Cult Classics: Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Review

For about past year and a half, I've been religious about using an acid exfoliant in the form of a liquid (toner) or saturated pads twice a day. You may remember that First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads made it into my 2014 Best Beauty Buys, and I still use and love them; I do think however that your skin can get used to a given acid combination, and it's important to switch things around a bit to keep seeing the result. Which is why I purchased the immensely popular Pixi Glow Tonic ($29 for 250ml/ 8.25 fl oz) when I spotted it on BOGO sale late last year.

There's not much to say about the actual product: it's incredibly simple, both in packaging design and the ingredients (low concentration of glycolic acid - 5% in an aloe vera and witch hazel base). Belly, who recommended the Glow Tonic to me, thinks the scent is a bit botanical, but it really reminds me of generic toiletries one finds in a hotel bathroom - not unpleasant though. Partially because of the added fragrance, Beautypedia gave the Glow Tonic a really low rating, reasoning that it wasn't gentle or suitable for sensitive skin, and while your personal mileage may vary, I've found the opposite to be true on my easily irritated skin. The consistency is liquid like water, and like water, it aborbs immediately with absolutely no greasy or sticky residue, which has been an issue for me with Paula's Choice BHA liquid exfoliant and the Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Pads (reviewed here).

I've been using my bottle for about a month now, and I'm very happy with the results (btw, it seems that a bottle this size should last me about 6 months). First of all, I get absolutely no irritation, stinging or redness whatsoever when using the Glow Tonic - I don't want to have well exfoliated face at the expense of angry skin or a rash. In fact, it's so gentle and refreshing that I love using it in the mornings, especially after a gym session - it just feels like my face is being cleansed and soothed at the same time.

However, sometimes the problem with extra gentle exfoliants is that they don't actually do anything, am I right? That's fortunately not the case with the Glow Tonic. I have noticed less overall congestion and breakouts recently, and at the same time, I have a lot less surface dehydration (dry flakes and lines). This translates to a more even, glowy complexion that's also prepped well for make-up application.

You know what guys, there haven't been many times in my life when I could have said this, but I'm currently pretty happy with my skin. If you're a long-time reader, you know that I've been struggling with acne and excessive oilies for years now - we're talking close to 15 years. But since the beginning of this year, my skin has been gradually improving, and I think gentle daily exfoliation is one of the bigger contributing factors. Let me know if you'd be interested in a separate post discussing things that helped the clarity of my skin - I realize a lot of you also struggle with pesky breakouts, clogged pores, uneven texture AND dry flakes all the same time. Maybe some of the things I've been trying would be helpful to you as well.

What do you use to exfoliate your skin? Do you prefer gentle exfoliants used more often, or something stronger once a week? I actually do both; use my Pixi Glow Tonic in the morning and the First Aid Beauty Pads in the evening, but once a week, I dig out an exfoliating mask and follow it up with Dr. Wu Mandelic Acid Serum, reviewed here. Let me know if you have any product recommendations, I'm always on the lookout for a good chemical exfoliant!