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Pixi

Glow Tonic.

Pixi Glow Tonic
Toners

About this product

An exfoliating toner from Pixi using glycolic acid, formulated to gently resurface and brighten skin for a smoother, glowier look.

Best for

Combination skinNormal skin
Toners

The Guru Index verdict

64%

Mixed

~Mixed · 64%
4Reviewers
1Approved
2Mixed
1Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus view this as an affordable entry-level glycolic acid option, often cited as a budget alternative to pricier exfoliants. The consensus praise centers on visible smoothing results and accessibility. However, concerns split along skin type lines: dermatologists flag risks for skin of color, citing burn potential and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, while others emphasize it requires cautious use (twice weekly maximum) since overuse causes irritation. Some note the formula may have changed, with reduced fragrance. The general read is that it works, but demands restraint and isn't universally safe.
Synthesized from 4 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

AHAAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Water/​Aqua/​Eau, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Biotin, Panthenol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Caramel, Red 4 (Ci 14700)

Every take, in full

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 Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
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"I don't mind this as a wash off product. Maybe one to two times at night a week, but I certainly wouldn't leave it on all night every night. Definitely not for skin of color. You get instant results when you use glycolic acid because you take away the top layer of skin, any pigmented cells come off and you think this product is fantastic. But that's a temporary solution. Exfoliating the top layer of skin gives you temporary results. You actually need to treat the melanocytes in the skin. The second thing is you need to think about the long-term consequences of wearing alcohol on the skin, which comes from the witch hazel. So that can lead to premature aging, which you can't see it taking place. It's just happening under your skin. And with the glycolic acid, you may be fine 99 times and it's that 100th time that you burn with it. That's why I'm not a fan of glycolic acid. I feel like there should be 0% burns when skin of color applies any product to their face. There should never be a risk of burns or a risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation."
Approved
"I had made glow tonic and the whole blow up and they openly said you know that was all one post I did on the blog which was this is a dupe for P50 back in the days when you would say that I was very clear that it wasn't an actual dupe right it's the closest you're going to get at that price 16 on an acid do this one rather than $95."
Top Pick: affordable acid toner
All 2 takes from Caroline Hirons
Glad We Had This Chat Takes New York - The Lipstick Lesbians
"I had made glow tonic and the whole blow up and they openly said you know that was all one post I did on the blog which was this is a dupe for P50 back in the days when you would say that I was very clear that it wasn't an actual dupe right it's the closest you're going to get at that price 16 on an acid do this one rather than $95."
S2 Ep21: GLAD WE HAD THIS CHAT TAKES NEW YORK - 'The Lipstick Lesbians' Alexis and Christina Andr...
"I made glow tonic and the whole skin blew up and they openly said you know that was all one post I did on the blog which was this is a dupe for P50. Back in the days when you would say that I was very clear that it wasn't an actual dupe right, the closest you're going to get at that price on an acid do this one rather than $95."
~Mixed
"At 5 percent concentration you get Pixi Glow Tonic. If you've never used glycolic acid before and your skin is normal to dry, start at 5 or 6 percent concentration. You can level up to 7 percent and 8 percent, and if you're a high-pro user, 9 or 10 percent glycolic acid is available in brands like Paula's Choice and The Ordinary. I'll be honest, because I was using retinol and tretinoin, my skin barrier was quite solid, so for two or three days nothing happened and I was doing glycolic acid tonic morning and evening. By the fourth or fifth day, the redness, irritation, and flaking was next level. This is a warning I want to give you because with this product, your skin looks so smooth and beautiful that you want to use it again, but you should only use it twice a week."
~Mixed
"The Pixi glow tonic is one of the good things about it is that it does have glycolic acids so people were using like exfoliating treatment ingredients but this one I was never particularly a fan of it. Definitely wasn't the worst but it was not my favorite. I am a little nervous because sometimes my skin gets a little stingy with glycolic acid whatever nervous for my nose area. I also think I don't know if they decrease the amount of fragrance that's in this because it does not smell like how it used to smell. I swear this used to have a really strong fragrance to it but it's very light now I hardly notice it. The good thing is that my face isn't stinging so that's a plus."
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