early review :: Vivant Mandelic Acid 15% - pore tightening!
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free skin care · Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:44 am

Okay just received this the other day and this is my second day trying it. I think I immediately noticed the tightening of the pores, but it kind of made my skin dry...or is it that my face just tightened up completely. I use it on my cheeks, nose a little on the forehead and the bridge of my nose.

I don't think it irritates my skin, from a previous post I'm concerned with peeling is this common?

free skin care · Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:49 am

Peeling could happen due to the drying nature. I'd ease off a bit and try an every other day application.

free skin care · Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:04 am

Gotcha...thanks! Very Happy

free skin care · Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:30 pm

Theresa, I haven't been getting notifications from this thread for some reason, so I'm sorry I never replied back to you.

I'll definitiely get to it soon!

Kathleen

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:13 am

I have used skincarecentral 10% Mandelic acid about 3-4 times alternating with Active Serum. My pores are smaller but I did not have the gunk coming out of my pores as others have experienced. My pores do look cleaner ie less blackheads. If only the smell was not so strong.

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:44 am

scalawaggirl wrote:

Hi, Kathleen. It's really just the smell. I'm not normally bothered by that but for some reason, it strikes me as weird. Not a biggie, though. Smile

That was Theresa writing about the smell. Smile

I want to see what you mean to see if it can be fixed. I always say: I appreciate all feedback, good and bad!

I do notice the organic alcohol smells stronger than SD alcohol, but I only notice it in my new BHA products. I will have to put a note up that organic alcohol smells strong.

Kathleen

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:16 am

If you had the chance to try both Vivant and GOW Mandelic, did you get the same results?

TIA!

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:22 am

Hi Kathleen!

Actually I was asking scalawag why she preferred the Vivant and since I knew she didn't care for the smell of your Mandelic Acid I was wondering if that was the only reason that she preferred the Vivant.

I do notice a smell with your product but for some reason it does not bother me at all! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I am using the 10% and not the 15% but I have also tried the 15% and the smell of that one did not bother me either. On the plus side the product is very "clean" so I don't feel that I have to rinse it off afterwards like the MaMa lotion.

It has been 6 weeks since I have been using the mandelic on a regular basis (2 weeks MaMa and 4 weeks 10% mandelic) and I will probably quit using it shortly unless I see a sudden improvement. My blackheads are gone and my pores in general look very clean however I am not sure if this is due entirely to the mandelic. I also stopped the ISC Proheal 6 weeks ago and think that the Proheal as well as a cleanser that I was using were causing the blackheads in the first place. My whiteheads/milia have not improved at all and my acne is worse. I did switch to SkinMedica C serum a few days ago and hope that my skin will be able to tolerate this better than the ISC 15% C which was too drying. I think that the mandelic is also too drying even though it only contains 2% alcohol. I don't think my face likes being exposed to very dry air for the 30 minutes that I wait for the mandelic to work. Perhaps the MaMa lotion is better in this way because it contains ingredients that keep moisture in my skin but then again I feel that I have to rinse that off which is also drying. I am beginning to think that my skin just does not like regular AHA use (I have only been using the mandelic 3 times a week) regardless of the type of AHA. I will see how my skin looks next week but am leaning towards occaional use of mild enzyme peels and cleansers. And perhaps once a month fruit or lactic acid peels.

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:22 am

tidieu wrote:

If you had the chance to try both Vivant and GOW Mandelic, did you get the same results?

TIA!

I pretty much had the same results. I notice my skin seems dryer with the GOW, but I think it's mostly the climate change.

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:30 am

Ninetynine wrote:

I have used skincarecentral 10% Mandelic acid about 3-4 times alternating with Active Serum. My pores are smaller but I did not have the gunk coming out of my pores as others have experienced. My pores do look cleaner ie less blackheads. If only the smell was not so strong.

Is gunk suppose to come out from the pores? I haven't experienced this either but I've only been using this for about 2 weeks now and not too regularly because my laziness is getting to the best of me. It does seem that my pores are smaller though and cleaner, especially on my insides of my cheeks by the nose.

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:49 am

Theresa and Sushi,

The mandelic can be drying because of its strength. Even the MaMa lotion cautions to start off only twice a week due to possible dryness and peelies. I believe any strong AHA has this potential. I do understand about the wait time, too, and leaving your skin exposed for such a long period of time.

