going to cut back on it to once a week lol”
Loves the liquid exfoliant and rotates it with another toner.
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“Yes! I love it! I rotate that one & the ole blue bottle toner.”
Skin looks glowing and smooth without oiliness after applying.
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“it makes your skin look GOOD after you apply. Like glowing and smooth without being oily (I am oily)”
Calls it worth it after six years of use, with a long-term routine built around it.
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“Well for Me Good genes is worth it. I’ve been using it for 6 years”
The peel has never let them down for acne and post-pregnancy scars.
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“As a brown woman who gets horrible acne and acne scars after pregnancy, the AHA peel has never let me down.”
Had a pretty bad allergic reaction.
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“Yeah I had a pretty bad allergic reaction to this”
Liked it before and will restart.
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“I’ve used it in the past and liked it. Going to restart it soon.”
Sensitive skin with no issues, using sunscreen after.
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“I have pretty sensitive skin and I haven’t had any issues with it, remember to wear sunscreen after using it”
Six months of double cleansing plus BHA every 3-4 days gave moderate progress on sebaceous filaments.
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“My skin still isn’t perfect but I’m pretty happy with it.”
Three years in, reduces pore size, fights acne, light.
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“I have been using it for over 3 years and have seen so much success. It helps reduce pore size and fights acne. Overall provides a smooth surface on my skin and is light.”
Skin is brighter and tighter with shrunken pores.
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“I use it every other morning before HA and SPF and my skin is brighter and tighter. Pores have noticeably shrunk too”
Once a week made them incredibly red and dry.
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“I tried using it once a week, made me incredibly red and dry. I’ve never had particularly sensitive skin either.”
Cleared forehead pimples but did nothing for cheek pores or redness.
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“I have been using this for a year. It did wonders for my pimples on my forehead that I have been having problems with for ages.”
Forever staple they recommend to everyone.
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“Will forever be apart of my skin care routine. I tell everyone new to skincare to add this to it immediately”
Burned their oily/sensitive skin however little they used.
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“Didn’t suit me at all. It burned my skin off, no matter how much or little I used it. gave it to my sister and it did the same to her skin.”
Too much for rosacea skin but a godsend for oily acne-prone people.
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“It is too much for my rosacean skin but it is a godsend for many oily acne-prones I know.”
With retinol, skin is way better with few breakouts.
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“My skin is waay better with only the occasional small breakout.”
Works well for them used every two to three days.
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“I use it once every 2-3 days. It works well for me.”
After 18 months skin is even in tone, soft and healthy.
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“but my skin is really even in tone and quite consistent in texture. Soft, supple, and healthy.”
Weekly overnight on rosacea gives great results after a month.
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“I have rosacea so only use this overnight once a week. After a month I'm seeing great results!”
Pores smaller and unclogged, though drying sometimes.
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“Pores are smaller and not clogged up with sebum & goo.”
Always super flaky even at one or two nights weekly.
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“My skin is always super flaky after using this. What am I doing wrong?”
Only made their forehead bumpy and uneven.
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“Second this, all it did for me was making my forehead look all bumpy and uneven.”
Did nothing and felt like water, leaving skin tacky.
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“I think I'm like the 1% that felt this did nothing for my skin. It felt like using water.”
Keeps acne-prone combo skin clear, less oily and calm.
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“I have combo skin that’s acne prone and this has worked so well to keep my skin clear and less oily. The green tea makes it very calming too.”
Only product that smoothed their hyperkeratosis and lessened breakouts.
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“It’s the only product that has ever really helped to smooth my hyperkeratosis. I use it morning and evening.”
Hasn't noticed much difference but hasn't given up.
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“I use it, have not noticed much difference but haven't given up on it yet.”
Best liquid exfoliant they've used in years of use.
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“I love it and have used it for years. Personally, it’s the best liquid exfoliant I’ve ever used.”
Revives dull skin; never found another BHA that works as well.
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“if my skn starts looking a bit dull, immediately start up this product, it's amzing. i've never found another bha that works as well”
Fantastic for texture and keeping pores clear.
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“Does a fantastic job with skin texture, and keeping pores clear.”
Repurchased after missing how it improved their pores.
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“Repurchased after a week, missed how it made my skin feel and realized how the appearance of my pores really gets better with it.”
Worked well and other products didn't, so they're returning.
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“I used it and it worked well, I switched to other things and they don't work as well. I'm going back to PC.”
Three years of use; one of the best products for the cost.
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“I’ve been using approx 2-3x a week for three years and I think it’s truly one of the best products out there for the cost.”
Too harsh on dry skin except occasionally.
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“I find it way too harsh on my skin to use any more than occasionally & I just find myself not wanting to use it. Dry skin here though.”
Will repurchase; one of few things that made a difference.
