Do you use glycolic acid products as part of your skincare routine? For women who want to keep the hands of time from moving too fast or for women of a certain age who want to turn back the hands of time, glycolic acid is a must.
What is glycolic acid? It’s a natural AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) that comes from sugarcane. Many dermatologists consider GA to be the best performing AHA because of the small size of its molecule that allows it to deeply and quickly penetrate skin. GA exfoliates the skin by clearing away dead surface skin cells. Once it penetrates the skin, perhaps into the dermis, it stimulates collagen production to help reduce wrinkles. In addition to wrinkle reduction, it helps reduce photo aging by fading dark spots. That’s why I’m a big fan. It hits all the bases for me: wrinkle reduction, dark spot fading and stimulates the production of collagen. Yes!
If you’re just starting out with glycolic acid, you want to start small, meaning with not too high a percentage of GA so your skin can get used to it. I recommend checking out Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Facial Toner and Reviva Labs 5% Glycolic Acid Cream, two products I’ve been using. Reviva Labs actually has an entire line of glycolic acid skincare. So I have more products yet to try. Reviva Labs glycolic acid products have ph (acid levels) in the 3-4ph range for effectiveness but that could produce a little stinging. In order to prevent stinging, Reviva Labs GA products contain natural anti-irritants. I never felt a twinge!
Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Facial Toner
I received Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Facial Toner in July, and I’ve been using it faithfully ever since. The Toner is great for those starting out because it’s 3% glycolic acid. A non-stinging formula, I find it to be very gentle. It provides the cleansing and freshening benefits of toner with the added benefits of glycolic acid. I use it every night after my cleanser.
Reviva describes the toner as follows: “A special toner that gives the normal toner properties of extra cleansing PLUS Glycolic’s benefits for smoother, fresher-looking skin. This unique formula is super-saturated with soothing anti-irritants (aloe vera gel, hyaluronic acid & allantoin) to avoid unpleasant stinging.”
Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Facial Toner contains 4 fl. oz. I’m about 2/3 of the way through my bottle because I’m addicted to it. It’s so refreshing especially in summer! It’s priced around $12 so I can afford to buy more.
Ingredients: Demineralized spring water, aloe vera gel, glycolic acid, polysorbate 20, hyaluronic acid, hydrolized mucopolysaccharides, allantoin, beta carotene, ammonium hydroxide, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, citric acid.
Reviva Labs 5% Glycolic Acid Cream
Reviva Labs 5% Glycolic Acid Cream is a slightly higher percent glycolic acid than the toner, but it is still not harsh. It’s a great GA cream to start out with. In addition to GA, it contains botanic extracts.
It is a lightweight cream. In fact, I’d describe it as a liqui-cream that sinks into my skin on contact. I’ve had the product for several months, and I’ve really enjoyed using it. At this point, my skin is ready for a higher percent glycolic acid. But when I jumped up to a GA that was too high (18%), my skin protested and I came back to Reviva Labs 5% Glycolic Acid Cream. I need to step up to Reviva Labs 10% Glycolic Cream before I go back to the 18% GA cleanser.
Reviva Labs describes the 5% Cream as follows: “Contains a unique polymer form of glycolic acid & hellip actual strands of glycolic that enter the skins own natural polymer structure. They penetrate more effectively to induce better exfoliation.”
The jar contains 1.5 fl. oz. and the MSRP is $25. This is a long-lasting product because a little of the liqui-cream goes a long way. I’ve had it for several months and I still have about a 1/4 of the jar left.
Ingredients: Purified water, 5% glycolic acid polymer (extracts of sugar and rhubarb), extracts of pumpkin, peach, sage, comfrey, chamomile, witch hazel, vitamins A,D,E, safflower oil, sunflower oil.
Reviva Labs is a fabulous, affordable, natural skincare brand with an amazing array of products for different skincare needs. If you haven’t tried Reviva Labs yet, it is one of the best values in skincare. The company is research-oriented and combines science with natural ingredients. The products are paraben-free, cruelty-free and made in the U.S. Reviva Labs skincare is sold at Ulta Beauty, on the Reviva Labs website, on Vitacost.com, iherb.com, at Walmart.com, as well as other online retailers.
Which Reviva Labs products are your favorites?
I love Reviva. Some of their products are HG status and I buy them again and again to keep them in my skin care rotation.