It could very well be the climate change for sushi, though, too. I know my face changes with the seasons.

Theresa,

If you aren't seeing improvement, then yes, there is no reason to continue. No product works for everyone, of course, unfortunately. Sad

For your specific skin concerns, my acid of choice is actually salicylic acid. But this, of course, can also be drying as it penetrates the pores and oil. The good news is that with the stronger 5%, one need not necessarily wait 30 minutes. Yes, you certainly can and it will work for up to 30 minutes, but you can leave it on as briefly as only 5 minutes and still get good results. I have been advised on this method by estheticians whom I respect and I find it personally works for me as well with even this short a wait time.

But you may dislike the alcohol smell in this one even more, although the alcohol is NOT stronger or more irritating in this product. There is just more of it to smell. Razz

As a final option, I will have Diacneal in a few days, which is marketed for acne, although I find it works well for overall skin rejuvination and has studies to back up it's efficacy as compared to Retin A, atlhough it is virtually non-irritating. I have used it and can vouch for that personally.

HTH,
Kathleen

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:58 am

Kathleen,
Salicylic is a big NO for me. It really irritates my skin for some reason.

I actually have been considering using one of the Avene retinaldehyde products. I currently use Differin every night (I skip it when my skin is feeling irritated) and was thinking of alternating Differin one night and .1% retinaldehyde the next night. I actually would like to try the Diacneal versus one of the other products but worry about the glycolic. But then again like you said it is formulated to be non-irritating. Do you have any clue what the pH of the Diacneal is?
Theresa

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:16 am

TheresaL wrote:

I actually would like to try the Diacneal versus one of the other products but worry about the glycolic. But then again like you said it is formulated to be non-irritating.
Theresa

not that i'm ever right about your skin Laughing

but i would so stay away from this or be very wary of it because of the glycolics. i personally love the stuff, but you, well.... just be careful!

Kathleen -- you mentioned the 5% salicylic acid and the possibility of only a five minute wait. are you saying that you can put it on, then wash it off and still have it be effective? would you be able to do this and then follow with Diacneal?

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:06 pm

la vie en rose wrote:

TheresaL wrote:

I actually would like to try the Diacneal versus one of the other products but worry about the glycolic. But then again like you said it is formulated to be non-irritating.
Theresa

not that i'm ever right about your skin Laughing

but i would so stay away from this or be very wary of it because of the glycolics. i personally love the stuff, but you, well.... just be careful!

Kathleen -- you mentioned the 5% salicylic acid and the possibility of only a five minute wait. are you saying that you can put it on, then wash it off and still have it be effective? would you be able to do this and then follow with Diacneal?

I am still checking on the pH on this product, but I belive it is in the 4-5 range. So the glycolic won't be toooo active. I think it's mostly added as a penetration enhancer and apparently it works. But yes, you're correct that if someone is sensitive to any AHA, then they would be best to avoid Diacneal.

And yes, you could rinse the 5% BHA off after 5 -10 minutes. It will still work. Obviously, the longer one can leave it on, it is going to keep working. Many can leave it on a full 1/2 hour, but it's very strong. I was using it twice a day and only leaving it on 5 minutes. Other company in particular that I highly respect and trust, and whic also sells a similar BHA product, gives directions of applying for 5-8 minutes, then rinsing.

There is a benefit to leaving it on and just applying a higher pH product over it to neutralize it. The benefit is that BHA is naturally anti-inflammatory.

Another benefit of leaving it on is that it would help draw the Diacneal into the pores. Some docs even have their patients use BHA before Retin A.

Diacneal would neturalize the 5% BHA, but not completely. The BHA would still keep working to SOME degree even in the pH level of 4-5. But it would not be that significant of an exfoliation at that pH.

The 5% BHA is a toner-like texture, like water, so the texture is not a problem in determining whether to leave on or rinse off. But if you wanted to make 100% you had no BHA action going on, yes, you could rinse off after 5-8 minutes and you would still see benefits from the product. Because 5% BHA is quite strong, that may be all that some people can tolerate.

