Multi Acids & Retinoid Brightening Sleeping Facial

This comes in an outer product box. Ingredients are listed. It is made in USA.Key Ingredients:Hyaluronic Acid Gel - Next-generation hyaluronic acid gel provides concentrated moisture to skin. Also helps strengthen skin barrier.7% Glycolic + Lactic + Salicylic Acids - A powerful blend of alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids work to unclog pores and lighten dark spots while boosting hydration1% Retinoid Complex - Next-generation hydroxypinacolone retinoate reduces appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and breakouts.I love that this gives the percentage of retinoid and acids. I’ve been doing tons of research through my skin care journey, and the different retinoids can be very confusing, but I thought I knew what they all were. I had never heard of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, so I had to look it up. It is shortened to HPR. Turns out it’s a newer member of the retinoid family. It is a retinoic acid ester. The active ingredient our skin cells can interpret is retinoic acid. Other forms of retinoids have to be converted by our metabolic machinery to do something. That's not the case with HPR. It binds directly to the retinoid receptors of the skin cells to work its skincare magic. The big promise of HPR is that it's similarly active as retinoic acid (no conversion needed, remember) but without the irritation. The results of HPR are very promising, but it’s still pretty new. I love that this is a leave on peel. You get the effects of the peel without having to put it on and wait around to wash it off. You just apply this and leave it on overnight!It has a creamy consistency. It’s a brown color. It’s definitely not the most appealing color, but if it works I don’t care! It has a slight smell, that I can’t really place. But, I don’t mind because it’s so slight and I’d rather have that than synthetic fragrance, which this doesn’t have!A little goes a long way. It just takes about 1 pump to do my whole face and neck area. It glides onto the skin easily. It feels very moisturizing. It leaves a kind of shiny look to the skin and even a slight greasy feel, but it’s very slight so it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t have sensitive skin at all and do peels all the time. When I first applied this, I did feel slight tingling and my skin even got a little red, but that faded after I had it on for a little while. So, I’m not sure if this is great for someone with sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to not leave it on overnight and just wash it off after a little bit. The morning after using this, my skin is so smooth and looks brighter.I really love this! I have tried different types of peels. Usually, the ones I’ve found make the most difference for me are ones I have to apply, wait a bit, then wash off. It’s kind of an inconvenience to have to wait and wash it off. So, leave on ones always appeal to me where I can just apply it and forget about it until the next morning. But, they never seem strong enough where I notice changes in my skin. This one is different! I feel it’s strong enough because I definitely notice a difference even after just using it once! It made my skin look smoother and brighter, my skin was softer. My skin just looked healthier overall. A lot of peels can sometimes make your skin seem drier, at least for me, but this one doesn’t. My skin always looks so hydrated! I love it! It says use 2-3 nights in a row. I’ve started using it 2 nights a week.If you’re looking for a leave on peel that has great ingredients and is strong enough to make a difference in your skin, I’d definitely recommend this!

The Allies of Skin (USA-made skincare brand) Multi Acids & Retinoid Brighting Sleeping Facial treatment was a surprise hit for me. I was concerned this would be too intense for my mature (over 40), Rosacea-reactive (sensitive), combination, congestion-prone face. Thankfully, it wasn't. Using it mindfully, as instructed, I tolerated the use without experiencing flares, irritation, new breakouts, excessive dryness/oiliness, or rash. Note: because I am extremely sensitive, I use it the same way I do any other retinol, as the last step in my skincare after my moisturizer, not before. I've found I get to glean the benefits and lessen the likelihood of irritation doing it this way. If you apply facial oils, I recommend using them another night or after you've applied this, not before. Facial oils can be an occlusive barrier and will inhibit the effectiveness of the treatment. Also, I am used to using retinol, AHAs, and BHAs regularly. I highly recommend anyone new to more intense treatments like this ease into use, starting off with one application and gradually increasing to 1-2 times a week to start.Per the instructions, users are urged to apply this treatment (step 4) to their face 2-3 nights in a row per week. PM only. I would not use this during the day given the concentration of actives/exfoliants. I would tell you to use an SPF in the AM as it will make your skin more sensitive to UV. Though you should be using an SPF every day regardless. Anyway, the gel is lightweight, not runny, and brown and does have a slight scent to it, but nothing overpowering or unpleasant. Doesn't linger. 2-3 pumps are more than enough with good spreadability. Coats and absorbs quickly into the skin (avoiding the eye and lip area). I "assume" Allies of Skin has formulated the amalgamation of the key exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs, and Retinol complex) to play well together. Sometimes mixing certain actives can cause changes in pH, rendering one or all compounds to become inert or increases the risk for irritation for the user. The highlights are hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, along with 1% Retinoid complex.On the nights I used this treatment, I wash and tone with non-medicated (no PHAs, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C or A, derivatives) products. Then, to lessen the potential for irritation, I apply a thin layer of my favorite moisturizer and allow it time to dry or absorb into the skin. I brush my teeth, etc. Then I take a couple of pumps of this treatment and layer it over my face and neck. That's it. I will do this 2 nights in a row, maybe 3, or I will take a break between and use every other night instead of nightly ~3x a week. So far, no sensitivity, redness, or irritation. I like the use, quality, and effectiveness this appears to have on my skin. I don't wake up broken out, greasy, or dry. I think this multipurpose treatment makes for a wonderful chemical exfoliant with an antioxidant booster. I get everything I want in one tube instead of having to layer on multiple products day and night.The transparent brown treatment gel comes suitably packaged in a 1.7oz gray poly plastic tube with a pump-tip and retails for $88 as of this writing. The price point is in kind with the rest of the Allies of Skin line. So, to me, it is expensive but is also very effective. And this one is not intended for everyday use. Unlike some of their products, I would likely repurchase this as it did give me what I consider a wow factor in a short time: no irritation, cleared up and kept me from developing congestion along my trouble spots, and I don't have to use it every single night to see results. If I use it a few nights a week, I would say this tube will likely last me 3-4 months, making the cost way more palatable.