AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Price and formula checked July 2026
A cheap, effective weekly resurfacing treatment with the acid percentages right on the label. Respect the ten-minute limit and the sunscreen rule and it does real work on the look of texture and dullness. Used carelessly it will burn, so this is a tool for people who follow directions.
- Glycolic Acid dosed at a clinical, high-end level
- Every active discloses its concentration
- Cheap to use, about $3 a month
- Evidence26 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Glycolic Acid: strong evidence
- Salicylic Acid: moderate evidence
The average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency25 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Glycolic Acid (30%): dosed at a clinical, high-end level for its category
- Salicylic Acid (2%): dosed at a clinical, high-end level for its category
How strongly the actives are dosed, led by the strongest, not how many there are.
- Delivery & stability14 / 20
Delivery tech + packaging that protects fragile actives
- Delivery: standard
- Packaging: clear dropper
- No fragile actives here, so packaging barely moves the score.
Delivery tech plus packaging, and packaging only counts when actives are fragile.
- Formulation7 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 2 of 2 actives disclose a concentration
- 2 key actives (breadth credit caps at 3)
- No current-generation or synergy bonus
Disclosure, active breadth, and current-generation or synergistic actives.
- Value15 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $3 per month to use
- $9.5 for 30 ml, used once or twice a week (about 1.4 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 3.3 months
What a month of use costs: full marks at $6 a month or less, the floor at $60 a month or more.
Tap any row to see how its score was built.
Ranks #1 of 26 exfoliating acids serums we have scored.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Glycolic Acid | 30% | Clinical |
| Salicylic Acid | 2% | Clinical |
A ten-minute rinse-off peel: 30% AHA (mostly glycolic) with 2% salicylic acid, both disclosed, in the brand’s clear glass dropper. The high acid load is meant for brief weekly use, not daily leave-on, and it targets the appearance of a smoother, brighter surface. It is potent enough to irritate if left on too long or used too often, and it raises sun sensitivity, so daytime sunscreen is not optional.
Safety lens: every ingredient in this formula, graded on the safety evidence at PlainBody ↗, our sister site.
How it’s delivered
Air- and light-sensitive actives (vitamin C, copper peptides) lose potency fast in the wrong packaging, so delivery and the bottle are scored, not just what’s on the label.
The actives, explained
What the research says
Topical glycolic acid was linked to a smoother, more evenly toned looking appearance in sun exposed skin in a small clinical study.
Improving the cosmetic appearance of photoaged skin with glycolic acid. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1997. PubMed ↗
A 1.5% salicylic acid cream was linked to visibly clearer looking, blemish-prone skin after 4 weeks in an open clinical study.
Clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of an antioxidant optimized 1.5% salicylic acid (SA) cream in the treatment of facial acne: an open, baseline-controlled clinical study. Skin Research and Technology, 2013. PubMed ↗
A study of the active, not this exact product. What matters for the score is whether this serum uses it at a comparable dose.
Revision history
- July 11, 2026Price and formula rechecked
- July 10, 2026Review published
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Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. The SerumProof score reflects our reading of publicly available research and formulation disclosures. See how scoring works.