Skinceuticals • Retexturing Activator • Treatments

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brianah93 on 2/20/2013 11:27:00 PM more reviews by brianah93

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium Brown   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

Let me start by saying that i have combination skin..oily spots(t-zone*especially my nose* my chin, eyelids) and dry patches galore...quite annoying..i live in Miami where it is humid around the clock and hot also. reg. Moisturizers leave me too oily...moisturizers recommended for dry skin are not enough..THIS STUFF IS AMAZING...the glycolic acid is not as abrassive as a reg. glycolic acid peel...it exfoliates gradually..leaving u with new layers of bright and youthful skin. the moisturizing qualities of this is amazing...u will gradually see urself skipping a moisturizer period even though this isnt marketed to be one. IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN AND STILL WANT TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF HAVING MOISTURIZED AND GENTLY EXFOLIATED SKIN..try using this only during the nights and during ur down time..even though my skin is combination...if i wear this alone without a primer it looks like i have pools of oil on my face on some days and on others i have a dewy, glowing look..but i always try to wear primer just in case...anything could happen..if u have a night time and day time routine..try this in ur night time routine and wake up with beautiful, moisturized, firm, uplifted skin *lol i sound like a commercial*


P.S. THIS PRODUCT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY! IT IS HIGHLY CONCENTRATED. IF UR SKIN FEELS STICKY, OR FEELS STIFF TO THE TOUCH ITS BECAUSE YOU'VE USED TOO MUCH PRODUCT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT 3-5 DROPS BE USED FOR FACE AND DÉCOLLETÉ ALONE..THIS IS NOTHING TO SLATHER ON..YOU WOULD BE WASTING PRODUCT. I MYSELF USE 2-3 DROPS ON MY FACE ALONE!
CIAO!

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chrissyo on 12/1/2012 12:18:00 AM more reviews by chrissyo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

My aesthetician recommended I try this in April. Trusting her judgement, I ordered a sample-sized bottle on eBay. My skin felt smoother and better hydrated, so I ordered a full bottle after going through sample (2-3 weeks). My skin continues to love the serum, and I've actually stopped using my moisturizer (I use this + La Roche-Posay sunscreen).

Because the product is a little pricey, I procrastinated in ordering a second bottle when the first ran out (5ish months). I was out for a week before the new bottle arrived, and my skin texture and clarity was noticeably worse when I stopped using it. I will ensure that doesn't happen again!

Incidentally, I recently discovered my sister uses the same serum. Her skin is naturally less sensitive and acne prone than mine, but she also raves about how well this serum works for her.

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MarJH on 11/28/2012 9:15:00 PM more reviews by MarJH

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I have only been using this for a week and luckily I only purchased the trial size on amazon for $27. I have oily acne prone skin and this has made my skin sticky and more oily. I have tried it at night and it is not so bad but I cannot use it during the day. I haven't noticed any changes in my skin. I'm not seeing hype.

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tigergirly on 11/27/2012 8:16:00 AM more reviews by tigergirly

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Sadly, this caused significant breakouts to the point of scarring on my cheeks. The cysts stopped as soon as I discontinued using this, but they are taking a long time to heal. For a professional person in their 30s (well for anyone, for that matter), whitehead cysts that leave scars are humiliating and distressing. This was also a very expensive product. Another unfortunate fail for Skinceuticals, it does not seem to be designed for sensitive skin. For example, the night cream for oily skin and the Equalizing Toner are formulated with orange oil, which causes severe breakouts for me. Too bad!

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shmoodley on 11/6/2012 12:01:00 PM more reviews by shmoodley

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff amazes me. I've never experienced anything even close to it. When they mentioned it has the same effect as 20% glycolic acid, I was concerned that it might sting my skin like other products. However, this product almost has an oily/silicone type texture even though it's an oil free product. It goes on very smoothly. Only a couple of drops are needed so this product will last a very long time. In the morning my skin looks dewey and hydrated. Almost as if I was in a sauna. It also does not break my skin out. My makeup goes on flawless in the morning which is a bonus. Really great stuff. It truely is something I've never seen in the market before.

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crawfore on 10/27/2012 8:17:00 PM more reviews by crawfore

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Another fantastic product by Skinceuticals. I use this at night, sometimes alone because it lightly hydrates and sometimes with one of the Skinceutical moisturizers if my skin feels dry. It doesn't irritate at all and appears to do the same thing as Retin A or Glycolic acid - exfoliate and renew the skin. It also seems to help with breakouts. Great product.

