Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) • 40% Lactic Acid Peel • Masks

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Hellykitto on 5/12/2008 11:44:00 PM more reviews by Hellykitto

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I am about halfway through a sample bottle of the peel and I've been using it for about 6 weeks, so a sample bottle really lasts. I use this once a week and have worked my way up by adding a minute each week, arriving at 7 mins this week but will not take it further than that.
There is a learning curve with this and it is very beneficial to take the time to get the curve right. If not, then unnecessary problems and pain will occur and it could be bad.
First of all, this is not something you will want to use on the same day as a scrub, even if you are a vet who has used it for a while.
Wash as directed on leaflet that comes with product. Next, use the prep solution and thoroughly rub down face with it. Allow to dry THOROUGHLY.
Next, pour a bit in the palm of hand and using fingers, rub onto face. for first application, use a sparingly as possible!!!!!! Allow to sit for no more than a minute the first time-even if you don't feel anything. This is a process.
Rinse. Wash with a non-alkaline soap (I like Paula's skin balancing or something like that). Rinse, rinse, rinse. This can be a bit hard to wash off but it is important to do so!!!! Once it is gone, then rub down again with the prep.

Next week, do the same. Add a minute.

WHen you run out of prep (because you will) witch hazel will be fine. But do go ahead and use that solution for the first two weeks.I ran out in the fourth week, but it was long enough for me to tell whether the combo would work out.

My skin is INCREDIBLE. My stubborn acne marks are finally fading, and a couple of brown spots are going away. freckles are lighter, blackheads are no more, and the bumpy texture my skin has always had is baby smooth. Not one zit in six weeks. My skin glows, looks tight, and this seems to have helped a tiny bit with oil production.

This is an incredible product but I can't stress enough the importance of patience and care.

DO NOT use this without patch testing first. This is not the type of thing that you want to find out your skin hates when you have it all over your face!!!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* fermidiracgirl on 4/22/2008 3:49:00 PM more reviews by fermidiracgirl

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

My skin can handle AHAs and scrubs easily.. but I think I jumped the gun with this and wasnt as careful as I should have been. I used CeraVe cleanser before and after the peel, and I used the pH prep solution that came with this. I only left it on for 2 or 3 minutes. Anyway, my skin looked and felt great right after the peel. But the day or two after, I had small scabs form around my nose, and some on my cheek, where some skin had peeled. ok, duh, its a PEEL. but still, I thought it would have been gentler. Didnt notice any significant lightening of my old acne scars, but I didnt expect any after one use. Although now I dont know if I want to keep using it. The product is good, but I dont think it agrees with my skin. I prefer a treatment that wont make me scab. Retin A would give me the same reaction, my skin would peel in small areas and then scab up... maybe I will use it as a spot treatment on old acne spots.

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rainsim on 1/31/2008 6:24:00 PM more reviews by rainsim

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I regularly use glycolic acid cleansers (from other brands) - although all of them are pH buffered, hence effective but gentle. I have been loyal to 2 brands for many years, so I wanted to try out others (never wanting to miss the next new miracle product!!). I really find it hard to believe that the lactic acid is marketed as gentler than glycolic acid. This product made my skin feel like it's really burning up!! I used it with the pH prep solution that came with the sample, and a non-soap cleanser. Actually, it burned the moment it touched my skin, and I have pretty tough skin. I couldn't stand it after more than a few minutes, and splashed my face with cold water, cleansed it again, and even then, I could feel it burn. In the end, I ended up using the cucumber gel mask to calm things down. I'm not sure if I'm using it wrong or something, given the glowing reviews from others - but I think I pretty much followed the instructions to the T. I'm glad that I didn't go with the glycolic or TCA, which was my first thought. UPDATE: burnt my skin leaving marks. I can say nothing good about this. I give zero marks if I could!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* brillopad on 1/13/2008 9:22:00 AM more reviews by brillopad

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I was completely new to chemical peels and decided to use MUAC's 40% Lactic Acid Peel as my first at-home peel. I bought a small sample of it and followed the instructions exactly. (Very speedy delivery by the way! MUAC has excellent customer service and include other samples with your purchase. You can even ask them for specific samples and they usually give them to you).


