Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel

I’ve used various different products from the Peter Thomas Roth range for quite a few years now, and have been happy with almost everything I’ve tried from the brand. I’m a big fan of PTR Botanical Buffing Beads and Oil free moisturiser, and I always have a bottle of Acne Clearing Gel to help dry up blemishes and unclog pores. Recently, when on the hunt for a chemical exfoliant to help fade acne scarring without drying my skin, I stumbled upon Peter Thomas Roth’s Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel and after reading reviews, I decided to give it a go. 

The Peter Thomas Roth description: A lightweight gel with anti-oxidants, glycolic acid and advanced cell renewal action to increase cell turn-over and help diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. 

Supplies lost moisture, anti-oxidants, and glycolic acid to aging and sun-damaged skin. Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging while clarifying the skin and smoothing out rough texture. 

Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel

Fine lines and wrinkles are not a big concern for me at the moment, but rough texture and acne scarring are, and I’m pleased to report that PTR Hydrating gel has worked well in both of those areas.

The clear gel, which looks almost identical to the brands Acne Clearing Gel is supposed to be applied every other night for the first two weeks, then every night after that. I’ve used similar glycolic products in the past, and although my skin isn’t particularly sensitive, I know it’s a good idea to follow instructions to avoid any major irritation. I did get a tiny amount of irritation the first few times I applied the product (some minor redness and stinging), but nothing major.

The gel is fairly thin/watery in consistency and one pump is enough to cover my face in a thin layer of product. It spreads well, but takes a little while to absorb. It sort of sits on top of skin for a good ten minutes after it’s been applied, before disappearing completely. It feels nice and light-weight, leaves no residue behind after it’s absorbed, and provides just enough hydration for my oily skin type. I’m not sure if it would be moisturising enough for normal and drier skins, but the instructions do say you can follow up with moisturiser/other treatments after the gel has sunk in.

Since I started using the gel I’ve noticed quite a big improvement in the texture of my skin. It feels softer/smoother, pores look less obvious, and foundation applies much better. I’d just finished dealing with a pretty bad break out before I started using this, too, and had a lot of marks/scarring left on my skin.The gel has really helped to fade them over the last few months and also helps to prevent any major scarring/purple marks from fresh break outs.

Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Gel and a couple of other skincare products, I'm currently liking

Overall, I’m pleased with the results I’m seeing with the gel, and used in conjunction with a few other products, I’m managing to keep blemishes under control. I still get spots, but they seem to be healing more quickly, and I haven’t had any of those big, underground buggers for a while now. My skincare routine is fairly simple at the moment, and my skin seems to be liking it that way.

Available from Beautybay.com (£30.95 for a 57ml bottle)

Have you tried anything from the Peter Thomas Roth range?

Peter Thomas Roth Botanical buffing beads review

I'm not really a fan of gritty face scrubs because they always tend to be quite harsh and irritating on my skin. A couple of years ago I discovered chemical exfoliators, mainly glycolic acid products and these seem to work quite well for me. Without exfoliation my skin looks, dull, drab and generally a bit rubbish and I find AHAs really help me deal with the skin issues I have without damaging or tearing my skin like gritty washes do. Last year I was given a bottle of Botanical buffing beads as a Christmas present and despite not being a fan of manual exfoliants I decided to give them a go because I'm a big PTR fan.

About the product 

Botanical Buffing Beads is described as a highly effective, gentle and non abrasive scrub that is suitable for all skin types. The ingredients contain Jojoba Spheres to exfoliate and unclog pores, Aloe Vera to hydrate and Jojoba Oil to breakdown sebum/oil. What you actually get for your money is a clear 250ml, flip top lid bottle of a bright blue liquid/gel with lots of visible grainy bits. The directions on the bottle suggest that you apply the product to fingertips, add water and gently apply to face, chest and body. The label also states that buffing beads are suitable for daily use but suggests using less frequently if you experience any irritation. 

