One of These Cult-Favorite Beauty Products Is Sold Every 5 Seconds—and I See Why

As someone with rosacea and ultra-sensitive skin, I usually shy away from anything with the word "acid" in it for fear it will irritate my skin. However, I've also always longed for a product that gently exfoliates my skin, since that's one of the keys to a brighter complexion, and any Google search will tell you acids are the best ingredient for sloughing away dead skin cells. So I was torn—to live with dull, uneven skin texture or to potentially cause a major skin freak-out by testing an acid. First world problems, I know, but still, the struggle is real.

So after a lot of trial and error (and I mean a lot of error), I decided to bring this problem to my esthetician Vanessa Hernandez. Without hesitation, she recommended M-61 Skincare's PowerGlow Peel Pads soaked in not one but two acids. I was shocked, trust me, but she knows my skin issues like the back of her hand and she promised me the other ingredients counteract any irritation glycolic and salicylic acid may typically cause me, and if used once a week at night I would wake up with clear, glowing skin. 

After using the pads for a few months now, I can personally attest to how gentle these are. I swipe the pre-soaked pad lightly over my face, neck, and décolletage before bed and wake up with brighter, glowing skin—with zero signs of irritation. However, I've been warned that because of my skin type these pads can and will irritate my skin if used too often, so I've stuck with my just once a week rate. If you aren't the sensitive skin type you might be fine with more frequent use, but I would consult your dermatologist or esthetician for a professional recommendation before doing so. 

I asked M-61 Skincare's founder Marla Beck why these pads can be used on ultra-sensitive skin types like mine, when most other products with glycolic or salicylic acids I've tried cause me major problems."I developed the PowerGlow Peel to be used on all skin types, even those with rosacea. I knew first hand that exfoliation—especially with glycolic acid—is one of the best catalysts for creating a glowing complexion," explains Marla. "So I blended glycolic and salicylic acid with vitamin k and calming naturals, including bilberry and chamomile, to exfoliate and soothe in the same step." The calming ingredient counteract the more aggressive acids, so someone like myself can use them at a less-frequent cadence without fear or irritation. "It’s not just my favorite, we sell one every 5 seconds," Marla added.

I think it's safe to say a beauty product has reached cult-status when one is sold every 5 seconds—if my math is correct that's over 6 million a year. So if you have sensitive skin and are looking for a gentle exfoliating product, I highly recommend the PowerGlow Peel pads. Keep scrolling to shop the pads for yourself, along with some of my other favorite products from M-61.

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Next up: 21 beauty products so good, I bought them in travel-size, too.