The peel comes with a pH prep solution, which has witch hazel as the major ingredient. It's easy to run out of this stuff and you can replace it with witch hazel itself, Sea Breeze, or some other kind of astringent instead of buying another bottle from MUAC. Basically you wash your face, apply the prep solution for a few minutes, and then put on the peel. You can use a makeup brush to apply the lactic acid if you want, but I always just used my fingers.


When starting out with the peel, it's important to do a spot test on your skin to make sure there are no allergic reactions. You also want to start out slow, leaving it on your skin for one minute the first time, and increasing the amount of time during subsequent peels. If you can't stand the burning/tingling, splash your face with water and wash with your cleanser. You'll want to give yourself a peel once every two weeks and it usually takes 6-8 weeks for optimum results. After your skin has gotten used to them, I think it's okay to do peels once a week, but it can be irritating.


Don't expect any miracles to happen after just one peel because results are cumulative and take time to show. My comfort zone was around 10 minutes for lactic acid. After the peel, my skin always turned red for the day but I never actually "peeled." I bought this to help clear my very acne-prone skin and fade some red marks and while it didn't clear me up, I did notice that it faded some of my pigmentation. I didn't experience any kind of purging either.


A sample of this stuff lasts a really long time, so it's definitely worth it. Just be aware that as time drags on, the peel will actually get more concentrated and therefore be a bit stronger.


Now how does this compare to MUAC's glycolic peels? Well, lactic acid is supposed to be a bit better for hyperpigmentation. In my experience (since I've used both), it is actually gentler. Lactic acid is a bit stickier and glycolic acid is much more liquidy. For first time peel users, I would recommend lactic acid instead of glycolic because it is less harsh.


Whatever you do, be gentle with your skin! Don't leave it on for too long and start off slow. Most people who experience burns with this peel, probably leave it on for too long when they are first starting off. Your skin does build up resistance to the peel, so as you use it, you can leave it on for more minutes.


I know sometimes you think leaving the peel on for 1 minute the first time is kind of like a waste of a peel....but would you rather leave it on for 1 minute the first time and see how your skin responds, or leave it on for 3-5 minutes and get marks leftover from burns?


Also, if you are on rx products, discontinue their use for 3-5 days before and after your peel. Be sure to wear sunscreen too!

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LottaMoxie on 11/3/2007 11:18:00 PM more reviews by LottaMoxie

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

46 years old, fair skin, normal/combo skin.

Tonight I just did my 4th treatment with the MUAC 40% Lactic Acid mask. It's super simple to use, but it's important to follow their easy instructions to avoid any undue irritation. I've been leaving it on for 3 - 4 minutes and will eventually work up to 5-6 min. It definitely tingles and you can feel it working. Nothing too intense, but you know it's there. So far it's leaving my skin very smooth and soft. I do get some redness after my treatment which takes a little while to fade, so I do my treatments at night before bed. I have some very stubborn melasma along my jawline that I'm treating with some other products and so far the 40% lactic acid doesn't seem to be too harsh on those areas. Once or twice a week is really all you need with this treatment. I purchased the 1 oz bottle and expect it to last for at least 25 treatments and possibly more. A little goes a long way with this mask. I would purchase again, though when the bottle is finished I will evaluate my skin and see if a glycolic acid peel is the next step for me. Treating my melasma is my first order of business as the rest of my skin is in pretty good condition, aside for some large pores on my nose.

