Saturday Skin 4% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner.

Toners

About this product

A 4% glycolic acid exfoliating toner designed to gently remove dead skin and improve texture with regular use.

Full ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycolic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cholesterol, PEG-800, Polysorbate 20, Tocopherol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Octanediol, SH-Oligopeptide-1, SH-Polypeptide-1, SH-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Polypeptide-45, Sh-Polypeptide-8, SH-Polypeptide-9

Guru Score

69%

Mixed

3 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

This glycolic acid formula splits the experts. Some praise it as gentle enough for frequent use, with the smallest glycolic molecules penetrating deep to dissolve buildup that causes texture and tiny cysts, safe to use five or six times a week. However, the tea tree oil and essential oils in the formulation give others pause; at least one expert flags these as potentially irritating and suggests skipping it altogether. Those drawn to it may want to patch-test first, especially if prone to cold sores or active breakouts, as the acid can trigger sensitivity.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take February 2023

What they liked

Gentle enough for frequent use
Glycolic acid penetrates deeply
Effective exfoliation boost

What they flagged

Contains tea tree oil and essential oils
May trigger cold sores on lips

Best for

Oily skin Combination skin

Type

TonersLiquid

Key actives

AHAVitamin EPeptides

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

~Yay

"I absolutely love this from Saturday Skin. It is intense—a 10% glycolic acid pore concentrate toner with peptides in it. [...] I don't recommend using this every day, [...] but every now and again when I need a little exfoliation boost, I'm using this and also on my chest and my back. This stuff works so good."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.73M subs

~Yay

"For my lips, I take a very little bit of an exfoliating acid. I like L'Oreal's or Saturday Skin. [...] Just make sure you don't break out or have cold sores or have any sort of active infection, because it can trigger a cold sore."

All 2 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss

Blackheads vs. Whiteheads vs. Milia: What is the Difference + How to Treat! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"This one by Saturday Skin is a four percent glycolic acid. This is safe enough to use on a very regular basis, even five to six times a week. [...] The reason I like glycolic acid formula is because glycolic acid is the smallest one and goes the deepest, and keratin tends to accumulate within the dermis deeper down, forming these small cysts. So that is why I like glycolic acid on a regular basis."

Get Ready With Me: AM Routine, Spilling The Tea, PillowtalkDerm 👀 | Dr. Shereene Idriss

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Nay

"It has tea tree in it, which you know from my videos can be irritating, and a bunch of essential oils. Yeah, let's skip this."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Peptides

Peptides are short protein fragments meant to signal repair. The evidence for them is thinner than for retinoids or vitamin C, and it varies a lot by the specific peptide, so the category is more promising than proven.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Saturday Skin 4% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner?

A 4% glycolic acid exfoliating toner designed to gently remove dead skin and improve texture with regular use.

Is Saturday Skin 4% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 69%.

What is Saturday Skin 4% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner's Guru Score?

Saturday Skin 4% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner holds a Guru Score of 69%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.