PRODUCT REVIEW: SOBEL SKIN RX 30% GLYCOLIC ACID PEEL – ONE OF THE BEST GLYCOLIC ACID TONERS TO BRIGHTEN SKIN
SOBEL SKIN RX | 30% GLYCOLIC ACID PEEL
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, Dermatologist Skincare Brand Sobel Skin Rx - Some of the Best Anti-Aging Face Products for Healthy, Youthful Skin. You can still catch the full piece here.
—
I’ve been on sort of an acid trip the last few weeks. No, I’m not admitting to a drug problem on the blog (there isn’t one). I’m talking about exfoliating acid toners. They are kind of a hot product category lately and it seems that every brand now has one.
That’s a good thing, as long as it’s put into perspective and used properly. I reviewed some of the best exfoliating toners for face last week in a blog article titled, Acid Toners – Some of the Best BHA / AHA Toners for Face. If you missed it, I invite you to check it out here.
In the article, I shared about the desquamation process by which the skin exfoliates dead surface skin cells. It does quite an effective job on its own. Because of that, I don’t believe that you actually need to do much in the way of exfoliation; but, if you’re going to use some sort of exfoliant, at least opt for a chemical treatment over a physical face scrub.
What’s the difference between chemical and physical exfoliation?
As I pointed out in the article, physical scrubs can be quite damaging to the vital, yet delicate skin barrier. There’s quite an insightful article on the Paula’s Choice website titled, Exfoliation: The Skin Care Step You Never Knew You Needed. In it, the Paula’s Choice Research Team explains the differences between chemical and physical exfoliation and the dangers of using a face scrub.
“Daily, gentle exfoliation with a leave-on product is a complete game-changer for every skin type and skin concern. Adding this one step to your routine is the fastest, most effective way to get radiant, smooth, hydrated, blemish-free, even-toned skin.
“AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) and BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliants help skin shed dead cells more quickly, the way it did before age and environmental factors began to slow that process. These acids are also the gentlest way to exfoliate, and they nourish and transform the look of your skin in ways no brush or scrub can.
“Despite the popularity of facial scrubs, most are too harsh and abrasive; they can cause tiny tears that damage skin over time, even if that damage isn’t immediately visible. Even the best scrubs, while they do have benefits, can’t produce the same results as an AHA or BHA exfoliant.”
While I didn’t include the Sobel Skin Rx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel in my article on acid toners, it’s quite an effective treatment — and, I’d say, one of the best exfoliating toners I’ve come across.
I do want to stress that if you’re planning to incorporate an acid toner like the Sobel Skin Rx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel into your skincare routine, it is not a replacement for a hydrating toner. Don’t be tripped up by the loose marketing term “toner”. Application of an acid toner should immediately follow cleansing and toning — and precede the use of any water-based serums.
Dr. Sobel’s 30% Glycolic Acid Peel is not for beginners. As the name indicates, it contains a 30% concentration of the most potent of the alpha hydroxy acids. But don’t be overly alarmed. To optimize its full potency, Glycolic Acid requires a pH of between 3.5 and 4. Were the pH within that range, the Sobel Skin Rx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel would be quite potent — and I’d venture to say too potent for at-home use. By my measurement, the formula has a pH between 4-5, making it relatively effective as an exfoliant but not in the extreme.
I know for a fact that it’s not as harsh as the name implies because my skin wouldn’t be able to tolerate it.
The 30% Glycolic Acid Peel INCI is tight, with just 13 ingredients in all, four of which are intended to soothe any potential irritation, including Allantoin, Calendula Extract, Chamomile Extract and Cucumber Extract. There’s also a bit of humectant Sodium Hyaluronate, the salt form of Hyaluronic Acid that’s more skin compatible.
A single, moderately soaked cotton ball or pad is all you need to achieve a safe level of exfoliation to sweep away dead surface skin cells and ignite the complexion. And, I caution, not every day. Remember, skin doesn’t need much help!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Sobel Skin Rx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel for $46 here.
SHOP THE BLOG:
The Ingredient List of the Sobel Skin Rx 30% Glycolic Acid Peel:
Purified Water, Glycolic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Allantoin, Calendula Extract, Chamomile Extract, Cucumber Extract, Sodium PCA, Witch Hazel, Sodium Hylauronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
