scientific studies

Why I gave up on The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner

This glycolic acid toner is slightly more irritating than mandelic acid, but not quite as strong as a full-on chemical peel (and maybe not as effective, either).

You know how I feel about toners. I’m not sure if they actually do anything, but I still like to use them, because they help my skin feel cleaner and more refreshed at night. I’ve been hearing good things about The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toning Solution for a while now, so I decided to give it a try. Since it contains 7 percent glycolic acid, this is not your typical toner—it falls somewhere between a toner and a chemical peel. And what’s in the other 93 percent? According to…

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA Review

Alpha arbutin is supposed to help lighten acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Does it live up to those claims?

Remember when I visited the DECIEM store back in April? The store associate recommended mandelic acid for smoothing the texture of my acne scars, and alpha arbutin for lightening the appearance and redness of the scars. The store was sold out of alpha arbutin at the time, so I was only able to give mandelic acid a try. (Read the review here). Finally I was recently able to order some alpha arbutin directly from the DECIEM website. I’ve been using it once or twice a day for a few weeks now,…