For a lot of people, Pixi Glow Tonic is a revelation. The miracle Glycolic Acid toner (5%) that exfoliates skin to reveal a glowing radiant complexion. The claims at Pixi’s site are indeed impressive and I was very curious to see if they were true.
Reading the instructions, I was surprised to see that it is recommended to be used in the morning as well as in the evening. The formula contains AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) which increases sensitivity to sun. Even though I always use sunscreen, I decided it was best to avoid morning use since the sun is always very hot in Cyprus.
I ended up using it every night after cleansing by applying it with a cotton pad all over the face and down my neck. I liked that the packaging has a lid with a small hole as it allowed me to better control how much product comes out.
I must say, I am not a fan of the smell. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it smells like but it is strong enough to linger on the skin. Thankfully, once I apply over it any serum or moisturizer I cannot smell it anymore.
As for the claims, I do believe they hold true. My skin is definitely looking more radiant and healthy when I am using the Glow Tonic and my pores are minimised. However, when comparing the Glow Tonic with Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner, I find that Pixi stays far behind.
The two products have more or less the same claims but, for me, Clarins does the same job better. I find Clarins Exfoliator Toner to be gentler on my skin, while at the same time it gives much more glow that lasts longer. I use Pixi’s Glow Tonic every night, whereas I only have to use Clarins’ Toner 3 times a week to achieve the same results.
I agree with most people that Pixi’s Glow Tonic is a very good exfoliating toner and I understand the hype around it. But given that the price difference between this and the Clarins’ one is only 8 pounds, and I always get Clarins discounted at Duty Free anyway, I am not in any rush to replace it with Pixi Glow Tonic anytime soon.
This review is a part of a bigger post, covering my thoughts on Pixi SkinTreats range of products in general. To see my review of the brand and other products I have tried, click here.
Did you try Pixi Glow Tonic? Did it manage to reach Holy Grail status for you? Let me know in the comments below.