Using it

I started by using them everyday and quickly found that my skin started to dry out so now I tend to use them around once or twice a week and very gently and with very little pressure when I do because of other skin care products I'm using at the moment. I have found the beads/bits to actually be quite gentle on my skin though. They are obviously grainy but are rounded, soft and not sharp in any way like other scrubs I have used in the past. The product has a fresh, clean scent that's not too overpowering or strong and disappears quickly after using. I find an amount about the size of a five pence piece is enough to do my face and neck and the flip top lid makes it easy to dispense just the right amount of product onto fingertips. When mixed with warm water the beads partially dissolve and soften which makes the whole scrubbing action a lot kinder on skin. 

Results

My skin has been better since I added the beads into my skincare routine. My face feels less congested and generally really clean after I use these. They have also helped to smooth the appearance of my skins texture and it feels lovely and soft after using and for this reason I have been tempted to use them more often which I know from experience is not a good idea. If you do have sensitive skin and you overdo it with these they do tend to dry out your face pretty quickly so I find it's best to leave them as a treat and use them just a couple of times a week. Using them in this way also saves the product which at £22.00 is on the pricey side for a face wash.

Recommended?

Buffing beads are overall a nice product that do keep skin smooth without being over drying when used sparingly. The product is definitely one of the best scrubbing/manual exfoliation products I have come across due the gentle beads and excellent product formula and the clean feeling I get after washing with these is lovely!  

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing gel review

I first came across the Peter Thomas Roth range around 4 years ago when I was having a really hard time controlling my acne/clog prone extremely fussy skin. I tried pretty much everything I could get my hands on including benzoyl peroxide, topical prescription medications, antibiotics and entire skin care lines that cost me a small fortune. Admittedly most of the products I tried did produce positive effects but none of them actually cleared my skin completely apart from the antibiotics. I spotted PTR Acne clearing gel in a Space NK Christmas brochure and decided to give it a try.

What is AHA/BHA Acne clearing gel?

AHA/BHA acne clearing gel is a medicated oil-free blemish clearing gel for the prevention and treatment of acne. It's oil free, fragrance free and is formulated to help clear up whiteheads, acne blemishes and blackheads whilst also refining pores and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It contains 10% glycolic acid (AHA) to exfoliate dead skin cells and 2 % salicylic acid (BHA) to loosen sebum within pores. 

How to use

The product is a clear, odourless gel that's quite runny in consistency. It's supposed to be applied to thoroughly cleansed skin in a thin layer avoiding the delicate eye area. It can either be used over the entire face or applied to specific areas where blemishes and blocked pores are present. I normally apply to my whole face instead of using to spot treat since the product is also supposed to prevent blemishes as well as heal existing ones. 

Once the gel's had time to sink in which isn't long (normally a few minutes) my face feels hydrated, smooth and clean. I sometimes add a little bit of moisturiser depending on the condition of my skin but I find the gel normally hydrates my skin enough without having to add more products.

Results

After I began using the product four years ago I started to see results within the first week. There wasn't a dramatic improvement but blemishes started to dry and heal and blocked pores started to unclog, I also noticed an improvement in the amount of oil my skin was producing. After about a month of using I really started to notice a difference in the amount of new spots I was getting and also noticed a significant improvement in scarring from previous break outs and skin texture.  After a few months of continued use I really did start to see the results I wanted and I finally felt like I had my skin under control for the first time in a good few years. Instead of constant blemishes, I was getting the occasional spot that didn't last long and went away without leaving too much of a mark and my skin looked clear and even.

I've been using the product on and off for quite some time now. I occasionally stop using it and replace it with new products in case I get better results but I always end up coming back to this one. It's continued to work its magic and still keeps my face clean and clear without drying out my skin and making it red. 

Recommended?

I would recommend the gel to anyone who suffers with stubborn acne and clogged pores. It's not a miracle worker and it hasn't cured my problem but used as part of a routine with a few other products that I've discovered it really has helped me to deal with my skin issues. I've also used other products from the range and have had similar results with those too. I highly recommend the oil free moisturiser which hydrates my skin but leaves it matt and doesn't clog pores and the award winning Botanical buffing beads are also great at gently exfoliating and softening skin. 

    Does anyone use anything from the brand?