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“I will repurchase. One of the few things that’s made a noticeable difference.”
Helped clear cystic acne on normal-dry skin.
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“Helped to clear up my normal-dry skin when I developed cystic acne at 30 and after I moved to a hot and humid climate.”
Destroyed their sensitive skin for almost two months.
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“It's not that it's a bad product, clearly it works for many people, but it destroyed my skin when I tried it.”
Really likes it; not holy grail but always on hand.
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“I really like it. It’s not HG for me but def something I always have on hand.”
Great success on blackheads without over-drying.
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“I do get little black heads and I use this a couple of times per week with great success. Doesn’t over dry my face either.”
Travel size made their skin super red.
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“Tried a travel size and it made my skin super red.”
Boring but effective at reducing acne, pores and redness.
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“I’ve been using this off and on for years. It’s great - boring but effective at reducing acne, pores, and redness.”
With oil cleansing it's the best blackhead combo.
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“This + oil cleansing has been the best combo for my blackheads.”
Gave them pimples and was a waste of money.
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“This gave me pimples. Biggest waste of money product for me last year.”
Made no difference whatsoever.
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“I tried this. It didn't seem to make any difference whatsoever.”
Once weekly without a huge difference.
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“I use it about once per week, haven’t noticed a huge difference.”
Uses it a few times a week and loves how smooth skin feels.
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“I use it a few times a week, I really like how smooth my skin feels after using it”
Four months every other day made skin incredibly smooth with shrunk pores.
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“I love it. I use it every other day for the past 4 months or so and my skin feels incredibly smooth and my pores have shrunk.”
Skin declined after finishing the travel size so they bought the full size.
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“I finished mine a few weeks ago and noticed a decline in my skin. I just picked up the full size today.”
Daily use made skin glowy and pores invisible on normal/dry skin.
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“I use it every morning and absolutely love it! I’m 35 with normal/dry skin and my skin has never looked so glowy and fresh.”
Improved overall texture after six weeks.
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“I like it. Seems to have improved my overall texture. Pores aren’t noticeably different yet, but only been like 6 weeks.”
Likes it but sees nothing vastly different yet.
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“Same. I like it but can’t notice anything vastly different yet.”
Sebum balls came out in a week or two; best chemical exfoliant they've tried.
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“So much crap came out of my skin in a week or two. Not even really pimples but like balls of sebum? I’ve tried other chemical exfoliants and this one works the best.”
Helps skin texture so much that they'll buy full size.
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“I started with the travel size, but when it runs out I’ll get a full one. This stuff helps with my skin texture so much.”
Nightly use keeps breakouts at bay and skin smoother.
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“I use it every evening and it has helped keep my breakouts at bay and made my skin look smoother. I have combo dry skin.”
Significant texture improvement after a year with no irritation.
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“I've noticed a significant difference in skin texture and appearance. I started using it about a year ago and will continue to purchase.”
With retinol and vitamin C it shrank pores and minimized breakouts.
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“I alternate using it with a retinol. That plus vitamin C has made my pores so small and I have minimal breakouts.”
First product to make a visible difference with pores.
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“I use it twice a day, it is the first product to make a visible difference with my pores.”
Dabs it on period spots twice daily and it seems to help.
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“I use this when I get spots around my period and it seems to help, I just dab a bit on the spot twice a day”
Helped sebaceous filaments used once a week.
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“it helped with my sebaceous filaments, use it maybe once a week”
Rosacea-prone skin tolerates near-daily use as it's delicate.
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“I have sensitive skin with a bit of rosacea, but I can use it almost every day since it is really delicate.”
Daily use made pores noticeably smaller.
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“I use it every day and my pores have gotten quite a bit smaller!”
Made tiny bumps and a chicken-skin texture needing a prescription retinoid.
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“it made tons of tiny bumps on my skin like it was trying to lift the gunk out but it would get stuck and left me with this chicken skin texture.”
Doesn't bother rosacea skin and seems to help hyperpigmentation.
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“I have rosacea and very sensitive skin and this doesn't bother me at all. I use it every other day. I feel like it's helped with my hyperpigmentation as well.”
Clears skin without drying; a solid product.
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“It’s great for me. It clears my skin and isn’t drying.”
Likes it and sees a difference.
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“I use it several times a week and I like it. I can definitely see a difference in my skin since I started.”
Staple used daily; helped pores and texture.
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“I use it every morning and it has helped with my pores so much and I believe it’s helped with my skin texture.”
Uses it three times a week and really likes it.
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“I use it 3ish times a week. I really like it.”
Really likes it despite the price.
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“I really like it. I don’t want to like it this much, as I’d rather not pay that much for an exfoliant, but it’s so good.”
No irritation but no discernible difference after months of daily use.
