It’s taken me way too long to try Pixi Beauty products. I am way behind, I know. But! I bought the Peel & Polish a while ago, since this year I’m working more on incorporating chemical exfoliants. There are so many different options, but I’ve heard amazing things about Pixi and I wanted to try something I hadn’t heard about from them. (Don’t worry, the famous Glow Tonic is still on my list to try.)
For the past two weeks I’ve been testing this out, so that I gave it enough time to work and give you the best try that I could. Want to see the final verdict? Let’s go.
About Pixi Beauty Peel & Polish
According to Pixi Beauty, this is a “radiance revealing enzyme peel”, with results including “smoother, softer skin, and a healthy looking glow”. The fruit enzymes are supposed to help remove dead skin cells, lactic acid is the main exfoliator, cellulose is the peeling agent, and sugar acts as the polish. It is paraben free, and suitable for all skin types. Lactic acid is very high on the ingredient list, and extracts inluded are ginseng, witch hazel, papaya, cucumber, orange, and lemon.
This can be used 2-3 times a week, morning or night. To use, you apply it to your face and neck, leave for two minutes, rinse off, and pat dry. If you would like, you can massage it into your skin in circular motions for a more intense exfoliation.
What really drew me to the Peel & Polish was the use of lactic acid as the chemical exfoliant. I’ve used glycolic acid, as well as AHA and BHA, but not lactic (which is a subtype of AHAs). Lactic acid has a higher molecular weight than glycolic, and is more moisturizing. It breaks down the adhesion between dead cells, but does not penetrate too deeply into the skin and pores. I get a lot of clogged pores, so I wanted a product to remove the build up of dead cells.
Lactic acid is great to look into if you have dry or sensitive skin, as it is more moisturizing but not overly harsh. It also, reportedly, does not leave you as sensitive to sun damage. However, I would recommend always using an SPF.
My Results
To properly test the Peel & Polish, I used it as directed every other day- about three times a week- for two weeks with no other exfoliants, physical or chemical such as a sugar scrub or retinoids. I applied it to my face after cleansing and drying, before toner, and massaged it into my skin. Using circular motions, it turned into an almost white paste on my skin. As directed, I let it sit for two minutes before gently washing it off and moving on with the rest of my routine.
This treatment feels very gritty, but not uncomfortably so, and it takes a little effort to make sure it is washed off completely. Nor did I experience any tingling. To be cautious, I did not use it in the morning, and always applied SPF. There was no irritation, and I never felt as if I was overworking my skin. Considering that this is a peel, I’m thrilled that I didn’t have any adverse reactions, and I definitely feel this is a gentle enough peel that those with more sensitive skin can consider.
Overall, I’m honestly thrilled with the results. My acne is not 100% gone, but I do feel that this helped control stubborn breakouts. I can see visible differences in overall tone and texture of my skin. As you can see, my skin isn’t as red, and looks much healthier. Something that I’m not used to seeing is that my skin actually looks glowy! In person, I do see a positive difference in clogged pores, as well as in visibility of my pores. I had no adverse effects while using this product.
Final thoughts
I absolutely recommend trying the Pixi Beauty Peel & Polish, as I felt it was a gentle chemical and physical exfoliator that improved several aspects of my skin, along with controlling and more rapidly healing stubborn breakouts. At Target, it costs $24.49, which is not overly expensive for a chemical exfoliator. Considering the recommended frequency of use, I feel this would last at least a couple months if not longer. It took about a nickel sized amount to cover my face and neck, so it definitely stretches.
If you’re new to chemical exfoliation, I especially recommend this, as it is gentle and did not irritate my problematic skin. Please keep in mind I don’t have any allergies (other than my cat), nor is my skin especially sensitive.
Want to check it out? You can find it here!
Have you tried anything from Pixi? What’s your favorite product?