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JamaicanWhitie on 9/24/2012 8:59:00 PM more reviews by JamaicanWhitie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I LOVE this serum! It claims to be equivalent to a 20% daily gylcolic treatment. Whoever is saying this has glycolic in it needs to do their research. Anyways, this exfoliates my skin without causing any sort of irritation or side effects, which is saying something because my skin is insanely sensitive. It cannot handle anything, but I can honestly say this is gentle enough not to cause any problems. I have been using it for the past 2 months and my skin feels so smooth and hydrated. I also feel that it helps in my makeup to look smoother and my flakes are less noticeable too whenever I use this. I definitely recommend this serum to anyone who is looking for a chemical exfoliater who cant handle the harshness of physical scrubs.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Ediemackay on 3/20/2012 10:06:00 AM more reviews by Ediemackay

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using Tazorac for two years and have experienced red peeling skin for two years. My dermatologist recommended I use the skin ceuticals retexturizing activator. I use it in the morning after washing my face and then I apply sunscreen and makeup. Mafter three weeks my skin is very smooth and healthy looking. The product does make your face peel but after using the clarisonic the dry skins removed completely. I am 62 years old and I have been taking good care of my skin for years and have used many expensive and inexpensive products. I have had such good results I will continue to use this product. I believe the price is consistent with the good results.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

monty713 on 1/27/2012 7:09:00 AM more reviews by monty713

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Love this! Not sure how others are getting a "tacky" feeling. I was told to use moisturizer on top but no need, it does it all. I feel radiant!

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AlexAlexAlex on 12/12/2011 9:20:00 PM more reviews by AlexAlexAlex

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

First, I have fickle skin. It is dry, it flakes, it doesn't like products and the texture has always been blah. Some light scarring marks, etc. This stuff made an ENORMOUS difference in my skin. It was recommended to me my my esthctian after I told her my general concerns-- dull complexion, dryness, etc. Every other kind of "re-texturizer" I've tried, be it prescriptions or OTC retinol, the product either FRIED me, or did nothing. (I had what was basically a chemical burn on my face for three weeks after using Tazorac for some light scarring). The re-texturizing activator makes my skin brighter, more moisturized, more even and all around glowy. Somehow it manages to exfoliate and resurface, which is exactly what I need.

Yes, it is expensive. I go through a bottle every three months. I'm about two months into my second bottle. But I think it is worth it. For example, I've never been able to use foundation before as it sat on my face and exacerbated the dry patches and unevenness. I bought my first bottle of foundation today. I feel like I'm 16....

Anyway, This product truly is the holy grail for me.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

crazygirlpink on 2/10/2011 10:12:00 AM more reviews by crazygirlpink

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm a fan of the Intense Line Defense, which is now being replaced by the Retexturing Activator. I have been using RA for the past month and seen little difference. However what annoys me the most with this new product is how it leaves my skin very sticky for the whole night, I'd wake up feeling as if I've got a film of oil on my face, which has never happened with the Intense Line Defense. It's better during the day as I do wear foundation and powder, which helps reduce the stickiness. On a more positive note, the exfoliating factor does not result in peeling or dryness (probably because of the stickiness!).

It is an expensive product, but as I find it very sticky I only use 2-3 drops instead of the 4-6 (as recommended).

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mayyami on 1/18/2011 4:24:00 AM more reviews by mayyami

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I didn't really see any visible results from this product.

I received a sample from a beautician. It's light and watery so absorbs okay in the skin. I use a few drops after cleansing at night and I feel it hydrates my skin enough not to use any cream on top. It does leave a bit of a sticky feeling but I'm not fussed since I'm only going to bed after.

This was given to me to reduce congestion on my face. However, since using it, I have had a few small breakouts. So, I don't think it really helped in that sense.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

meztli on 12/17/2010 1:17:00 AM more reviews by meztli

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Well, it has been about one week since I started to use this product. I must say that my skin is too sensitive & acne-prone. I have large visible pores and recently I realised that they also started to seem loose because of the moisture loss. It is really expensive, but as far as I see, it is worth every penny. No clogging the pores, no break-outs and no flakes of exfoliation, but it still regenerates my skin. The results were immediate and my pores are at least twice smaller than they were. My skin looks smooth and radiant, everyone noticing the difference.
You must use a moisturizer (preferably with UV defense, since it makes your skin more vulnerable to the sun damage) after applying this serum, which makes your skin hold more of the moisture than it normally does.
PRO's: immediate result of bright & smooth complex, gentle exfoliation and also moisturizing effect. no flakes, no stinging, no clogged pores, no comedones (I normally have a lot of them, which is by itself a reason to buy this product) and my overall skin looks brighter, smoother and radiant
CON's: I use about 4-5 drops at once, which leaves a sticky surface on my skin. but that's OK, I apply 30 SPF Priori AHA moisturizer after that and the sticky feeling is gone. The packaging is really bad, everytime I use it, I am afraid of knocking over the whole bottle - so use it carefully. It is really expensive, but I think it does what it promises without making you wait for ages. don't hope that the mimic lines will disappear, if you want such a thing you can use some retinol serum instead. but who knows? maybe the deep mimic lines on my forehead will get smoother as the time goes by, I will update this post later due to the developments.
Will I buy it again? Definitely yes, but not in the sunny seasons - my skin is too vulnerable to have sun spots already, and I dont want to risk it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* saphiric on 12/5/2010 2:58:00 AM more reviews by saphiric

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red, Medium   Eyes: Other    

HG exfoliator! This is truly the only exfoliating product I would dare put on my face. I used to be in love with traditional AHA and BHA (especially the Alpha Hydrox 12% glycolic acid souffle) But half a year ago I had an unfortunate mishap with an extra strong glycolic acid peel that left my skin thin and damaged and now completely unreceptive to any AHAs, BHAs, or even vitamin C.

