Chemist ConfessionsThe Specialist Blackhead Exfoliation AHA/BHA Treatment Scrub & Mask, 18% Mandelic Acid, 2% Salicylic Acid, and 5% Niacinamide, Clears Blackheads & Unclogs Pores - 1 Fl oz

Has really helped with my hyperpigmentation! Seriously blown away with this product!

I like the combination of AHA and BHA in a serum for spot treatment. I don't want to use the combination serum because it's too strong for my skin and cause peeling and too much tingling. This is great that in the instruction it implied to mix the liquid with moisturizer to prevent dryness.Liquid texture is blue gel, easy to mix with moisturizer. However its scent is so odd, smells like carton box to me.

I use Chemist Confessions The Specialist Exfoliation AHA/BHA Treatment Scrub & Mask as a SPOT TREATMENT for pesky blemishes that plague me occasionally. It seems to work, and quickly, to boot. I DO use it in conjunction with my regular skin care routine, which means cleansing and moisturizing carefully, as not to disrupt my skin more than it needs to be.The rapid change in weather always seems to make my skin go haywire, and break out. So I used this gel to treat several spots on my face, and they have cleared up much more rapidly than usual. I did put moisturizer over the gel, though, just to make sure my skin didn't flare up even more. I don't use this as a mask, though; I tend not to want my skin to dry out when the weather is getting colder. The reason I gave this three stars is that I feel for something this strong, you may need to experiment a lot with your skin's reaction. It may be quite effective for you, but using it as a mask might also make your skin increasingly sensitive. It's a difficult line to walk. I use it sparingly, and it works on tiny parts of my face. I'd say: effective, but takes some use to find out how your skin will react.

This comes in a unique triangular prism shape. It is oil free, fragrance free, has no essential oils, and vegan. I love that it gives specific percentages of the key ingredients - 18% mandelic acid, 5% niacinamide, and 2% salicylic acid.Mandelic Acid is a gentle AHA. It is a bigger molecule, so it doesn’t go through the skin as easily, making it more gentle and a little less effective than glycolic acid (because glycolic acid can go deeper into the skin than mandelic acid). Since it is a gentle AHA, it is good for people with sensitive skin. Mandelic acid is also good to help brighten the skin and lighten hyperpigmentation. Another benefit of mandelic acid is its antibacterial properties, so it helps treat acne. The one downside is that it helps improve exfoliation and lower the risk of irritation when COMBINED with glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid, but it’s probably not enough in its own. Thankfully, this product also contains salicylic acid so that’s not an issue!Niacinamide is a B vitamin. This is a superstar ingredient that helps fight aging, brighten skin, strengthen skin barrier, reduce redness and inflammation, increase hydration, etc. It really does so much! It’s a great ingredient to have in a product. It is a really restorative ingredient! It helps restore cellular energy, repair damaged DNA, and reduce effects of sun-induced UV days. It fights off internal and external stressors that can ultimately lead to deterioration or breakdown of our skin and premature signs of aging like discoloration and wrinkles. It helps reduce hyperpigmentation, Brightening the skin. It reduces redness, preserves hydration, strengthens the skin barrier, and improves synthetics of healthy fats to help your skin glow.Salicylic Acid is a BHA. It is good to fight acne, an exfoliant, and a potent anti-inflammatory. It is best known for its ability to deep clean excess oil out of pores and reduce oil production moving. Because salicylic acid keeps pores clean and unclogged, it prevents future whiteheads and blackheads from developing. It also exfoliates dead skin, and its anti-inflammatory properties make it a prime ingredient for those with psoriasis. Salicylic acid naturally occurs in willow bark, sweet birch bark, and wintergreen leaves, but synthetic versions are also used in skin care products.I like that this van be used as a scrub, mask, or just a spot treatment.It has a “signature blue color” that is “created using a blend of natural flower and sweet potato extract.”I was a little confused because the 4th product looked like what was a yellow oil or serum and said it had 1% bisabolol, 1% omega 3 and 6, and 1% vitamin E. I’m guessing they just accidentally added a product photo that goes with a different product.I have been mostly using this product as a spot treatment on acne. It does seem to help the acne go away quicker and it didn’t dry out the area either. I also used it as a mask a few times. It really smoothed my skin and made the skin feel really nice after using it.Overall, I think this is a great product. I love you know the exact percentages of the key ingredients, it has great key ingredients working together, it makes the skin look smooth and refreshed. I think this is a really great product and definitely recommend!

I wish the description would have mentioned that you need to protect your skin from the sun when using this. I would not have gotten it. I don't use retinol for that same reason. I do watch myself when I am outdoors, but I don't like to use products that sensitize the skin so much that a warning needs to be given advising of sun damage when using it.I know that AHAs and BHAs can cause sensitivity to the skin. But I only recognized the salicylic acid as a BHA. I thought that at only a 2% concentration, it would be okay, and not cause a warning. Maybe one of the other ingredients is an AHA or a BHA?

I’ve battled acne for years and have been needing something to help make my breakouts go away while lightening the dark spots. This does JUST THAT! I usually use it as a spot treatment but I will sometimes use it as a 10 min mask if my skin is particularly acneic. Overall, 10/10 product. Thanks ladies!