Plus their products are such a bargain for great formulas
Never tried anything from Reviva before. Looks promising and sounds so nice. I have tried other different brands for GA though. I like using pads most. Probably b/c I am lazy. lol
I started out with an indie brand of GA pads with 2% glycolic acid and 1% retinol, and I loved them because they were so handy. Then I decided to move up in strength (not that the Reviva Facial Toner is that much higher!) and go with a brand that’s easier to find. It’s all good!
I absolutely love Reviva Labs! I actually don’t think that I have tried their Glycolic line! Thanks for the excellent review, as always Allison! These are going right on my list!
You are welcome! Reviva Labs products are top notch, and these are a great way to start out with GA.
I just LOVE Reviva Labs stuff. Haven’t met anything I didn’t like!
I agree, Destany!
I’m really into toners lately! They have helped my face in a short few months, and I am going to have to try this! <3
It’s a great way to start out with GA, too!
I LOVE Glycolic acid and the Reviva Labs 5% cream is the best one I’ve tried. I think I have tried the toner in the past too and it was nice as well.
Glad you’re also a fan!
I’m using both of these products right now along with the glycolic cleanser. My skin loves glycolic acid. Great review!
That’s great! I know you’re a Reviva Labs lover. I’m psyched to try the 10% Cream
I love glycolic acid! I haven’t tried anything from Reviva Labs yet but I actually just picked up a night cream that I’ll be opening up when I finish my current one.
Looking forward to reading your review!
I need to try this, I love Reviva labs products. I need to try more GA products, my skin needs something hehe
They’re both worth trying if you want to get into glycolic acid skincare. I’m going to try the 10% GA Cream next.
Gravitating towards the toner, have yet to try Reviva. I have to be careful with Glycolic acid as I am very sensitive to certain ingredients.
I find the toner with 3% glycolic acid very mild, but I can handle the lower percentages of GA. I started out with Skin Script Glycolic and Retinol Pads, an indie brand with 2% GA that I tried at a spa in Arizona that is sold on Skincare by Alana. The Reviva Labs toner with 3% seems to have the same degree of gentleness with only a 1% difference.
I love this review of this skincare brand…I have never heard of this product before but I am willing to try this in the future!
Ursula aka Blueridge Beauty
Ursula, Reviva Labs makes affordable skincare products for all skincare needs that are backed by science. It’s a brand that’s worth getting to know
Everything is great from Reviva Labs. Some of their least expensive items blow high end ones out of the water. Right now the three in rotation are the gel eye makeup remover, DMAE Firming Fluid and Omega Nourishing Cream.
I saw your review of the Gel Eye Makeup Remover. And I’ve always wanted to try the DMAE Firming Fluid. So many great products from that brand
Reviva is a great brand, simple natural ingredients & affordable
well said!
What a great way to introduce your face to GA. I need to incorporate it back into my skincare routine. I love Reviva Labs!
GA is a must!
Reviva really has some wonderful products.
Reviva Labs always makes the most solid stuff. Great line.
I love Reviva! Their prices are hard to beat, and the quality is top notch.
It’s true. Great value for best quality
I love everything I’ve tried from Reviva Labs!
Me too! I’m psyched to try the 10% GA Cream next
I love Reviva labs products but I cannot use their Glycolic products at all… my skin is just so sensitive. I have tried but no matter how gentle their things are, my skin just doesn’t like it.
That’s too bad, but best to avoid what you know your skin can’t handle.
These both sound great! I love toners that have an added benefit.
I agree. And this one is so gentle for a GA toner
Again a brand unavailable here in UK. we’re missing so much !!! Great post. I’m tempted by the toner 🙂
I believe that Reviva Labs does sell and/or ship their products internationally (check their website revivalabs.com just in case there is a UK stockist). The toner really is a lovely, mild toner with extra benefits because of the GA that mild enough for dry skin
I use to use glycolic, but now that I’m “older” (lol) .. it’s a bit drying to my skin. I’m looking for products that are more moisturizing 🙂
Monica.
Do you use the companion to GA, lactobionic acid or something like that, Monica? It works in a similar manner but isn’t drying. The GA toner with 3% is very mild, but if you’ve found other ingredients that work as well, than that’s good 🙂
Would love to try these! They sound great!
The Reviva Labs GA line really is impressive 🙂
sounds like a fabulous product!
I like ’em a lot, and I’m psyched to be getting the 10% GA Cream