I hope this answers your questions. Smile

Kathleen

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:20 pm

thank you, Kathleen. i definitely want to get some! nothing is quite as good at clearing my face as that. it's nice to know that i have the option of short-term therapy if my face can't take the Diacneal on top.

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:35 pm

ariesxtreme wrote:

Ninetynine wrote:

I have used skincarecentral 10% Mandelic acid about 3-4 times alternating with Active Serum. My pores are smaller but I did not have the gunk coming out of my pores as others have experienced. My pores do look cleaner ie less blackheads. If only the smell was not so strong.

Is gunk suppose to come out from the pores? I haven't experienced this either but I've only been using this for about 2 weeks now and not too regularly because my laziness is getting to the best of me. It does seem that my pores are smaller though and cleaner, especially on my insides of my cheeks by the nose.

Not really. I think someone mentioned it earlier in the thread, I forget who it is but Kathleen confirmed that it is not usual.

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:42 pm

I was hoping that it would get the gunk out of the pores. I am looking for something that could get rid of the blackheads and the gunk.

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:12 pm

tidieu wrote:

I was hoping that it would get the gunk out of the pores. I am looking for something that could get rid of the blackheads and the gunk.

BHA will get gunk out of your pores, but it doesn't push it out. It eats away at it. So you wouldn't normally see blackheads being pushed out. They would just gradually disappear.

Does that make sense?

Now retinoids will push the "gunk" out and I've seen stuff literally coming right out of my nose pores. Razz

Kathleen

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:18 pm

Thanks Kathleen!

What retinoids did you use that pushed the gunk out?

Could you recommend a routine with products that help get rid of blackheads and clear out the gunk?

Thanks.

tidieu

free skin care · Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:49 pm

It was prescription Retin A .1%

Kathleen

free skin care · Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:50 am

Thanks Kathleen!

If I use Retin-A, do I still need to use BHA?

free skin care · Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:28 am

That's a personal choice up to you. Retin A often makes your skin so sensitive that you wouldn't be able to use BHA if you wanted to, at least not for a while.

Some people are able to use both, but with caution, paying attention to your skin and watching out for any irritation. For those who can tolerate it, it's a great adjunct product and does help the Retin A to penetrate better. But I would stick to a 2% product in this scenario.

Many people use SOME sort of acid with Retin A, at least as a weekly thing or as needed, to get rid of the flakes that often comes with Retin A use. But that wouldn't have to be BHA. You could just use something more gentle, like lactic acid. Or a cleanser with AHAs in it to get the dead skin off your face. But again, have another cleanser on hand in case your skin gets too sensitive.

HTH,
Kathleen

free skin care · Thu Nov 02, 2006 5:54 pm

Where can you purchase this? I don't think it's available in Australia.

I've tried the Rhonda ALlison Mandelic serum but I wasn't too impressed with this one. Anyone can give me any feedback on how the two compares? Thanks very much. Smile

free skin care · Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:42 pm

TheresaL wrote:

I actually have been considering using one of the Avene retinaldehyde products. I currently use Differin every night (I skip it when my skin is feeling irritated) and was thinking of alternating Differin one night and .1% retinaldehyde the next night. I actually would like to try the Diacneal versus one of the other products but worry about the glycolic. But then again like you said it is formulated to be non-irritating. Theresa

Hi Theresa,

Have you considered other retinaldehyde without the glycolic? I just ordered retrinal 0.1 and will be trying it out next week. I am sick of the constant flaking from my rx retinoid. Will see what happens...fingers crossed!

I have had 2 bad dermatitis flareup in October. Don't know if it was from the weather change, stress, or the mandelic acid.

Do keep us posted if you decide to try the diacneal.

Kathleen,

The 5% bha is still working for me Very Happy

free skin care · Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:37 am

Hi mtview!

I've missed you. The other board wouldn't let me PM you for some reason. Sad

I'm glad you like the 5% BHA. It's good stuff, eh? Very Happy

I think I've been using it for a couple years now.

The reason I've never tried the other retinalhyde products (Ystheal) is because the gel had mineral oil listed as one of the primary ingredients and the creams looked like they would break me out, too. Crying or Very sad

I know mineral is not "supposed" to comedogenic, but it sure as heck breaks me out every time. So I was scared to try Ystheal, although I know tons of people love it.

Kathleen

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