What it is
The Ordinary says: “Alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) exfoliate the skin’s topmost surface for a brighter and more even appearance. Beta hydroxyl acids (BHA) also exfoliate the skin with an extended function to help clear pore congestion. This combined 29% AHA/BHA solution offers deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and for improved skin radiance. The formula also improves the appearance of skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines with continued use.” (12.30$)
In short, this is a blood-red liquid face mask that’ll exfoliate your skin. It comes in a dropper bottle. In addition to the acids used here (glycolic and salicylic acid), TO added “hyaluronic acid for comfort, Vitamin B5 to assist healing“.
How to
As every other beauty company under the sun, TO wants you to waste product by using a cotton pad to apply the solution. Don’t do it. I apply it simply with my fingers, and don’t waste any product by doing so. I use about two to three pumps with the dropper, and I guess the whole bottle will last me for about 12 times of usage. It’s not as liquid as it may seem, and the red liquid thankfully doesn’t stain my sink or counter.
Be careful if you have small wounds or lesions on your face, because, well, this is acid and it burns. (As I can testify – I used it for the first time when I had a cold and my nose was Rudolf-like. Ouch.)
Also, be very careful when you wash it off (after ten minutes, max) – don’t get it in your eyes. Because, well, it’s acid… TO advices that you don’t use it more than twice a week (I personally use it once), and of course, whatever you do, USE SUNSCREEN when using this peel. (Acids make your skin increasingly sensitive for sunburn.)
When I wash it off, I finish my skincare routine with a lot of hydration and moisture: I bring out my hydrating essences, and my go-to moisturizer, and layer some PAI Rosehip Oil over that.
What it does
This is a chemical exfoliant. While AHA’s brighten the skin and diminish fine lines by continuous use, BHA’s clear pores and fight blemishes. (Although in this case, the pH is too high for the BHA to work properly. There’ll still be a tiny amount that works, but not the promised 2%.) The pH of the product works great for the AHA (glycolic acid) (although there may be 30% AHA IN the product, but the working acid is about 15-18%). Water, with a pH of 7,0 is perfect to neutralize the acid on your skin. (If you’re interested in the correlation of acids and pH, read Labmuffin’s excellent post here.)
And after that preamble, let’s get to the good stuff.
What did I experience while using the product?
It’s good. It does what TO says it does – my skin is nearly obscenely soft after using this, and in the following morning, makeup application is a joy, because my skin is an even canvas for once. Radiance? Hell yes baby. I haven’t used it enough to see long-time changes, and also, I’m a seasoned acid-user any way. Some form of AHA and BHA is always present in my regime. (Listen to the TO, people, when they say that this product isn’t for people whose skin isn’t used to acids! This is strong stuff.) Nevertheless, I can feel my skin tingling even after I washed it off, which is not as unpleasant as it sounds. I haven’t had any negative reaction to this, although I scared my husband quite badly when I used it for the first time.
Worth it?
Yes. Best product from The Ordinary I’ve ever tried. Get it, if your skin is used to acids. Get it. Now!
Hey. I wanna ask where do I keep my bottle of this chemical? I live in a hot region, and room temperatures here are around 35 degree centigrade. Should I keep it in the refrigerator in this weather, or is this room temperature fine?
Hey there, I’m not a chemist, but I’d say keeping it in a dark, cool area away from direct sunlight is key. So better be safe than sorry and keep it in the fridge!
Hi Dorit,
where can I buy “the ordinary“products in Shanghai?
Thanks !
Hi Elsa, I’m afraid you can’t. What you could do is order online at Deciem’s website. You can find physical stores in Seoul (Korea) and Hongkong.
Hi Dorit,
I’ve never use AHA & BHA (never used any typed of acid) before but now I’m wondering if i could try this TO peeling mask because my skin texture is not improving (i have dark spots and pitted scar) and i also have pigmentations. My skin was dry before but now i guess it is normal. So i just wanna know if u would recommend me using this TO peeling mask?
Hi Maz! IF you really want to try it, I’d do a patch test first. I really wouldn’t recommend it for someone who’s never used AHAs or BHAs before, though. For dark spots and hyperpigmentation, I’d suggest a product with Vitamin C – I’ve just reviewed The Ordinary’s Vitamin C powder recently, maybe you’d like to read up on that? HTH!
Hi dorit,
I’ve used products with salicylic acid before and they work but I still have dark spots and blackheads. I have never used a chemical peel before on my face, but do you think that i should use the TO peeling mask?
Hi Ashana, if you decide on trying out the TO mask, start slowly and do a patch test first: apply and leave it on for only a short amount of time. Listen to your skin and remember that skincare isn’t supposed to hurt: if it does more than tingle, wash it off immediately. HTH!
Hello! Thanks for posting this it was really helpful. however my skin is acne prone and i don’t think I’ve used acid based products before but a friend really recommended me to buy it. Any opinions and tips? my skin is the oily type with habit of dryness around the t zone sometimes during breakouts. thank you!!
Hi Takeda, thanks for reaching out! As an acid newbie, I’d suggest to start really slow (see comments above) and definitely do a patch test to see how your skin reacts. Don’t forget your sunscreen when using acids, and maybe look into an acidic toner to use first and until your skin gets used to acids!
Hello. Where to but a legit one in Singapore? I manage to buy one online but I am having doubts if it’s authentic. It seems like I feel nothing after using. After first use will you peel? Or when to expect peeling? The color of the solution seems lighter than what I see in reviews and it has a bit strong fragrance. As I apply it on my skin I can see some bubbles/foam forming. I’m trying to find out if how will I determine the real vs the fake one. Thanks
Hi Gem, as far as I know there’s no physical store in Singapore that carries Deciem products. You can, though, order via the official Deciem site. If you doubt that you’ve received an original product, I’d stop using it – fake products can be potentially very harmful.
There seems to be some misconception about the peeling solution: even though it’s called that, your skin won’t peel noticably. You’ll see a brighter, smoother complexion, though, because of the exfoliating action going on. HTH!
What if some does get in the eye during wash off?
I just keep my eyes closed during washing it off, Amanda! I’d guess it would sting quite a lot.