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There is a new terror lurking in the bowels of Reddit and TikTok: individuals spilling crimson liquid from a glass vial dropper onto their faces. It’s The Ordinary Peeling Solution, the current skin-care craze.
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It has the appearance of the fresh placenta, the tingling sensation of mint chapstick, and costs less than a Frappuccino. It resembles the frightening “vampire facial” that Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow are famous for, but it is thankfully not composed of your own blood. And it’s going viral, with claims that it will give you the most radiant, clear, and youthful skin of your life.
For many weeks, I experimented with the product—a $7 at-home chemical peel. What I discovered was as follows: If you appropriately use The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, your skin will glow as if illuminated from inside by an antique chandelier. If used wrongly, it will leave your skin sore, red, and possibly injured.
How to Use The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
If you’ve ever wiped your face aggressively with a washcloth or massaged it with a textured scrub, you’ve used a physical exfoliation. And now I’m coming to your house to do a socially detached intervention, because this is not the most sophisticated approach science has to offer, and I want the best for you and your priceless face. Chemical exfoliation may sound like innovation from the Enlightenment period, but it is a kinder, more efficient method of removing dead skin cells and revealing brighter, cleaner skin. So! Bring the acids out!
There has never been any line of skincare quite like The Ordinary. Obsessed with clinical outcomes and natural ingredients, and intolerant of tempting branding and false promises, the company is a rare example of All the Hype Is Deserved (truly, just read our extensive reviews of all the best The Ordinary products). If you’re ready to brush up on your high school scientific skills, the line offers premium ingredients at fast-food rates. A whole skin-care routine from The Ordinary may cost less than the price of cocktails and appetizers and last far longer. However, surfing The Ordinary’s website is like poring over the periodic chart of the elements. The products are classified as Molecules and Peptides and contain names such as EUK 134 0.1 percent.
The proper small glass bottles, which can convert your bathroom into a stylish apothecary, can do more to alter your face than virtually anything else, short of a doctor appointment. However, the intensity of The Ordinary’s formulas requires that you be aware of your actions—even if they appear to be pouring fake blood over your face. What is an AHA+BHA solution, and why should you apply it to your face (carefully)?
The Ordinary Peeling Solution is unique among the brand’s exfoliators in that it is a wash-off mask, in contrast to the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, which is applied with a cotton pad, or the Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, which is used as a spot treatment. Additionally, the peeling solution is unique in that it contains various types of exfoliants. It has extremely high concentrations of AHAs (glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids) and beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid). This implies that the mask will effectively eliminate dead skin cells and debris that contribute to blocked pores, bringing you three steps closer to glowing, celebrity-quality skin. This also implies that if you use it too frequently or for an extended period of time, or if your skin is simply too sensitive, your face will react negatively.
I washed and dried my skin properly according to the directions included with the product. (I prefer to double cleanse with an oil or balm followed by a gentle cleanser.) I dripped and massaged the stuff in, becoming increasingly crazy in the process. If your hands are delicate (I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but we wash them a lot these days), applying the product using a cotton pad or skin-care spatula may make sense.
I didn’t mind the mask’s little pinprick sensation since it brought me delight to picture the chemicals eating away at the dead cells and oil on my skin. It rinsed off readily with warm water after ten minutes (I also used a cleaner to ensure that the acid did not remain on my skin). I ended with a generous dose of my favorite thick, calming Klairs moisturizer. I utilized the mask twice a week and avoided using any other exfoliating products during the week, which resulted in a considerable reduction in my typical retinol consumption. (I frequently employ this one from The Ordinary. I am not compensated in any way; I simply adore the brand.)
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution Results
The light was instantaneous. When I removed the mask, my skin seemed renewed and brighter, and the healthy, lit-up appearance remained overnight and into the next several days. I observed that after many usages, some of the acne scars on my face had significantly lessened. I would have cheerfully smeared any quantity of genuine blood over my face for this outcome.
However, a word of caution: After using the product for the fourth time, I saw a little but visible red area on my face that I had never seen before—it wasn’t a scratch, it wasn’t a breakout, it was just an angry, stubborn red patch. As a result of all my cautions about utilizing this powerful medication prudently. According to The Ordinary, the Peeling Solution should be used “no more than twice a week.” And even that may be too frequently if you have extremely reactive skin.
Take a lesson from my error. If, like me, you are prone to disregard suggestions to patch new goods, make an exception for this one. To begin, use it only once a week. Experiment with leaving it on for five or seven minutes, especially if your skin is easily flushed. Additionally, you may concentrate it on the parts of your skin that require the most attention.
And one final, severe warning: If you use exfoliants but do not use sunscreen every day, you are assisting the sun in causing harm to your skin. Please do not attempt this! Even if you spend your days indoors, you should apply sunscreen if you care about your skin.