St Ives Face Care Pads, Exfoliating Pads 60 Count

I will preface this review by saying that everything skin care is subjective-- what's great for your skin, my skin may hate, and vice versa. So always be careful with new products.That said... I have extremely finicky skin. Sensitive both in breakouts AND allergic reactions. I wanted to find a chemical exfoliant but a string of BHAs (salicylic acid products) left my skin very angry, with breakouts galore. I read that AHAs, such as this product, can be a good alternate, and since this product was so cheap, I figured I may as well give it a try, fully expecting my skin to react poorly.However, I'm so glad I tried this stuff, because my skin has become SO much better since I started using it about three months ago. My breakouts have lessened, and the overall tone is a lot brighter and more even. I have super, super pale skin, and every single zit I develop, big or small, tends to leave an unfortunate purple mark behind, and these pads have noticeably helped lighten some of these marks. They haven't faded altogether, but they're most definitely better than they were before. The pads ARE quite thin and tend to stick together, but I have no problems peeling them apart, and they're saturated enough to evenly cover my face. They have a kind of fruity scent to them, and you can also pick out the lactic acid. I wouldn't call it an overtly nice smell, but it isn't offensive, either.I will say that I think the recommendation of utilizing two pads a day is a bit over the top. First, AHAs increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun and need to be used in conjunction with sunscreen; due to this, I also prefer to use them at night... and using two a day would mean one in the morning, right before sun exposure. Second, especially if you have sensitive skin, overuse may just prove counter-productive and irritating. I never tried to use these twice a day, but at the start I was using them once a day, and even this proved to be a tad too much for my hyper-reactive skin. I now use them every other day, and this seems to be a good amount for me. Of course, your own skin's tolerance may vary. But I would recommend starting off slow with these as you figure out your tolerance level, and not immediately leaping to the recommendation on the jar. A final note: I read a negative review here saying that these pads didn't seem scrubby enough to really exfoliate. However, these are a CHEMICAL exfoliant, not physical. That means they're not supposed to be scrubby: it's the ingredients in these that exfoliate, not the texture.Overall, I'd highly recommend at least giving these a shot. They're extremely affordable, and so even if your skin doesn't end up loving them, it's not a huge financial gamble. And if they end up working for you, well-- I'm never one to turn down an effective, cheap skincare product!

Caveat: Different skin, different results. This review is based on my experience.Pros: I had been using cleansing pads from drugstores but was looking for something a bit more healthy for my skin. St. Ives Exfoliating Pads earned a moderate score on EWG.org so I figured I'd give it a try. Glad I did! These pads are loaded with AHAs but free of parabens and other questionable ingredients. I use it as a part of my evening routine. Even after cleaning, these pads are still able to pick up some residue. My skin always feels fresh and clean afterwards.Neutral: The pads have a mild, fruity scent. I like it but those with sensitivity to fragrances might want to reconsider.Cons: The pads themselves are a bit flimsy in that they are thin with a smooth surface (see pic). So this is more of a chemical exfoliation than a physical one.Overall: I really like these pads - great ingredients with excellent results! I will be sad if they are discontinued =(

On advice from Reddit's sub skincareaddiction, I ordered this, along Cerave's Hydrating Cleanser, and Cerave's Moisturizing Cream in the tub.Keep in mind that everyone's skin is different, and so what works for me may not work for you, the reader. Also, this is my first chemical exfoliater (these pads use lactic acid, an AHA). I had used physical exfoliaters like St. Ives Acricot Scrub back in high school, but I quit when r/skincareaddiction alerted that physical exfoliaters produce micro-tears and make the skin more vulnerable to infection. So I am by no means an expert on exfoliaters; I'm just giving my skin's reaction to this new regime.My first night trying this, I didn't see much effect. This was probably because I applied moisturizer immediately after using a pad. I only exfoliated twice a week at max. Then I read further, and found one has to let the AHAs sit a while on the skin, to -- guess what -- exfoliate. The lactic acid makes the skin shed, but the acidity also prevents the skin's acid barrier from getting broken.I can feel a bit of tingling of the acids after five minutes of application. The tingling is not painful or burning for me. At most, it can itch around my eyebrows. The liquid becomes dry after 20 minutes.Last night I let the liquid sit for a full 30 minutes. Then I applied Cerave cream, and went to bed.Today at work, I COULD NOT STOP TOUCHING MY FACE. I know, I know, one shouldn't touch one's face! But I couldn't help it, I honestly don't remember a time when my skin's texture felt this... delightfully plump and squishy, I might say. I guess normal skincare marketers would use the term "supple".Some reviewers mention a strange scent from this product. I agree that there is a bit of a floral scent upon opening the container, and after application of a pad, this scent dissipates and brings along scent, similar to sour milk. It is likely just the lactic acid (which incidentally is also found in sour milk). This scent is not particularly overwhelming.Thank you, skincareaddiction!

I've only use them for a few weeks but I can already feel my skin better. Be sure to use moisturizer after to avoid dry skin and cleanser before to get the maximum off them. The only downside is that the pads are tricky to separate, you might end up using two.

Very gentle and nice but maybe a bit weak..