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Geek and Gorgeous call their Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant a regular strength exfoliant, but at the same time claim it can be used up to twice a day. So how strong is it really? Can it be used with sensitive skin? And if it is gentle enough for daily use, will it give you the results you are looking for?

 

 

I have used it for several weeks exclusively on my congestion prone and mature skin, and today I will tell you what you can expect.

 

 

What the Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant claims

Our regular strength, combination skin focused exfoliant with 5% Mandelic Acid + 1% BHA works both on the surface of the skin and inside the pores to clear & balance the complexion.

What I find interesting regarding the claims is that they call it their “regular strength” exfoliant. What is regular strength when it comes to exfoliation?

 

Facts about the Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant

Prize and size

One bottle contains 100 ml and is available for 28 € on the website here.

100 ml is a lot for a liquid exfoliant. If you don’t use it everyday, which depending on your skin type and the type of product you are using you probably won’t, that will last you up to a year. On the other hand are the liquid exfoliants among the more pricey products from the Geek and Gorgeous line up, with brands perceived as less drugstore like Paulas Choice not being that much more expensive – if you take the Paulas Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, 100 ml of that would come to around 33 € (full review here).

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it is expensive. It is just less affordable than I am used to seeing from the brand.

 

Texture and smell

Poured out of the bottle, it is a clear, watery liquid without any notieable scent. You could easily confuse it with water in a side by side comparison. It absorbs quickly and without tackiness or residue on the skin.

 

 

How to use the Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant

How you use it comes down to different factors: Both morning and night time use would be possible, depending on the rest of your routine. I use my exfoliants in the mornings to keep them separate from my retinoids at night, but using it at night on nights when you don’t use a retinoid would also be possible. (More info: The best way to exfoliate when using retinoids)

Regarding the frequency, your skin concerns and skin type are the determinating factors. It is a gentle formula with a low strength exfoliant, so for me daily use was without issues and in fact necessary to keep my skin congestion free. Depending on your skin concern, you could adapt the frequency to what your skin needs.

And for application: I don’t really use any liquid substances with cotton rounds, I feel they tend to absorb too much product, so I just pour some in the palm of my hand and pat it on. Cotton rounds would of course be possible too.

 

Ingredients of the Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
The main players here are the Mandelic and the Salicylic Acid. Mandelic Acid is an Alpha-Hydroxy-Acid, similar to Glycolic Acid, its better known brother. Speaking very broadly, Alpha Hydroxy Acids work on the skin cells that form the epidermis, while Beta Hydroxy Acids are oil soluble and work inside the pores, so Alpha helps more against texture, hyperpigmentation and dullness, while Beta helps with congestion and blocked pores. Inside the Alpha Hydroxy Acid family, the size of the individual acid determines how deep into the skin it will penetrate, which in turn determines how strong it is, both in effect and in irritation potential. Mandelic Acid is quite large, meaning it won’t go as deep into the skin and work more on a surface level and apparently also has anti-inflammatory effects, so it is often recommended to help with acne. It also means that it is one of the more gentle acids. 5% is also the lower end of the available concentrations, so it will help over time with texture and unevenness, but slowly and gradually. (More info: The benefits of exfoliating acids in skincare explained)

The same is true for Salicylic Acid, with a concentration of 1% being on the lower end. Reduced risk for irritation, but also reduced effect on congestion if used less frequently. (More info: Everything you need to know about acne)

Other than that you’ll find the combination of Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol and Xylitol, a combination of sugars also known as Aquaxyl that acts as humectant and claims to increase the Natural Moisturizing Factors in the skin. (More info: The benefits of Natural Moisturizing Factors in your skincare explained) And lastly there is Sarcosine, apparently aiming to help balance oil production.

The pH of the product according to the website as around 3.4.

 

Does it live up to its claims?

Mostly.

As mentioned above, I can’t really say what they mean with regular strength simply because „regular strenght“ isn’t a defined term. But it does both exfoliate at the skin surface and inside the pores.

 

How does it compare to…

 

 

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

This is not a combination product, it contains only Salicylic Acid without an AHA component. Still I wanted to mention it as example for what I prefer if congestion is your main concern. It is slightly more expensive, but has a similar light texture and for me is perfect to keep my skin congestion free.

You can read my full review of the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant here.

 

 

e.l.f. Blemish Breakthrough Triple-Acid Resurfacing Serum

Here we have a serum that combines Salicylic Acid with other Acids, albeit not really exfoliating ones. I am showing it mainly to demonstrate that a product called „Triple-Acid“ doesn’t have to be strong. Here the other two acids are Tranexamic Acid to target hyperpigmentation and Lactobionic Acid, a Polyhydroxy Acids – these count as exfoliating acids, but are so gentle that you only will have a minimal effect that depends on the concentration. (More info: The benefits of Tranexamic Acid in skincare explained and The benefits of Polyhydroxy Acids in skincare explained) That doesn’t make this a bad product, just a very gentle one with a focus on postinflammatory hyperpigmentation rather than general exfoliation.

You can read my full review of the e.l.f. Blemish Breakthrough Triple-Acid Resurfacing Serum here.

 

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant to?

I took the Geek and Gorgeous Cheer Up Liquid Exfoliant with me when traveling this summer to help prevent hyperpigmentation from forming and combat congestion. The lower concentration and use of Mandelic Acid meant I could use it daily without any irritation, but with a 1% concentration of Salicylic Acid this daily use was necessary to prevent clogged pores – a 2% will usually do that with being used only twice a week. I have since gone back to my 2% Liquid BHA from Paulas Choice and pair that with a Glycolic Acid twice a week to target that hyperpigmentation, but if you prefer something for daily use, or your skin is sensitive and you want something extra gentle, then this might be a great choice for you.

 

 

Shop Geek and Gorgeous here

 

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