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

zahirahnajma on 10/23/2007 6:36:00 PM more reviews by zahirahnajma

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I tried this peel for the first time last night. I have been using 10% glyco products in addition to clindamyacin for acne. I washed with cetaphil, used their ph balancer and let it dry completely before putting on the lactic peel serum. It was slightly gooey and therefore easy to tell where I had put it. As soon as I put it on it started to tingle. I left it on for 5 mins then washed my face, followed with the ph balancer, and finally the copper peptide serum. For the rest of the evening, my face felt warm, like I had a sunburn. My cheeks were a tiny bit pink. Then this morning, I woke up, and YES it is worth all the raves!!!!
I can't wait to see how it looks after another peel!!!!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* dbp1515 on 9/28/2007 8:53:00 PM more reviews by dbp1515

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

My skin: 23 y/o, use sunscreen regularly, tends towards dry (use benzoyl peroxide), clear skin with acne treatments but some old acne scarring.
I have used this for about a month now, once a week, maybe 2-3 min each time. I feel it has really smoothed my skin tone out and I can see that old acne scars are fading much more quickly! Also, I started to get some skin tags around my eyes -ugh- but since I've been using this they've disappeared! So exciting! At first it didn't seem that strong but after about a minute I could feel it start to sting in a couple of places. Don't rush it, once it starts to burn wash it off! I did not have any purging, but I also routinely use ProActiv, and in general I don't break out much (well, now that I've been on the system). I think with more time the results will get even better!

EDIT: I have been using this now once a week for the past four/five months and it has been amazing! I recently moved up to the 55% lactic acid peel. My skin is very smooth and it seems to have gotten rid of a lot of hyperpigmentation and scarring. Right now I don't even need foundation! Def. worth a try; the samples are pretty cheap and last forever. I just dab a bit on my finger and spread it on rather than using a cotton ball. I only use the activator part in the beginning and to wash off I use the green tea bar. Works like a charm : )

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dr7912 on 3/21/2007 8:47:00 AM more reviews by dr7912

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

this is the best peel. leaves my skin baby soft and clear. i'm 43 and have spent tons of money on other treatments, this is the best i've tried.

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*TOP REVIEWER* selmf on 11/2/2006 5:47:00 PM more reviews by selmf

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Followed the directions and after 6 weeks found my comfort level at 8 minutes twice a week. I do see results, but will be moving up to the glycolic acid this week. I did have more break outs after about 4 treatments, but stuck it out. Not sure if this is what some people call "purging" or not. I can't wear any foundation during treatment because of the peeling. Oh well, telling myself it will be worth it. Would buy again, but as I stated, moving to the next level.

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jujubee126 on 10/1/2006 11:21:00 PM more reviews by jujubee126

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

This was the first chemical peel I used. I mostly got it to help fade some acne scars and to give me better and clearer skin. However, the clearer skin part didn't really happen. I still got pimples here and there even after the recommended 6-8 weeks for optimal results. I ordered a sample from MUAC (which has excellent customer service by the way. They give you little samples of things like their green tea soap and glycolic body wash along with your order. You can even request the sample that comes with your order and they'll try their best to give you what you want) and the sample lasts for a reallllllly long time. It comes with a pH prep solution which is mostly witch hazel. The lactic peel is a bit sticky (compared to the glycolic acid one). I usually leave it on for about 10 minutes. I've seen sooommme lightening in my skin, but....not enough for me to want to purchase the full size version of this product. I find a daily AHA treatment more effective than weekly peels. But, overall, still a really good product to try. And remember, take things slow! Don't overdo the peels thinking that it'll lead to better results faster...the results are cumulative and take time!

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

missm88 on 9/30/2006 7:03:00 PM more reviews by missm88

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

I've used this peel twice, three days apart (one minute each time). I think I need to use it a few more times to see DRAMATIC results, but I'm liking it so far. i have been using olay's microdermabrasion kit and l'oreals acne peel treatment and both had stopped working as effectively as they had been, so i switched to this. my skin is combo (on the oily side of combo), sensitive, and prone to monthly-ish breakouts. teensy amounts of acne scarring on my jawline and a few freckles on my cheeks that are looking age spot-ish. this peel makes me look sunburned for a couple of hours post-peel, but that's ok. oddly enough the ph prep solution stings like mad on my skin. i'm not seeing a whole lot of fading yet, but i suspect i need to eventually leave it on for a longer period of time. i am also using this with the copper peptide serum (applied every night) and the hyaluronic serum (used during the day). i will likely repurchase this one to use on alternating weeks from the tca or glycolic peel (still undecided on which one i will try next) will edit after a few more peels. so far, so good.

