The Secret To Hydrated, Soothed, and Balanced Skin
Are you looking for the latest beauty buzz? Then look no further! With benefits like shedding dead skin cells, fading pigmentation, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, exfoliating acids have become beauty queens’ newest obsessions.
Brands have taken note of the trending cult-fave product and there’s been an explosion of exfoliating acids in the space, making it challenging to pick the right product.
But don’t worry – we compared multiple acid exfoliators for you.
Here are the brands we settled on:
- Moon Juice
- Paula’s Choice
- Youth To The People
Key Similarities
- All products are leave-on exfoliators
- All products are formulated with some type of acids
- All products are designed to improve the skin’s appearance
Key Differences
- MoonJuice recommends using the product 3 nights a week | Paula’s Choice suggests using it 2x a day | Youth To The People doesn’t specify
- MoonJuice and Youth To The People’s formulas contain 3 acids | Paula’s Choice is formulated with 1 acid
- Moon Juice costs $37.80 | Paula’s Choice costs $32 | Youth To The People costs $38
Moon Juice: Acid Potion Liquid Exfoliator
The Moon Juice Acid Potion immediately caught our attention because of its genius clean, 100% vegan formula that works wonders without irritating the skin.
It contains:
- Glycolic Acid – breaks down dead skin cells and helps stimulate collagen production.
- Lactic Acid – encourages cellular turnover and brightens the skin tone.
- Salicylic Acid – penetrates and unclogs pores.
- Niacinamide and Adaptogenic Reishi – hydrates and restores the skin’s barrier while soothing irritation and redness.
Bonus: it’s formulated without parabens, sulfates, petroleum, butylene glycol, propylene, pesticides, and silicones!
The application process couldn’t be easier – simply add a small amount of the product into your palm and gently pat into your clean face and neck using your fingertips. Moon Juice recommends using Acid Potion three nights a week for best results.
The product worked quickly and effectively without causing micro-tears as physical exfoliants. There was no redness or stinging – just ultra-soothing and calming! It left our skin glowy, soft, and bright and reduced the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
If you subscribe, you can save 10% and get Acid Potion delivered for only $37.80. And trust us, this bottle lasts!
Youth To The People: Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant
Youth To The People’s Acid Exfoliator uses three gentle acids combined with superfood antioxidants to clear pores, smooth skin’s texture and tone, and support the protective barrier.
We liked its water-light liquid and fresh scent and didn’t feel a sting or burn when using it – it’s definitely a more gentle exfoliator like Moon Juice’s Acid Potion. However, the intense concentration of salicylic and vitamin C dried our skin out. Also, some customers complained that the exfoliator made them break out even more.
Youth To The People doesn’t specify a recommended usage. But, they say that if you’re new to exfoliating, you should start using it 1-2 times per week after cleansing – sweep over clean, dry face and neck, avoid the eye area, and follow with Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream.
The Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant costs $38 per bottle — for this price, we expected better results!
Paula’s Choice: Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution
The Paula’s Choice product is a leave-on exfoliant formulated with salicylic acid and designed to clear acne, blackheads and tighten pores. However, when looking at the ingredients, we didn’t like the inclusion of butylene glycol since it’s known to cause skin irritation.
When trying the product we experienced some skin irritation and redness. We also stumbled across many customer reviews complaining about similar symptoms and an uncomfortable, stinging sensation. Some even reported developing painful acne — yikes.
The product description recommends using the exfoliator up to twice daily, which seemed a little much for us – they suggest gently applying using your fingers or a cotton pad over the entire face and neck including the eye area. Note: We definitely suggest leaving the sensitive eye area out! Over-exfoliating sensitive skin can damage the skin barrier and exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions. Also, getting acid exfoliator solution in your eyes can be very uncomfortable.
Paula’s Choice Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution costs $32.00 but will cost you more in the long run if you use it as often as per the recommendation.
Final Thoughts
Exfoliating acids can benefit the skin in many ways because they ultimately encourage the skin to act younger and healthier. But the right formula is key to achieving results without suffering from redness and skin irritation.
After comparing all three products, Moon Juice Acid Potion was our clear winner. If you’re looking for a new exfoliator to add to your beauty routine, we can’t recommend Moon Juice’s Acid Potion enough – it can help resurface your skin, unclog your pores, and brighten your tone while leaving skin smooth and hydrated!