At the time of purchasing this, my skin was massively congested and filled with closed comedones (unraised whiteheads, bumps, all of that); basically a grapefruit texture: Not pretty. If I had tried to exfoliate, I would only break out even worse. So that was my rut. Luckily, since I had very good luck with Skinceuticals's other products (the phyto corrective gel and pigment regulator) I decided to give this a shot since the description mentioned that this hydrates WHILE exfoliating.

And wow, 3 months later, my skin is 90% blemish free and smoother than I've ever had since before puberty. If I was stuck on a desserted island, this would be the one skincare product I would bring along (lol, pretty unrealistic of course, but to demonstrate how vital this exfoliator is to my routine).

I can no longer use chemical or physical exfoliators and must throw away all of my beloved AHA products and microdermabrasion of the past. But! This one products works brilliantly for me. My skin is exfoliated but is not red, dry, and most importantly: it's not irritated.

The price is sky-high but Skinceuticals is a higher end line, so that's expected. I will continue to repurchase this again and again!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

canterburytale on 4/30/2010 1:56:00 PM more reviews by canterburytale

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have used many alpha and beta hydroxy acid products and was excited to try this one as I'm a huge fan of SC. To me it felt tacky on my skin and it didn't seem to absorb well. I didn't notice a big difference in the texture of my skin and ultimately it was a blah product for me. I've been using it on my neck and decolletage before bed as I don't want to throw it out. Through out the following day, this area feels tacky and a bit sticky. Oh well. I use SC Intense Line Defense on my face and I love it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ming223 on 4/23/2010 10:34:00 AM more reviews by ming223

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This product does what it says: exfoliate and hydrate in one step. After one week of usage, my skin feels glowy, supple, clarified and brightened. It does not create any breakouts for me or blockage. Which is a big plus since I have very sensitive skin that react adversely to unsuitable skincare products.
If you put it on at night, you would wake up to brightened and hydrated skin. I put it on in the morning too, it goes well under foundations.
Since I have combination to oily skin I do not use any other moisturizers afterwards. I find the retexturing activator hydrating enough on its own.

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nb77 on 11/16/2009 12:36:00 PM more reviews by nb77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I have happily used Skinceuticals B5 gel for some time, but when my last bottle ran out I decided to give this a try since it claims to hydrate as well as improve skin texture. I bought a small tester size bottle on ebay and I have been using it in place of the B5 gel in the morning - after toner, before applying sunscreen. So far I am very happy with this product. My skin is still very moist but right away I thought that it felt smoother. Also, uneven texture and fine lines on my forehead are less noticeable now. I think that I will be purchasing this instead of the B5 gel in the future.

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im2gd24gt on 10/27/2009 10:19:00 AM more reviews by im2gd24gt

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

I am loving this product. The thing I love most about it, NO down time. I don't have to wait 20 minutes and wash it off, and I don't find it to be drying. It is helping to dry up any little nasty blackheads that were hiding. Yes its pricey, but not as expensive as Natura Bisse Extreme that I have been using. Put this on at night on clean skin, and wake up to a happy face.

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sftrish22 on 10/23/2009 4:25:00 PM more reviews by sftrish22

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This product is moisturizing as it is in a base of hyaluronic acid; however, I did not find it to help with the texture or pore-size of my skin. I've always had better results with retinols or, better yet, Retin-A. Save your money and get a prescription for Retin-A. You get more visible results for the money. As for hydration, the B5 Gel by Skinceuticals is a good bet.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Aseretmarie on 9/13/2009 10:31:00 PM more reviews by Aseretmarie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I LOVE this new product. It's a serum that exfoliates and hydrates both in one step. I use it at night under either the AGE Interupter or the Renew night cream. It's very light and absorbs quickly into your skin. Usually when I exfoliate after so many days I end up dryed out and have to use a moisture mask to bring the balance back. I've been using this for over a month and I haven't had one flake! I really feel like my skin looks smoother and softer since I've been using it. It's price isn't that bad either - it retails for $70.00.
My skin is very dry, but since it's oil free and really light I think any skin type could use it. If you tend to be sensitive to retinoids its definitely worth a try.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No