Today’s a bit of a special day because I’m going to write about a product that played a key role in the birth of this blog! My Dad the Chemist was partially inspired by the time my dad saw me trying to compare Trader Joe’s face wash and serum—and, after taking a look at each ingredient list, he recommended the serum that I’m going to write about today.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% peeling solution is designed to help improve skin texture and brighten skin with four alpha-hydroxy acids (all adding up to 30% of the formula). It also contains 2% salicylic acid (the beta-hydroxy acid, or BHA) to help combat acne. Last but not least, this product is a really shocking shade of fuschia/purple, so you kind of feel like you’re spreading blood on your face. How cool is that?

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the pros and cons of buying stuff online vs. in a brick-and-mortar store. I probably shop online a lot more than many other people, mostly because of (a) where I live, and (b) how lazy I am. Here are the main reasons why I do most of my shopping online: