Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) • TCA Peel • Treatments
(193 reviews)
| Average Rating. | 4.2 |
| Would buy this product again. | 88% |
| Package Quality | 3.8 |
| Price | 2.6 |
| Ingredients | |
Mrsrhew on 4/11/2013 8:58:00 AM more reviews by Mrsrhew
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair Hair: Blond Eyes: Green
Let me start off by giving you some skin history. I have always had great skin that was only problematic once a month. That all changed after my husband, my children and myself moved to germany. I have no idea what happened. Maybe it was the stress, maybe it was the air, maybe it was lack of air conditioning in the summer, but my face freaked out! Within weeks of moving there, my perfect skin was the worst of my life. I didn't know what to do with it. It was sensitive to products designed for acne, but anything else seemed to clog my pores even more. After almost a year I found muac. I bought the 12.5 % TCA peel, but couldn't bring myself to use it. After having it for months and doing more research i decided to buy the 25% mandelic acid and 40% lactic acid. My skin is very fair, extremely ruddy, horrible hyperpigmentation, minor ice pick scars on the tops of cheeks, and extreme blackheads all over nose with a slight smattering over the rest of my face. I started with the lactic acid. It is awesome. Then i moved on the alternating the lactic and mandelic acids for about 3 weeks to a month before I finally decided to take the dive and do the TCA.
Day one:
I washed with neutrogena naturals fresh cleansing and makeup remover and used the ph prep step. I then prepared my neutralizer and set my timer. I took a q-tip and applied the 12.5% tca all over my face. The burn was awful. My face is sensitive and the lactic acid feels like sharp bug legs crawling all over my face. This was worse. I sat in front of my fan set to high, gritted my teeth and begged my husband to talk to me to try and help me get through as many minutes as i could stand. I lasted five minutes before i nuetralized. I didn't know this was going to burn so much. After neutralizing i rinsed my face with cool water and patted it dry. I then applied embryolisse lait creme concentre and went to sleep. My face was pink and slightly tender.
Day two:
I looked great. My skin was taught but not too dry, and I could see a more evenness, if thats a word.Used the same wash and moisturizer as the first day and they worked just fine.
Day three:
I look like leatherface. Horrible. Plus my skin is breaking out in a few places. Mostly there are just a few whiteheads peeking out, but i also have to deep painful pimples side by side on the top of my cheek.
Day four:
Still slightly breaking out with whiteheads, but my two painful pimples dried up all on their own and now i just have a very thick patch of red dry skin there. My skin is peeling soooo badly. I look horrible. My skin is extremely taught and dry, but i can see my new skin peeking out and it looks really great.
Day five:
Same as day four.
Day six:
Most of my peeling has subsided, everything but my forehead, which doesnt look that bad. Im hoping my face will be done peeling because this weekend is supposed to actually be nice in germany.
Overall, I am very happy I used this peel. The results from the lactc and mandelic acid were already pretty great, this is just awesome. I can't wait until I can do another. I plan to maintain this peel with my other peels and I will update after all my peeling is finished.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
toya77 on 4/5/2013 11:56:00 PM more reviews by toya77
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown
I am African American, 35 years young with VERY oily skin, I usually dont break out except for that special time of the month.............BUT
I woke up about three weeks ago with a horrible break-out, I know that I am not suppose to pick my skin but I did, three days later the zits were gone but to my dismay there were 4 dark spots, that seemed to get darker by the minute. I went online, researched, and finally ordered the 8% Tca, I was soooooooooooo excited when it arrived (it only took 3 days!!!). I closed my eyes, whispered a prayer and started the peel process. 5 minutes later it was over. I woke up the next morning and my skin was flaky, not peeling. It has only been four days since the peel and all I can say is that it works!!!!!!!!! My skin is glowing, my dark spots are about 70% faded, and my big cheek pores even look smaller. My boyfriend was so impressed that he let me give him a peel too. I am so impressed that I've had a hard time getting out of the mirror. I had heard so many bad things about tca and black skin-Not true and honey, I am a dark-skinned women (check out my profile). I am so glad that I used this wonderful produce. Awesome, 5 stars!!!!!!! p.s this is a very light peel and I believe that my skin tolorated it very well as my skin can take annnyyythhing!, I'm going to layer in 3 weeks, and post results!