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“I use this every day, sometimes twice a day, and have for several months. I don't get any irritation, but then my skin is pretty bulletproof”
Wonderful; stopped only to switch to tretinoin.
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“Just wonderful! The only reason I stopped using it is to replace with tretinoin.”
Six months of twice-daily use did nothing for sebaceous filaments.
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“I used it twice daily for roughly 6 months. I really didn’t notice any difference.”
Strangers compliment their skin.
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“Complete strangers off the street compliment my skin after using this product.”
Really helps their textured skin.
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“I use mine 2-3x a week. I have textured skin and it really helps with it!”
Years of use and wonders for blackheads and pores.
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“I’ve used it for years. Now I buy the jumbo size so I can use it on my chest too! This has done wonders for my blackheads and pores and making my skin look fresh and clean.”
Used the whole bottle without seeing a difference.
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“I used it consistently until it was all gone but I could not say there was a difference.”
Makes skin smoother and more radiant.
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“I use it 1-2x/wk. Makes my skin smoother and more radiant.”
Third bottle and it really smoothes their skin.
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“I’m on my 3rd bottle and it’s the best Paula’s product apart from their tinted moisturizer! Really smoothes my skin”
Weeks in, noticing better texture especially on the chin.
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“A few weeks in and really liking it! I notice a difference in skin texture so far (especially by my chin, trouble area)”
Not much pore change but skin looks more glowy next morning.
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“I don’t know that I noticed much of a different with pores and such. But I do find the next morning my skin looks more glowy”
No improvement and prefers Naturium.
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“I havent noticed any improvement using it. I much prefer naturium.”
After ten years it became too harsh and destroyed their barrier.
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“I've been using it for 10 years but now it's too harsh. Destroys my barrier.”
Made their skin way way worse after trying Paula's Choice.
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“I tried Paula’s choice and it actually made my skin way way worse”
Spot-applies the Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution on jawline pimples and wakes up with redness and itchiness the next morning.
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“the next morning I wake up with redness and itchiness”
Three uses in and resilient skin has handled it well.
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“So far so good! I’ve used it three times. My skin is pretty resilient and it’s handled the addition to my routine well!”
Loves it, but finds it mainly improved texture rather than their acne or scarring.
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“I do love Good Genes, but find that it mainly helped with texture for me”
Good Genes twice a week smooths their very dry skin, but more often it burns.
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“I use it maybe 2x a week and it smooths everything out nicely, if I use it more often though it burns my skin!”
Uses Good Genes daily on oily skin, layered with Luna or alone, with no issues.
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“I use it daily. I layer with the Luna oil or use it alone.”
Calls it magic: two applications on a breakout and the scabs flake off, pricey but worth it.
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“Good genes is Magic. When I get breakouts it takes two applications and then the scabs from acne flake off. It's insane. Expensive but worth it”
Broke them out badly and they keep reacting to salicylic acid.
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“this product broke me out bad. possible that my skin was purging but i’ve been having bad reactions to salicylic acid every time i’ve tried it recently.”
Broke them out with cystic pimples though it works for their sister.
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“Broke me out with cystic pimples. But works for my sister!”
Holy grail at 1-2 times a week for a glass-skin look; daily use does more harm.
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“It’s the holy grail. Do NOT use it every day though, it will likely cause more harm than good. I only use it 1-2 times a week.”
Gold standard on wildly sensitive skin, but only usable about once a week.
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“I think it’s gold standard personally. I have wildly sensitive skin and it’s a dream. I think a bottle lasts a very long time.”
Spot-treated three pimples and they almost disappeared overnight.
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“My very knowledgeable friend told me to use it as a spot treatment for breakouts. I tried it last night on 3 juicy zits (starting my period) and holy crap they almost completely disappeared overnight.”
Works on closed comedones, blackheads and whiteheads in a day or two, once weekly on tret.
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“Love this!! Works amazing on ccs, blackheads, and whiteheads! Kills it in a day or 2. I only use it 1x a week since I’m on tret”
Does what it should, well, with elegant non-irritating formulas.
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“it does what it is supposed to do, does it well.”
No more chin breakouts and a nice glow; a bottle lasts long.
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“I no longer get break outs on my chin and it gives the skin a nice glow.”
Great but leaves an oily film in warm weather and didn't fix hormonal chin acne.
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“This has been great but it's not so good to use in warmer weather (even if it's only being used at night). It will feel like there's an oily film on your skin.”
Broke out their chin badly even at once a week.
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“Honestly this fckd my skin up. I thought it was purging but it really ruined my skin! I was breaking out crawwazy on my chin area and at the end had to stop.”
A week of the sample packet reduced their sebaceous filaments.
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“I used my foil packet for a whole week and did see my sebaceous filaments decrease in that time.”
Great for sensitive skin used once or twice weekly; a mini bottle has lasted five months.
