Alpha H Liquid Gold Series

Hellooo everyone, seems like I’m back to blogging after an unexpected and unintentional hiatus. Anyway so here I am, back from a visit down under i.e. Australia aka my home. On my random walk into Sephora I discovered Alpha H Liquid Gold (LG) Rose, without thinking and within a blink of an eye it made its way to the checkout counter.

I posted about it on IG and had a few questions, mainly around how is it different to original liquid gold in terms of performance and formulation. Widely known fact, I’m obsessed and addicted to Liquid Gold for a while now. Many moons ago, Ruth Crilly – A Model Recommends had me hooked me on this liquid gold (pun intended).

Before we dive in, quick capture on the original LG for the virgins: basically an overnight  glycolic acid treatment, to be used every alternate night and the results show a visible difference in skin tone, texture, scarring, pigmentation, sun damage and signs of aging.

Moving on with comparisons of original LG and Rose LG. First up, Formulation & Ingredient focus.

Original Liquid Gold

Rose Liquid Gold

Aqua, Alcohol Denat, Glycolic Acid (5%), Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Extract (licorice extract)

Aqua, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Butylene Glycol, Maris Sal (dead sea salt), Sodium Carrageenan (sodium salt of seaweed), Potassium Hydroxide, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract (sacred lotus flower extract), Orchis Morio Flower Extract (orchid flower extract), Polysorbate 20 (emulsifier), Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Phenoxyethanol, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil (geranium Oil), Caprylyl Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract (licorice extract), Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Linalool

Original LG is known for its intense, punchy formulation which is certainly not for everybody, definitely not for sensitive skins. The Rose LG is simmered down with addition of some hydrators and botanical extracts. Ingredients in red font are additions to the new limited edition formula. None of the ingredients from original LG are eliminated, so the soul of the product remains intact. The added ingredients are intended to help the product be gentle on skin and hydrate & plump the skin while it does its regular job (minus the intensity of original LG).

So you ask, how does the newer formulation impact the classic LG tingle factor and performance? Safe to say, it does have an impact on performance. Thankfully a positive impact, where it could open its doors to a larger audience with various skin types. To validate this, I did my own pH test on both exfoliators. We already know the original LG is famous for its very low pH (3.5) delivery system, giving it that tingle factor and making it a fabulous performer. So the new Rose LG, had pH rating slightly higher at 5.5 than original, which still means great execution with addition of new ingredients. The feel and effects on skin are more subtle, delicate, caressing, hydrating on the skin.

Some more points to note about Rose LG is it smells a whole lot more appealing, not as much of a tingle factor on skin, and followed by rose water is an absolute delight (even though Alpha H recommend finishing up with night cream or leave as a standalone treatment). Typically I use both LG’s after cleansing, soak cotton pad with product and dab on skin, note here – not swipe. I always dab acid products on skin. Alpha H recommends leaving it here for an intense treatment however I prefer to follow on with hydrating toner, serum, moisturizer or an oil.

In terms of benefits for skin, LG helps to clarify and brighten the complexion, improve appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation. However Rose LG goes one step further where it hydrates and plumps the skin due to the addition of botanical extracts in the formulation. Furthermore it is also anti inflammatory and helps with redness.

Some comparison points summarized:

	Original Liquid Gold	Rose Liquid Gold
Skin Type	Mature, sun damaged, prematurely ageing and acne-scarred skin	Normal to dry skin, and mature skin. I wouldn’t recommend for very sensitive skins.
Recommended Application Frequency	Each alternate evening.	Each alternate night however in recent Lady CH video they say its ok for morning & night.
pH Delivery	Low pH delivery system – 3.5	Perfect pH – 5.5
Tingle Factor	6-8 / 10	4-5 / 10
Size Available	50ml, 100ml, 200ml	100ml – limited edition

My love for Liquid Gold isn’t slowing down any time soon, Rose LG or not, I’ll still be a regular user of LG. I would love for Rose LG to be a part of permanent line but I’m not fussed about it. For me the original LG, is still the one. This is beginning to sound like an undying love story, but it stands true for me. If you tried either of these, share your experience, I’d love to know your thoughts.

HHW.com

xx

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Arsenal of Toners

I’ve been a huge fan of toners since its terrible astringent & alcoholic days. They sure have come a long way since we’ve known them to strip our sensitive skins. I’ve been stashing and using various types of toners such as exfoliating, calming, hydrating, brightening, and clarifying! I’ve also tried them from all different geographic regions….USA, France, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia and home turf (DIY – homemade).

A quick spritz of toners on skin, straight from shower is not only refreshing but also great for skin. It immediately calms down any redness and starts communicating with my open pores (from hot shower) and balances pH levels in skin. The fascinating part of toners are not only its properties but in its application and benefits its ingredients provides. These are some of my favourite toners from over the years:

Andalou Naturals Clementine Vitamin C Brightening Toner

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Floral Toner

Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyun Hylauronic Lotion

Shiseido Ibuki Toner

Acure Rose and Red Tea Toner

Pixi Glow Tonic

Neostrata Oily Skin Solution

Alpha H Liquid Gold Toner

Forest Essentials Facial Tonic Panchpushp (distilled flower water)

L’occitane Rose Et Reines Toner

Thayers Witch Hazel with Tea Tree Oil (Oil is my addition)

DIY – Green Tea and Glycerin

A lot of these are on a rotation. My skin’s needs are assessed and then I determine which toner will be my best choice. Sometimes, I choose a toner purely based on its fragrance and how it makes me feel. Sometimes I think even if my skin needs something specifically but I choose a fragrance pleasing toner, I feel I’m psychologically toning my skin. May be this concept is valid only in my slightly delusional head (very likely possibility). So what works for you? Which toners are your go to?

xx

HHW.com