>>>>>>>>> Ok I'm on my fourth TCA peel and I have to admit that my skin is looking EXCELLENT. My hyperpigmentation is diminishing and overall my pores are looking a lot less noticable. I hope that this post reaches someone who has struggled with acne all their life and has had it up to HERE! Girl, go to the derm. get some 4% or > fade cream and order yourself some retinol from MUAC. Do your TCA peels once and month and BOOOOOOOM, your going to be looking BEAUTIFUL in NO time:)
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amywauc on 3/20/2013 5:44:00 PM more reviews by amywauc
Age: 36-43 Skin: Oily, Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Hazel
Of all the peels I am very happy with this one. I started out light, with the lowest level, and then increased in strength. My skin was noticeably clearer and smoother. I am really happy with the results. My husband commented on how great my skin looked. It does burn, you peel, and have noticeable peeling and redness for a few days. Plus you MUST wear a strong sunblock to prevent sun spots.
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ladlaw on 3/1/2013 6:54:00 AM more reviews by ladlaw
Age: 56 & Over Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium Hair: Blond Eyes: Blue
The best for over 55 skin...yes the down time is a pain,DO NOT PICK.But the results....AMEN.Less discoloration,plumped up glowing skin...my friends rave at how great I look....Do yourself a favor...buy the 30....dilute to were you need to start...and do the proper glycolic/lactic prep peels.....Wear sunscreen(I did cetaphil 50 cream)...so worth it...and Cheap.I did a 200.00 glycolic peel in a derms office...no results...this was 30.00.I will get lots of peels..got lots of results..packaging is utilitarian....but I bought it for my looks...not its...
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Ailu on 12/29/2012 6:07:00 PM more reviews by Ailu
Age: 44-55 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair Hair: Red Eyes: Blue
I have used the MUAC 30% TCA full strength - once every year, for 3 years now. Before trying the 30%, I used the 12%, layering it on multiple times and had no frosting whatsoever. So I bought the 30% and tested it out in an inconspicuous place first, and was pleased with the results.
So for the past 3 years, I have been doing a full face & neck peel using the TCA 30%. I have had no hyper-pigmentation, scaring or other issues. On the contrary, most all of my acne scars have disappeared, and the fine wrinkles on my face are vastly improved. Results are not instantaneous, however. It takes about 3-4 months to completely see the results from the peel. I finally used the last of my little 1/2 ounce bottle, and I will definitely be buying another one for next year.
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*TOP REVIEWER* littlemj on 11/25/2012 1:21:00 AM more reviews by littlemj
Age: 30-35 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Brown
NC25 Chinese, mid 30s, cystic cleared up but the discolorations and years of typical acne remains. Will TCA take care of it?
I had the 8% TCA in my drawer for several months, but until my cystic acne of the past year finally cleared up (read my notepad), I didn't feel ready to do any peel if my skin was going to continually breakout. Now that my skin is more or less clear of the cystic, I have so much discolorations and acne marks since high school days to deal with. The target areas: the dark discolorations from the jawline / under the neck (thank you cystic), minimal but starting frowny lines on my forehead (thank you putting on mascara which pulls my forehead way up), and let's see if it does anything for visibly large cheek pores.
So this is my diary..
11/24/12: Crap, didn't read the instructions for all the "needed" items. Oh well it's 8%, the lowest concentration and called the "lunchtime peel" so this can't be all that bad. No Vaseline, but I do have Blistex and Chapstick. Blistex is creamier, so I applied that around the eyes, nose and mouth. Applied 1 layer, went to mix the 2 TBS baking soda w/ 1.5 cup water during the 5 min wait time, then applied 2 layer for another 5 min. Crap, I need a gentle non-textured cloth? Well I'll just splash gently with the neutralizer baking soda liquid then followed up w/ the MUAC green tea given face wash. Skin felt tight, so just applied generous loads of Acne.org moisturizer. Skin feels normal again.
