This Viral Skin Care Brand Just Launched A New Toner To Rival Its Cult-Favorite Serum

You may already be familiar with TruSkin, the Amazon-viral skin care brand whose best-selling vitamin C serum boasts nearly 100,000 five-star ratings. Now, they’ve launched a liquid exfoliant to rival (or complement, depending on how you look at it) their hero product: say hello to the TruSkin AHA/BHA/PHA Liquid Exfoliant.

Ideal for preventing breakouts, fading unwanted hyperpigmentation, and simply promoting a clearer, glowier complexion, the formula contains a blend of chemical exfoliants and soothing plant extracts to effectively loosen dead skin cells and debris without disrupting your skin’s pH balance. Ahead, learn more about how it works, how much it costs, and where to try it.

The Science Behind The Product

The star ingredients of TruSkin’s AHA/BHA/PHA Liquid Exfoliant are right in its name: an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), and a polyhydroxy acid (PHA). Combined, the chemical exfoliants make up up a 6% concentration, with each one included for a specific reason. The AHA glycolic acid helps to improve the overall tone and texture of your skin, but it’s also a dermatologist-favorite for boosting collagen and elastin production. Then, there’s the BHA salicylic acid, which helps to keep pores clear of the buildup of breakout-causing dead skin cells and sebum. And finally, the PHA gluconolactone has been included to work similarly to glycolic acid in improving the skin’s radiance and stimulating collagen production.

Chemical exfoliants can lead to redness and dryness, especially when overused (or if you have dry, sensitive skin), which is why TruSkin added glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and skin-soothing mushroom extract to the formula. For more brightening benefits, the brand included its hero ingredient, vitamin C, while turmeric root extract pulls double duty by brightening unwanted hyperpigmentation and also calming the skin with its anti-inflammatory properties.

In keeping with TruSkin’s commitment to using plant-based formulations, the brand is also intentional about the ingredients that it bans from its products. In addition to being vegan and cruelty-free, the exfoliant is also made without potential irritants like synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

How To Use It (Safely)

Before getting into the specifics, let’s get a few general rules out of the way. Because of the potency of chemical exfoliants, you should always perform a patch test on a small area of skin at least 24 hours before fully applying the product to your face. Whether you apply the liquid exfoliant in the morning or at night, you’ll always want to be sure that you’re using an SPF of at least 30 every morning, as chemical exfoliants can make your skin more vulnerable to sun damage.

As for how often you use the liquid exfoliant (or any type of chemical exfoliant for that matter), that largely varies from person to person. But regardless of skin type, you’ll want to start off slow, incorporating TruSkin’s liquid exfoliant into your routine just once weekly to see how your skin tolerates the active ingredients, and gradually increasing the frequency of use up to three times a week (generally, three times per week is the goal if you have oily skin, two times per week if you have in-between skin, and once weekly if you have dry or sensitive skin).

With TruSkin’s liquid exfoliant specifically, you’ll want to apply it right after cleansing and drying your face, using your fingers or a cotton pad to pat the exfoliant over your face and neck. You’re not meant to rinse the exfoliant after applying it, and you can immediately follow up with your favorite serum and moisturizer.