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buckyi on 8/30/2006 3:13:00 PM more reviews by buckyi

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

UPDATE: I've had about 5 treatments and so far my skin does look remarkably better, I do find that I still need to exfoliate as I normally do but the texture of my skin gets better with each treatment and I've noticed that my other products like the night cream and anti-aging products seem to absorb into skin effortlessly.

I purchased this based on great reviews it got, tried it twice and LOVE the great exfoliation you get. It did diminsh some brown spots, pores definately are smaller (I had huge poors on my checks and nose), and made my skin less clogged, but I have noticed that my skin feels thinner after using the product. I will probably wait a little bit longer before the each treatment.

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

lili81 on 8/3/2006 1:25:00 PM more reviews by lili81

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

If you have very oily skin or acne prone skin, this would be very bad for you. I had tried using this a few months ago and 2 days later I broke out horribly. I wasn't sure if this was the cause because I had just switched cleansers. So I stopped using both products and my face cleared. I tried it again 4 days ago because I had some discoloration and wanted to try a stronger exfoliation method. Bad idea. I previously had about 5 small pimples on each cheek and none on my forehead so I just used it on my cheeks. Two days later, I had 26 gross pimples on each side of my face, forehead was still clear. This is the most massive breakout I have ever had. I think the reason is that for people with oily skin, lactid acid exfoliates slowly so dead skin gets trapped with oil gradually throughout the day leading to more breakouts. I look really bad now and I notice people want to ask me what the hell happened but don't want to make me feel bad. It's thursday, I can't wait until the weekend is here so i can hideout until this clears up. I already cancelled all my weekend plans.
p.s the website warns that this might cause a breakout initially, I just didn't know how bad it would be.

6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ut88keys on 6/20/2006 4:53:00 PM more reviews by ut88keys

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I use olay microdemabrasion kit and like it. On the package it says Lactic acid.I also use retin A so my skin is tolerant. so I picked this Lactic peel as the obvious next step.
I got this today and tried it after reading all the posts. I used the timer.I found right away that there are certain areas that are more sensitive.The most sensitive is the outer area under the eye. After doing this peel, I found that it takes a minute to apply it to the face. So it's the same when you color your hair you must rinse out one side or it will finish at different times. I just got a sample so I didnt want to waste it so I deceided to apply to my forehead,eye area,upper lip,bunny lines etc. Next time I will apply to non-sensitive areas first and sensitive last.I also tried it for two minutes on my hands so Im going to wait 24hrs to see how it does.

well this product seems to work less or requires more time on more damasged skin.it exfoliates great but is not really a "peel"in a strict sense to me.
I tried it on my arms and I can say the skin looked more even, less dry,and softer after one treatment,but I am concerned about the chemical which is a toxin especially for the ears and chemicals are absorbed into the skin..just know what the risks are.

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mochachip on 6/14/2006 7:21:00 PM more reviews by mochachip