11/27/12: +3 days later from 8%, very light flaking. Moisturizing with CeraVe SPF30, not because I adore it but b/c it's more moisturizing than the typical Japanese milky sunscreens I normally wear. Just wearing powder foundation, trying to avoid anything heavy duty. I will say my forehead lines seem to have reduced in appearance.. not so readily apparent. I wasn't expecting that! Read you can do the 8% 1/x week, so going to do it a few more times. Placed an order for the 12.5% to do over the Xmas holidays.
12/2/12: +1wk later, did another 8% peel. 5min x 2 layers each. Def felt more of the "burn" then from the 1st time, and my skin looks a little dry and reddish today. Staying out of the sun as much as I can. Can't wait for the 12.5% to come in.
12/15/12: With a very minimal to no peel effect from the 8.5%, i felt prepared for some bigger gunsoon to 12.5%. Definitely more of a burn, did a 2nd layer at the 5 min mark and def had some very light frosting in very small areas.. neturalized at 8min (since I did go w/ a 2nd layer w/out testing). For the past 3 days, my skin felt tight in a good way.. looks like I have a slight sunburn. Skin starting to flake lightly in a small area.
2/1/13: I had done 2 peels of the 12.5% but with very minimal flaking as well. Tried the 15% as 2 layers 5 days ago, and now I have what I what I would call real flaking! :) Flaking, not peeling. Might go up to 18% after a few more goes w/ 15% but maybe I won't need to.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
adOrk_aBLe on 10/20/2012 12:16:00 AM more reviews by adOrk_aBLe
Age: 19-24 Skin: Normal, Olive, Cool Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Brown
I started with the 12.5% because my skin can tolerate anythinggg. You need to do multiple peels in order to see results. I personally dont have the time to dedicate a week to the peeling. It does leave the skin smoother after peeling stops, but hyper-pigmentation improvement may take up to 6+ peels. I want to move up to the 15%
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*TOP REVIEWER* DecoDolly on 9/19/2012 2:23:00 PM more reviews by DecoDolly
Age: 30-35 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Blue
It's 6 days after my first TCA peel. 15%, 3 layers. I didn't frost and no parts of my skin darkened. I stayed inside for most of the time I was peeling, but really didn't need to. The worst of it was 48 hrs after when my skin was peeling the most on my chin. Compared to what other people have experienced though, it was nothin'. Most of my face did peel, but not in sheets, just a little more than regular flaking. The skin underneath was neither pink nor extra sensitive. I feel as though only a very thin layer came off. Because of this, I only see extremely minimal results. I also broke out during the process, after not breaking out in weeks, which is very frustrating!
I am not disappointed though, because I wasn't expecting any miracles. I plan to do a series of these peels and will update after my next.
UPDATE: It's been about 3 1/2 weeks since my TCA peel and I'm very happy. My red post-acne marks have faded considerably, and my shallow acne scars are gone! The marks seemed to fade more and more as the days went by. I have just done another peel, and will update again.
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JustLaRue on 8/20/2012 6:16:00 PM more reviews by JustLaRue
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Medium Brown Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown
NOTE: This is a review of the MUAC TCA Peel. I intend to update this review daily.
Hello everyone! I've been a lurker forever, and decided to create an account today so I could add my two cents, as your input has been most helpful to me over the past two years. I bought my TCA Peel from MUAC (15%) last June and after 14 months, I finally got the courage (and had the time) to apply the peel. Over the past year, I have pretty regularly used their salicylic acid peel weekly, along with the glycolic or lactic interchangeably. About three weeks ago, I started using the fade peel. My skin problems include moderate acne (was severe before MUAC) and severe hyperpigmentation.
DAY OF:
After re-reading all the reviews here and watching a few YouTube videos, I followed the advice of one of you and poured myself a strong cocktail. I then whispered a prayer and headed to the bathroom. I followed the instructions by washing my face with my normal regimen (Dudu Osun Black Soap) and applying MUAC's Ph Prep Solution. I used a latex glove and a cotton pad to apply the peel. I only intended to apply one layer since it's my first time and I'm using 15%, but after the first layer, I felt nothing. I thought for sure it would burn or at least tingle, but it did nothing. So I added another layer. Still nothing, so I added a third layer.