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“I use once or twice per week in the evenings and I’m really happy with the results. Got the tiny mini bottle and it has lasted me 5 months so far lol”
Helps breakouts clear faster on off-tret nights with no irritation on sensitive skin.
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“I alternate using this and tret in the evenings and it's helping breakouts clear much more quickly, and my skin tone has also improved.”
A year of daily use noticeably improved skin texture.
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“I've been using it for a year every day after washing my face and I've noticed my skin texture improve noticeably!”
Two weeks of near-daily use without results yet and it smells really bad.
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“I’ve been using it almost daily for a couple weeks and haven’t really seen results yet but I’m sticking with it for now. It smells really bad.”
After a month of twice-daily use skin became smooth with clear pores.
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“Took that long to really notice the results. One day my skin was just so smooth and my pores were really clear.”
Efficacy with zero irritation makes it a holy grail.
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“Its efficacy and zero irritation results makes it a holy grail.”
One of their favorites but their skin only tolerates it once weekly.
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“what I did wrong was I thought I could bear it 2X a week but later realized my skin only does well when used 1X.”
Great; prefers the liquid over the gel.
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“I think this stuff is great I like the liquid form over the gel. It really will help.”
A mini bottle lasted over a year applying only to nose and chin.
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“My mini has lasted me more than a year because I only apply to my nose and chin and only a few times a week and not every week.”
Loves it and can't recommend it enough, used once weekly.
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“I'm not sure why it took me so long to try Paula's Choice, I only started recently, but I love it and can't recommend it enough.”
Helped acne-prone skin and worth the money.
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“This product helped me with my acne prone skin. I started using it twice a week then every other night or morning. This really helped a lot and worth the money.”
Holy grail their skin loves, with no breakouts.
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“Holy grail my skin loves it and I get no breakouts”
Found it only tingled, probably thanks to prior AHA use.
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“I'm surprised reading the reviews. I found it just tingled. This may be because I used a 12% AHA cream pretty regularly until the last month or so.”
Used it several times with no peeling or irritation.
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“I've used this product quite a few times with no peeling or irritation.”
Helping purge stubborn closed comedones they've had for a year.
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“It is helping me! I have horrible cc’s, and I am purging a few that I’ve been struggling with for a year!”
Has used Good Genes daily for years and is ride or die for it.
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“i am ride or die for sunday riley, i use good genes and A+ daily and have for years”
After two weeks hates the reformulated Night Treatment; smells like plastic and lacks the old morning glow.
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“I'm sad to say that after only a couple of weeks, I hate the new formula.”
A 3-year-old bottle still exfoliated without severe reactions, though less effective.
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“I used the solution a few times & I did not have any severe reactions. Although it seemed less effective, it still felt like it exfoliated.”
About a week of the anhydrous salicylic solution has loosened their sebum plugs a lot, so massage or light squeezing clears them.
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“I've been using it for about a week, and it has loosened my plugs a lot!!”
With combo, acne-prone skin they use TO Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution every other night as the last step and their skin reacts well.
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“I currently use TO Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution as the last step in my routine every other night”
Used it for a while from a subscription box, then found The Ordinary lactic acid just as effective.
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“I had used Good Genes for a while after I got it in a Boxycharm or something. When I ran out I switch to The Orfinary Lactic Acid 10% and it's just as effective for me”
Good Genes is a holy grail for them; recommends starting with one pump twice a week.
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“Every other Sunday riley is a holy grail for me. Particularly good genes”
Ten days into the INKEY BHA serum for acne and clogged pores, this user has a bad purge that has spread to their cheeks, where they never had acne before.
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“i've been using it for 10 days now for my acne and clogged pores and so far ive had a really bad purge”
Long-term use with tret didn't diminish chin pores.
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“ive tried tret and paulas choice bha (long term) and nothing seems to diminish the size.”
A few days in, no dryness or irritation and a glow on waking.
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“So far so good after a few days. No dryness, no irritation.”
Leaves it on overnight and never has issues.
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“i leave it on the whole night and never have any issues”
After tretinoin failed, two weeks brought their closed comedones up and their best skin in five years, without irritation on dry, reactive skin.
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“I gave up on it and took two weeks off from any actives and then used the Paula’s choice BHA liquid for the last two weeks. My skin looks the best it has looked in 5 years.”
Uses it four times weekly and fights the irritation with heavy hydration.
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“I use it 4 times a week. The way I combat the irritation is hydration... hydration... hydration!”
Dabs it on tiny spots every few days and finds it fine.
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“I use it on one or two (tiny) spots more often and it has been fine, but these spots are really small and I don't do it daily.”
Good Genes is the best product for their very dry, extremely sensitive aging skin; will repurchase forever.
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“The best product I’ve ever had for my very dry and extremely sensitive aging skin. Will keep repurchasing forever.”
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