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I've only used this twice, but so far it's been great. My skin is fairly resistant so I applied this for 2 minutes the first time and 4 the second. It leaves my skin smoother and helps clear out my pores. I have been using 10% glycolic most evneings and RAM so my skin is used to heavy exfoliation. I applied with my fingers the first time around and feel as though that did not yield as even an application as applying with a paper towel(which I tried the second time). However the paper towel method does use considerably more product. I'll update in a few more weeks - so far I love this stuff.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cowgurl on 5/7/2006 10:56:00 PM more reviews by cowgurl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This is a great find. Even skin tone, fewer breakouts -- but only gradual scar reduction. If you are new to peels, as I was, this is what I did: Start out at only one minute, as recommended. Then shoot for 2 minutes, then 3. After this, I was ready for five and I use 2x per week. Not sure if that's recommended, but it works for me at the 40%. The first three times, I got really red around the nose creases and even had some light topical bleeding there, if that makes sense. And that was just with one to three minutes of use. So be careful. Oddly, after only four uses, I was ready to leave on longer with no irritation -- though I do avoid the folds of my nose where you will probably always feel "burning." (Note, I was using AHAs regularly, and I still had this shaky start -- so don't be bold, you're skin will adjust in no time.) The 1 oz. seems like it will last me about 4 months at the rate I'm going, I use about three to four drops, so I think this is a great deal. People have actually commented about the way I look (rare for me) and I can tell they are wondering if I've had some "work" done -- I do live in LA! Highly Recommended. UPDATE: Only using this about once per week because I'm using a daily lactic acid serum. The 40% is still gentle enough for me to use both.

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hedgepuppy on 3/3/2006 4:38:00 PM more reviews by hedgepuppy

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I was looking for something to fade my acne scars (now that the acne itself is gone-- thanks ProActiv). This does the trick! Slight burning, but come on, it's not like I really need to fan my face or anything. A good moisturizer afterward and the following morning my scars are faded and skin soft and smooth. Works really well with MUAC's Super Copper Peptide serum. In my last order I graduated to the 55% LA peel-- we'll see if my skin likes that better.

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Nadiabt on 1/10/2006 10:10:00 PM more reviews by Nadiabt

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have used the peel twice and can see results already - my skin is more even toned, pores are slightly clearer and smaller, a few small breakouts on my chin are almost gone and overall my face looks nice (something I would have never said before). I will continue using the peel, increasing the time that I leave it on. I started with one minute, then 2 minutes the second time. My skin was a little red for 10-15 min after I rinsed the peel, but then it went back to normal. Be careful and start with one minute (which is the instruction of MUAC). I also use the MUAC copper peptide serum.

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*TOP REVIEWER* flairgirl8 on 10/26/2005 9:53:00 AM more reviews by flairgirl8

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

After starting out with Neutragena Advanced solutions peel and their 2% salicylic acne peel, I wanted to try something a little stronger. After reading all the info on the various peels at MUAC, I picked this one because it seemed like it would not be too harsh. The whole process is very easy.It comes with a prep solution that you apply before and after the peel. I started off with leaving the lactic acid on for one minute and slowly built up to 3 minutes without irritation. I would not recommend going over 3 minutes for fear of burning the skin. The tips I read off the MUAC site were very helpful. I switched to a non soap cleanser ( I received a sample of MUAC green tea soap with my order) at least 24 hours before I peeled and used a microdermabrasion scrub the night before I did the peel. I have an oily T zone and got even better results when I swiped with MUAC's 3% salicylic acid solution first and then peeled. My skin looks and feels smoother using this only once or twice a week. I would recommend it to someone just starting to use chemical peels or who has dry, mature skin. The results are not as dramatic as I had hoped for. I had hoped it would lighten up my freckles and minimize my large pores. It really does make my skin smooth and my makeup applies much better from using this.

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usersilver on 8/10/2005 10:20:00 PM more reviews by usersilver

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I have oily skin thats been exposed to harsh weather skiing, hiking, etc. for years so I was looking for something pretty intense.
This peel is great:

Pros
-Leaves my skin smooth with a subtle but noticeable change in fine wrinkles.
-No breakouts, but I also exfoliate, steam, and take saunas regularly.
-Most peels seem to have all sorts of other unnecesary ingredients which can affect your skin negatively, this is just the straight lactic acid and a little goes a long way!

Cons
-Stings like mad and makes you look like you got quite a sunburn for a day if you leave it on past one minute (but if you can handle it, the my skin seems much better off in terms of texture the day after)
-Cheap packaging in a plastic squeeze bottle with a flip-up spout, does the job but sometimes a girl just likes to have her cosmetics look beautiful.

Overall: Love it, will buy again.

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