After the third layer, it began to burn mildly (no worse than a lactic or glycolic), so I set my timer for 5 minutes. (Application only took me about 60 seconds since I was using a cotton pad). After 5 minutes, there was no frosting at all, and still no major burning, so I set the timer for another 2 minutes. After 7 minutes, I neutralized using the baking soda formula. Now THAT is what burns!!! My God!!! Anyway, after washing and toning again, I applied 100% raw, unrefined shea butter (my moisturizer of choice) and sat down to type this. I did not use Neosporin or Bacitracin because of some of the horror stories I've heard of people having reactions to them. Today, my face feels normal, as it does after every peel. No particular tightness or dryness or itchy discomfort. Just normal. Update on Day 1 tomorrow.
DAY 1 Update:
Today I have nothing to report. My face feels tight, but no real change in the texture or appearance of my skin. Absolutely nothing. It really feels just like it does after my salicylic peels. I'm wondering if perhaps the peel solution had expired although there's no expiration date or instructions on how long it will last. I ordered this last summer, so it's been about a year (it took me that long to work up the courage to use it *shrug*). More tomorrow.
DAY 2 Update:
Again, nothing to report. My face is still tight, but no change in appearance or texture. I'm pretty sure the peel was expired and I'll have to do it again. :-(
DAY 3 and DAY 4 Update:
Nothing much to report. My face is still tight.It feels a little rough, but not as rough as leather or as others have described. There's some very mild flaking on my chin. Barely noticeable.
DAY 5 Update:
Today, my chin and entire "beard area" (where a beard would be if I were a guy) is flaky. Still no real peeling, but definite and obvious flaking. I had to go out today, and I wore a little makeup (Bare Escentuals) which covered it up nicely. There's a little flaking at my temples, but most of it is at my chin and jawline, lower cheeks.
Not what I expected so far, so I'm pretty sure I'll have to redo it in a month or as soon as my skin is ready.
DAY 6 and 7 Update:
Day 6 was the same as 5, but today on Day 7, I'm noticing that the flaking is now on my right cheek and right temple, as well as the area above my right eyebrow. Still no major peeling as I expected, but noticeable flaking. Maybe the peel wasn't bad, perhaps I just didn't leave it on long enough or do enough layers. It was my first time so I didn't want to damage my skin. My face feels pretty rough in some areas, and there's lots of flaking. Lots.
DAYS 8-10
I guess I was just a slow peeler. I didn't expect it to take as long as it did, but the peel is definitely working. On day 8, my skin began to peel in sheets. It still didn't happen over my entire face, just my chin, lower cheeks along the jawline and right temple. By day 9, I had peeling on my nose, forehead (above the eyebrows and nose), cheeks, chin, and right temple. Today is Day 10 and I'm still peeling. Some areas, like my forehead and certain parts of my cheeks, still have not begun peeling, so the skin there feels a bit abrasive - not leathery, but like sandpaper. I haven't had to leave the house really, but if I did, I would be pretty embarrassed to go out looking like this. I went to the grocery store, but I was okay - just prayed I wouldn't run into anyone I knew lol. Since I'm peeling nicely, my next and final update will be when the peeling is finished.
DAY 16... WOW
Okay so after more than two whole weeks, I am finally just about done peeling. Most of my face did indeed peel in large sheets, though my forehead just flaked. I could not possibly be happier with the results. In fact, I am amazed by the results. After having moderate to severe hyperpigmentation my entire adult life, this is the first time that I looked in the mirror and saw halfway decent skin. It brought tears to my eyes and I hate that I let that TCA sit in my cabinet for a year before I used it. I could've looked this good a year ago!!! I would say that before, my skin was an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being severely hyperpigmented. Today, it is about a 5.
I can't wait to do the next one in a couple of months. My only complaint is that my downtime was really, really long because it started flaking on day 3, but the process didn't finish until day 16, and there were mostly ugly days between. That means I'd have to stay home for two weeks. But yeah, I will definitely do it again, and I think that after about 4 or 5 more, plus lactics in between, I'll probably be clo
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AllWhoWander on 5/14/2012 10:07:00 AM more reviews by AllWhoWander
Age: 44-55 Skin: Sensitive, Medium, Cool Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Grey
This will be a review on the 12.5% TCA peel sold by MUAC. I will have to add more as I go through the procedure but wanted it to be a step-by-step description for those thinking about doing this.
