What's In It

Step-by-Step Usage

Before You Start

• Patch test first - apply a small amount to your upper forearm, leave 10 minutes, rinse. Wait 24 hours. If no redness, burning, itching, or blistering, proceed.
• Avoid using other exfoliants, retinoids, or vitamin C for at least 24 hours before.
• This product is best for experienced acid users - if you're new to acids, start with a lower-strength formula first.

How to Apply

1. Cleanse your face and neck with a gentle, non-exfoliating cleanser.
2. Dry your skin completely - applying to wet or damp skin dilutes the acid and can cause uneven absorption.
3. Apply a thin, even layer across face and neck using your fingertips. One dropper-full is usually enough.
4. Avoid the eye contour, lips, and any broken or inflamed skin.
5. Leave on for a maximum of 10 minutes. First-timers: start with 3-5 minutes and work up gradually.
6. A mild tingling sensation is normal. Burning = rinse immediately.
7. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. The red colour helps you confirm it's fully removed.

Frequency

Important Rules

• Use at night only - AHAs significantly increase photosensitivity.
• Wear SPF daily during use and for at least a week after each application.
• Do NOT combine in the same session with: retinoids, vitamin C, other direct acids, or peptides.
• Do NOT use on sensitive skin, broken skin, sunburned skin, eczema, or rosacea.
• Do NOT use if pregnant or breastfeeding without consulting a doctor first.

What to Expect

• After first use: mild redness or tingling that settles within an hour.
• After 2-4 weeks: smoother texture, reduced appearance of pores, more even tone.
• Ongoing: improved brightness and reduced hyperpigmentation with consistent use.

The Neck Note

• Use even less product.
• Start with just 3-5 minutes until your skin adjusts.
• Watch for irritation - the neck is more prone to over-exfoliation.

Quick Don'ts Checklist

• Don't use on wet skin
• Don't leave on longer than 10 minutes
• Don't use more than twice a week
• Don't mix with retinol on the same night
• Don't skip SPF the morning after
• Don't use if your skin is already irritated or compromised

Immediately After Rinsing (Same Night)

Step 1 - Gentle Cleanse (optional)

Step 2 - Hydrating Toner (optional)

Step 3 - Soothing / Hydrating Serum

• Hyaluronic acid - draws moisture into the skin
• Centella Asiatica (Cica) - calms redness and irritation
• Niacinamide - supports barrier repair (low concentration, 5% or under)
• Panthenol (B5) - soothes and retains moisture
• Glycerin - a simple, effective humectant

Step 4 - Rich Moisturizer

• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
• First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

Next Morning Routine

Days 1-3 Post-Peel: Full Routine

• Mild redness or tightness on Day 1 - normal
• Possible light flaking on Day 2-3 - normal, do NOT pick or peel manually
• Brighter, smoother texture starting around Day 3-4

Days 3-5: Reintroduce Carefully

Ingredients to Avoid for the Full Week After

• Any AHA or BHA products
• Retinoids / retinol
• Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
• Alcohol-based toners or astringents
• Physical scrubs or exfoliating cloths
• Fragranced products (higher irritation risk on sensitized skin)
• Chemical sunscreens right after (they may sting - switch to mineral)

Quick Summary Card

SAME NIGHT (after peel):
  Rinse → Gentle cleanser → Hydrating serum → Rich moisturizer

NEXT MORNING:
  Gentle cleanser → Hydrating serum → Moisturizer → Mineral SPF 30+

DAYS 1-3:
  Same as above, zero actives

DAYS 3-5:
  Slowly reintroduce retinol or vitamin C on alternate nights

DAY 7+:
  Can do next peel session if needed

How It Targets Hyperpigmentation

AHAs (Glycolic, Lactic, Tartaric, Citric - 15% total)

• Glycolic acid (the primary AHA) has the smallest molecular size of all AHAs, allowing it to penetrate deepest into the epidermis
• It breaks the bonds holding pigment-loaded dead cells to the skin surface, physically shedding them
• It also inhibits tyrosinase - the enzyme responsible for melanin production - reducing new pigment formation
• Lactic acid adds additional brightening and is gentler, making it well-suited to the neck's thinner skin

BHA (Salicylic Acid - 1%)

• Works deeper in the pores, reducing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) triggered by breakouts
• Reduces the inflammation cycle that activates melanin production in the first place
• Particularly effective for acne-related dark spots and congestion-driven pigmentation

Types of Hyperpigmentation It Can Help With

Clinical evidence: A 2024 systematic review in Dermatology Surgery (PMID: 38530985) confirmed chemical peels - including glycolic acid peels - are effective for melasma, particularly when combined with topical depigmenting agents. A 2026 RCT (PMID: 40970768) found 35% glycolic acid peel comparable to retinol peels for melasma improvement, supporting the mechanism at lower concentrations over time.

How to Use It Specifically for Hyperpigmentation

Protocol

1. Use at night only (AHAs increase UV sensitivity - sun exposure will worsen pigmentation)
2. Frequency: Start once per week. After 4 weeks with no irritation, increase to twice per week
3. Application: Apply a thin, even layer to face and neck on completely dry skin
4. Time: 10 minutes maximum. For the neck, start at 5 minutes
5. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

The Neck - Special Consideration

• Apply a slightly thinner layer than your face
• Start with 5 minutes, build up to 10 over several sessions
• Watch for over-exfoliation signs: persistent redness, tightness, or darkening (paradoxical PIH from irritation)

What to Pair With It for Faster Results

Realistic Timeline for Results

The Single Biggest Rule

No SPF = no improvement. Every session of acid exfoliation leaves fresh, pigment-vulnerable skin exposed. UV exposure on that skin directly triggers more melanin production - undoing any progress. SPF 30+ mineral sunscreen, every morning, is mandatory while using this product.