Started this serum January 2nd. By January 22nd my coworker asked if I got Botox. I didn’t.
My skin texture was that weird bumpy-not-breakout thing around my jaw. The kind foundation clings to. After 30 days, that texture is gone. Not better. Gone.
$38 for 1oz. A 10% lactic acid + 2% glycolic acid hybrid serum. The claim that got me: “visible results in 14 days.” I’m a cynic who tests everything.
10% Lactic Acid
Gentle enough for nightly use — didn’t sting once, even around my nose
2% Glycolic Acid
The heavy lifter. This is what ate my dead skin cells for breakfast.
pH 3.8 Formula
Low enough to actually exfoliate, high enough to not melt your face off
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
Three acids doing a very specific job. No fragrance, no essential oils, no bullshit. The licorice root is the surprise MVP — it kept redness in check while the acids worked.
- Lactic Acid (10%): Surface exfoliation without peeling like a snake
- Glycolic Acid (2%): Deep pore clearing — shrunk my nose pores by week 3
- Licorice Root Extract: Brightens dark spots so you don’t look patchy halfway through
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Keeps moisture in so you don’t get that tight, cracked-leather feeling
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
Watery gel. Absorbs in 12 seconds. Smells like literally nothing — which I now prefer to “refreshing citrus.” First week: mild tingling, nothing scary. Week two: skin started looking… smoother in the mirror? Not dramatic, just noticeable.
Week three is where it got weird. My makeup sat differently. No more settling into fine lines around my mouth. Week four: my boyfriend said “your face looks really clear” without me asking. That’s the metric that matters.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
Texture: visibly smoother by day 18. Dark spots from old breakouts: faded about 40%. Pores around my nose: smaller, not gone. Fine lines on forehead: same as before. This isn’t a miracle in a bottle — it’s a very good chemical exfoliant that actually works.
Photo: Mockup Free / Unsplash
Best drugstore-adjacent AHA I’ve used in 2024. Formula is smart, price is fair, and it actually does what it promises. Use sunscreen or you’ll regret it.