The price is very affordable, especially when you consider how much it would cost to get this done at the doctor's office.
I washed and then prepped some areas (forehead, above upper lip, mid-cheek area where I had some brown mottling from sun damage) with acetone. I used a q-tip to apply. My cheeks frosted slightly after a few minutes and some tiny areas of my forehead, and I got more frosting when I did a light second layer on my forehead. But not a whole lot of frosting. But then, the good news was, it really wasn't very uncomfortable at all. I thought it would really hurt but it wasn't hardly noticeable at all, at least to me.
I neutralized with the baking soda/water mixture, and it didn't burn or anything, then splashed all over with lukewarm water a whole bunch of times to make sure it was all off.
I had some areas that got a little red and ever-so-slightly puffy (above my upper lip) but nothing that makeup couldn't cover.
Two days later, I have some of that "sunburned" look I expected. No peeling yet, and the areas that frosted seem to have a slightly thicker "dried out skin" cover.
I will update as I peel.
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rachaelvictorious on 5/13/2012 2:21:00 AM more reviews by rachaelvictorious
Age: 25-29 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Hazel
I want to preface this review by saying, I've since switched to Monell Essentials brand chemical peels, which can be found on Ebay.
They come in various sizes which I like because I use different strengths for different parts of my body, and don't really need big bottles of every peel I use.
MUA doesn't have them listed in their brands, so I can't yet add a review for that company.
This is my first experience using TCA.
I chose to use 12.5% over 8% because I had been doing the MUAC 30% Glycolic Acid peels 8 consecutive weeks prior, and knew my skin was reacting well to them.
I had active acne, (some of the spots had been there for years), oily skin, huge pores, fine lines, and lots of shallow scars.
It's very important to prep your skin for a medium strength peel, to ensure you have even results. During the course of the 8 weeks of Glycolic Acid peels I noticed a huge improvement in all noted conditions.
I preped my skin by washing it with CereVe cleanser, and de-fatting it with rubbing alcohol. If you buy a TCA kit from MUAC it includes a prep, but I have found no difference between using it and rubbing alcohol as a skin prep. Made up my neutralizer of baking soda and ice water, and soaked a wash cloth in in so I was ready to go.
I also took 600mg of ibuprofen and a dose of Benedryl an hour before my peel. I'm glad I did because I had noticable swelling and discomfort afterwards.
I doned gloves and applied an even layer of 12.5% TCA over my entire face. Holy camp fire, Batman! You could have roasted marshmallows on my face! It was intense for about 30 seconds but I noticed no frosting.
The instructions regarding how long to leave a peel on vary from person so person, but the general advice is until it frosts or no longer than 10 minutes [Please correct me if I'm wrong.]
After one minute has passed, I dragged myself away the fan (set to hurricane) and applied another coat (that one didn't frost either). It is important to note that TCA doesn't always frost.
It burned like a sinners feet in church. I invented new !@#$ words that day.
I stuck it out for another minute and noticed no frosting, but my face was getting red, and since I ALWAYS err on the side of caution when it comes to skin care, I neutralized it and applied a coat of neosporin.
Day 1: Day of the peel. I was really uncomfortable. My skin was red, my face was a bit swollen and I went to bed early.
Day 2: I looked very mildly sunburned. My skin cannot get enough of this Neosporin. If I even think about using a moisterizer (pre peeling days), I would turn into an oil slick. This was novel. I kept taking Ibuprofen throughout the day and Benedryl to curb the itching (there was mostly soreness vs. itching)
Day 3: I look very sunburned, my skin is tight and I'm still noticably red. The swelling has gone away, and the soreness has been replaced by itching. Ice packs and vinegar help a lot, as do anti-histamine tablets. Note to self: Buy stock in Neosporin. Still super dry, and tight. Laughing hurts.
Day 4: The red parts of my face are now a touch on the brown side, and I've just started to peel. I've pried myself away from Neosporin and am using CereVe cream. My skin cannot get enough moisure. (Note: I've used CereVe cleanser the whole time as Cetephil has SLS which I'm allergic to)
Day 5: Still peeling, was able to stop taking Ibuprofen and Benedryl. I broke down and used a light coating of Neosporin after my morning cleanser. Soooooo tight! I can see bits of the new skin peeking though. Yay! I'm also about to go back to my beloved UNT sunscreen and stop skulking around sunny patches in my house like a vampire.
