Exfoliants

About exfoliants:

Acid percentage is not the only thing to consider when choosing a BHA or AHA product. With both products, pH is also very important. A lower pH (about 2.0) will make more of the acid 'available' - so it is stronger & capable of better skin penetration. For instance, if you have two 2% BHA products & one has a pH of 3.2 & the other has a pH of 2.0, the one with the pH of 2.0 will be stronger & penetrate the skin better. The same is true of AHAs.

About BHA:

Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA/salicylic acid) is:

lipid-soluble, so it is able to deeply penetrate the skin to exfoliate & help clear the pores from the inside out
antibacterial, so it can be extremely helpful in clearing acne
anti-inflammatory, so it can be useful in preventing/healing ingrown hairs, keratosis pilaris, & the red bumps you sometimes see after shaving/waxing

About AHA/lactic acid:

Lactic acid is:

water-soluble, so it works mostly on the surface of the skin, helping with fine lines, hyperpigmentation, & sun damage
less likely to cause side-effects (such as irritation, burning, stinging) than glycolic acid
a humectant, which increases the skin's ability to hold moisture & absorb other substances
capable of increasing new cell growth & collagen production

Pretty Amazing 2% BHA liquid
I highly recommend starting with this product - even if you have been using another BHA product. The pH of my product is lower than most other BHA products, which means there is more free acid available - essentially making it 'stronger' than most other 2% BHA products.

(4 oz. cobalt blue PET bottle w/ black disc top) - $12

Active ingredient: 2% salicylic acid
Other ingredients: water, SDA40B, propylene glycol, glycerin

Approximate pH of product is 2.0
Shelf life: At least 1 year, possibly longer if not opened.

Due to federal regulations, this product cannot be shipped outside the US.

Pretty Amazing 5% BHA liquid
I only recommend this product to people who have used my 2% BHA product for at least a month. I do not recommend this product to beginners or those who have not used my 2% BHA product.

(4 oz. cobalt blue PET bottle w/ black disc top) - $14

Active ingredient: 5% salicylic acid
Other ingredients: water, SDA40B, propylene glycol, glycerin

Approximate pH of product is 2.0
Shelf life: At least 1 year, possibly longer if not opened.

Due to federal regulations, this product cannot be shipped outside the US.

Pretty Amazing Plus 2% BHA/4% AHA liquid
I recommend this product to people who have used my 2% BHA product for at least a month. I do not recommend starting out with this product - start with the plain BHA product.

(4 oz. cobalt blue PET bottle w/ black disc top) - $22

Active ingredients: 2% salicylic acid & 4% lactic acid
Other ingredients: water, SDA40B, propylene glycol, glycerin

Approximate pH of product is 2.0
Shelf life: At least 1 year, possibly longer if not opened.

Due to federal regulations, this product cannot be shipped outside the US.

Pretty Amazing Plus 5% BHA/10% AHA liquid
This is the strongest product that I offer - and I only recommend it to people who have already gone through my 2% BHA product, the 2% BHA/4% AHA product, and the 5% BHA products and still feel they need a more powerful product. I do not recommend this product to beginners or to those who have not used my 2% BHA/4% AHA product.

(4 oz. cobalt blue PET bottle w/ black disc top) - $26

Active ingredients: 5% salicylic acid & 10% lactic acid
Other ingredients: water, SDA40B, propylene glycol, glycerin

Approximate pH of product is 2.0
Shelf life: At least 1 year, possibly longer if not opened.

Due to federal regulations, this product cannot be shipped outside the US.

Product information:

Which strength should I use?

If you have not used a BHA product before, or if you have used a BHA product with a higher pH, you should start with my 2% product - and just use it every other day or even every second day. If you use it everyday at first, you may notice some dryness and/or flaking. After a couple of weeks, if you don’t have any dryness/flaking/irritation, you could try using it once daily. Eventually, if needed, you could use the product twice daily.

For those who have used my 2% product for awhile & still feel they need more exfoliation, there is a 5% product available. Even if you have used the 2% product twice daily, I would still recommend using the 5% product every other day at first. If tolerated, you can then use it daily, eventually working up to twice daily, if needed.

After you've used BHA for awhile, you may feel ready to add an AHA to your skincare routine. I recommend starting with the 2% BHA/4% AHA product. I would also recommend using this product every other day or every second day. If after a few weeks you feel you want to use daily, you can try this - but you may notice more dryness and/or flaking, Adjust usage to your skin's needs.

For those who are ready for a stronger product, the 5% BHA/10% AHA product is perfect. But I only recommend this product to those who have already used my 2% BHA product, the 2% BHA/4% AHA product, and the 5% BHA product. I would still suggest using it every other day or every second day, especially at first. I only use the BHA/AHA product every other day. On the days I don't use the BHA/AHA product, I use the plain BHA product.

How do I apply?

Complete product instructions can be found on the 'Instructions' page.