Tomorrow is Day 6, and I'll update after I stop peeling so I can update the initial results.
As far as the product goes, I'm happy with it. MUAC is a great company although a bit pricey for their peels.
______
UPDATE: It's been about two weeks since I did the peel and I've finally stopped flaking. I didn't notice a huge difference in results between this peel and the 30% Glycolic Peel, but bear in mind this is my first TCA peel, and it's a low percentage.
My skin feels so soft! I'm going to continue doing TCA peels every four weeks (or as my skin can tolerate it) adding a layer until I hit the max reccomended (5) or I see a vast improvement in my skin condition.
Update: Do not use Neosporin after a peel. If you have any tendency toward allergic reactions, you might develop hives.
I used Neosporin after my last peel (15%) and broke out in HIVES on my freshly peeled skin.
It wasn't pretty.
I ended up having to go see my doctor for a cortisone shot. She told me that she doesn't reccomend Neosporin due to the fact that so many people have an issue with one of the ingredients.
I've been using plain ol' Vasaline and have been fine with that.
Updates to follow.
18 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
twixem on 5/10/2012 2:18:00 PM more reviews by twixem
Age: 36-43 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
I have very OILY, ACNE-PRONE SKIN. I have used the 15% and 25% peel. They helped my skin tremendously. My scars are less noticeable and I have less cystic breakouts. When I do get the cystic breakouts they are not as big as they used to be. However, I still get lots of whiteheads. My skin gets clogged very easily and I don't wear much products. An acne fighting product, sunscreen, oil control primer (from mattify cosmetics- good product) and then mineral powder. I still get depressed about the way my skin looks but it is way much better now.
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Rickshaw on 5/8/2012 1:30:00 PM more reviews by Rickshaw
Age: 44-55 Skin: Combination, Fair Hair: Black Eyes: Other
As previous reviewer mentioned, I owe to the community, so here are my 5 cents. 46y.o, fair-medium normal skin, was on Accutane for hormonal acne 8 m.o. Main problem - ice-pick scars and some redness on chin area. A few brown spots.
got 12.5%, applied to clean skin in the afternoon. Waited 5 min with some minor burning, then decided to apply second layer. Another 5 min, burning is a bit harder, but still very tolerable. Got some frosting on the cheeks close to nose. Washed with soda/water, applied some burn cream bought in Mexico (in place of Neosporin). Skin was slightly pink on the frosted areas, so a few hours later I decided to apply TCA one more time to my forehead and chin.
Next day skin was pink and shiny all over, in a day it turned leathery with some very minor peeling around mouth (due to mimics). On day three went to steam room/sauna to help with peeling, and it did help a bit. Had moderate peeling for the next two days.
Day six now - almost all of the face is dead skin-free, except for hairline area. Overall it is looking more even and clear, even plump. Ice-pick scars remained the same, brown spots are lighter. It is not a dramatic change, but I like it. Plan to repeat with three layers in two weeks, then move to 18%.For now wear Elta MD SPF 41 tinted screen. Works great.
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quotidianlight on 5/3/2012 7:38:00 PM more reviews by quotidianlight
Age: 30-35 Skin: Sensitive, Dark, Warm Hair: Black, Kinky, Fine Eyes: Black
This peel was gentle, worked well and a wonderful experience. I used 3 layers of 8% and my skin started peeling the next day. It wasn't so horrible I had to hide and my skin looked great after. The 8% is great peel if you want the effects of a heavier TCA, are willing to do biweekly or monthly in a series and don't want a ton of lost paychecks. MUAC TCA isn't just TCA tho so be aware if you are sensitive to glycolic or lactic acid.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
kcslim on 5/3/2012 2:56:00 PM more reviews by kcslim
Age: 36-43 Skin: Normal, Medium Hair: Brown Eyes: Green
I've had a couple minor acne scars (very shallow indents) for years and even though they're minor i'm a little sefl conscious about them. i didn't have bad/cystic acne but unfortunately was impatient with a couple pimples and picked at them to the point where i scarred the skin. Otherwise I have decent skin. I'm hoping these peels will give some improvement to the appearance of these scars. So, I bought the 12.5 and 15% at the same time and started with the 12.5 tuesday nite. I had prepped for several weeks, one week apart, with 30% glycolic.
Tuesday nite (May 1) I applied the 12.5 with just one layer as I didn't want to risk making things worse. I'm hoping I can be patient with this process and build up a tolerance in order to do more layers and higher percent peels later. I followed instructions and did one layer for 5 minutes. Noticed slightly more burning/stinging than I had with the glycolic, but it was far from unbearable. No frosting, just some redness for a couple hours. After 5 minutes I neutralized with baking soda/water. Waited an hour and put on a coat of aquafor.
Wednesday May 2 I looked pretty normal. Skin was a little tight and dry looking but I was able to go to work without any funny looks or comments. Wednesday nite put on more aquafor.
Thursday (May 3) I woke up and didn't notice much until I washed my face. I just used dove soap and washed with my hands. After washing/drying I noticed some slight peeling/flaking around mouth and chin. I was a little surprised to see this as i had never flaked with the glycolic. I was able to go to work and didn't feel too self conscious about some dry/flaky skin.
I'm not sure if it's because of the dryness/tightness of my skin, but I do think there's some minor improvement in the overall tone and texture of the scars I'm trying to improve. If I could put a percentage on the improvement it would be 5-10%.
I can't say if the results will be lasting, but I'm definitely optimistic right now that with future peels of more layers and higher percentages I can continue to see more improvement. My plan is to wait 3 weeks and do a 2 layer peel with the 12.5 and then maybe move up to the 15.
I'll try to update this post as things go. I've never reviewed ANYTHING before but feel like i owe it to the community here b/c I wouldn't have ever tried this if it weren't for the other reviews.
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*TOP REVIEWER* heathermrm on 4/26/2012 12:46:00 PM more reviews by heathermrm
Age: 44-55 Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine Eyes: Blue
I use 3 (soon to be 4) MUAC products religiously (see separate reviews):
1. 25% mandelic acid peel
2. fade peel
3. vitamin c
4. gly-luronic acid serum
Background - I have melasma spots on my forehead (x3) and 1 on each cheek (back towards my ears). I have subtype 1 (blushing) rosacea on the apples of my cheeks w/ some broken caps along the sides of my nose and what are probably sebaceous filaments (vs blackheads) along the sides of my nose (not horribly visible, but bothersome to me) I have basically normal/combo skin w/ slightly drier cheeks and slightly oilier t-zone. I'm 46 so have the start of some fine lines. Whew - if you made it thru all that, I'm impressed :)
In short, I tried this a couple of times on my melasma spots. It helped w/ some fading, but this product is just too strong for my skin = up for swap. My actual rating = 3.5.
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roman1221 on 4/11/2012 5:49:00 PM more reviews by roman1221
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Brown
MY EXPERIENCE
After a longggg read and weeks and weeks of changing my mind I have finally done it. I bought the 30% kit to silute.
My skin: Combination, with recurring blackheads and whiteheads. Thin under eye skin and crows feet. Looking to smooth skin and pores and try to get rid of some milia underneath my eye as well as the wrinkles.
DAY ZERO
I mixed a 15%(ish) solution into a shot glass and dipped my q-tips starting from forehead, then undereye+pores, Then outer cheeks and chin, then finally nose and top lip. Had such a painful moment on second layer of the undereye/pore section. Was running around and fanning myself singing as the 5 minutes went by. Overall it really wasn't too bad - I found I was quite red in some uneven patches around my face. Skin feels dry and smooth. Apprehensive about the next few days...
DAY ONE
Really quite dry and cracked and look 10 years older
DAY TWO
Haven't moisturised so decide to after thinking I may damage the new skin underneath.
DAY THREE
This morning in the bath, I wet my face with the warm water repeatedly. Just so it soaked a little - no soap or scrubbing. As soon as I got out I looked in the mirror and flakes had appeared. I got dry and started getting ready then looked again and SO many big flakes of clear skin peeling off. Seems the best way to peel is to use warm water to evaporate off the surface of your skin. I applied jojoba oil liberally to protect the new skin. I know tomorrow I am going to look like a monster...
DAY FOUR
Yesterday as I kept putting on jojoba oil onto my skin I realised it came off extra easy by rubbing. It felt like the skin was melting away which was great but became too addictive. I peeled the area under my eyes by excessively rubbing - it felt so good, but in a panic I put on some ointment for burns and but two burn plasters under my eyes to protect them. Day four I woke up, took them off and they weren't pink anymore and looked fantastic. I felt I was over the worst and kept applying jojoba oil, didn't leave the house as I didn't want to put sunscreen on and chemicals into fresh skin.
AFTER
I am very happy as my skin looks more even, fresh and lines under my eyes look a lot less noticeable. I am 100% going to do this again in a week or so. Not stronger as I think 15% was great and why push it? The overall condition of my skin is improved. I forgot to mention I used super ghk cream under my eyes for repair as reccomended by so many people. Copper peptides ruined my eye area - at only 22! I have hollowing, thin skin, discolouration etc much more than I did before I started it because unfortunately I used a strength a bit too high. I thought by using it once as an intensive treatment it would boost my routine but was one of the worst things I have ever done to my skin. I am now trying to rebuild from start and seems through TCA and the mild super ghk cream I may be onto something.
Don't be afraid to put it under your eyes if this is your problem area. Just start around 15% and see how it goes. I did two layers and I am 22 years old - burned a lot for 5 mins but honestly saw a great improvement. Now working on skin tags with 30% but not with much luck....
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jacquelynec on 3/31/2012 10:55:00 PM more reviews by jacquelynec
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Green
This is a great product- hands down- however!!!! for anyone that suffers from cold sores BEWARE! I was doing the glycolic peels and loved them so much so decided to give my mom a tca peel. she often suffers from cold sores and 2 days after doing the peel she got rash of cold sores all over her cheeks. she ended up having to go to a dermatologist to prescribe her some medicated ointment. i felt so horrible so just be cautious if you also suffer from cold sores. after healing, her skin did look great but definitely won't do it again!
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Nanou2 on 3/29/2012 5:57:00 PM more reviews by Nanou2
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination, Fair Hair: Brunette Eyes: Blue
Love this! So cheap compared to other sites selling TCA peels. The shipping to Canada was a little steep $25 for a little box BUT it arrived in 3days!
I bought the fan brush with the peel. I would recommend NOT buying this. I had to pour the product into a little bowl to be able to use the brush. I had to pour more product than what was needed. The brush soaked all the product up and didn't want to let go of it. I had to pour even more product to finish the peel. The brush is also quite big. nearly impossible to use it for areas around the eyes, on the nose and around the mouth. Quite stupid actually.
Second time around I used a q-tip. I was able to apply an even thin layer and use the right amount of product without any waste.
I love the green tea cleanser included!
I bought the 12.5% peel as it was my first time. I have large scarred pores and very faint fine lines. I did my first peel a couple of weeks ago. I did 1 layer and frosted almost instantly on some areas. I started peeling on the second day and was done peeling by the 7th day. My skin felt tighter and looked slightly radiant. My problem scarred pores remained somewhat the same.
I'm on day 4 of my second peel. I did 2 layers this time and the 2nd layer I really felt the burn! I frosted but not as much as the first time. All around my mouth and some of my cheeks have peeled away. I can see my problem areas are looking better. The scarred pores look less deep and smaller.
I'll finish off my bottle probably on the 5th peel. It was a 10peel bottle but I'm half way into it already.
I plan on finished this bottle of and buying a stronger peel.
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bgraceg on 3/24/2012 6:11:00 PM more reviews by bgraceg
Age: 44-55 Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium Hair: Blond Eyes: Blue
Kierdim, since youve been using acids on your face that strength may not be enough for you. I have used 25% tca on myself and others with good results (for from 2-5 minutes), feels very strong, then a lot of peeling at about day 3 or 4. May take several spaced a month or more apart to see best results.
If the product is good, you should see a 'frost' on your most damaged areas of skin. Everyone's different how they respond and to what strength, but generally if you've been using acids or Retin A you will have a better result. Doesnt sound like the product was strong enough for you.