Generation Glow Daily Resurfacing Essence
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Dodecane, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lactic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Acer Saccharium (Sugar Maple) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Rose Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Lysate
I had this product on my personal testing backlog, and I started noticing that most retailers had stopped restocking it. I think Alpha-H is planning on discontinuing it. I found an online retailer that still has it, so I finally got around to testing it to see whether stocking up was necessary.
Generation Glow Daily Resurfacing Essence is a clear, thick liquid that's still fluid rather than gel-like. I apply it by adding a few drops to my palms and pressing them into the skin. Despite being an exfoliant, it is incredibly gentle: no tingling, no stinging, nothing. Even on areas where my skin was very sensitised, I had no adverse reaction whatsoever.
The formula is built around a 5% AHA complex, combining lactic acid with fruit and sugar-derived extracts that are intended to provide gentle exfoliation. The formula also contains vitamin E and a rather extensive collection of botanical extracts, including green tea and chamomile, tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender and spearmint.
However, performance wise, I didn't notice any positive difference in my skin. No improvement in texture, no noticeable refinement, no extra glow. And things actually took a turn for the worse.
After introducing it into my routine, I started noticing sparse but painful red pimples, usually two or three at a time. I initially suspected hormones and continued using the product, thinking it might be unrelated. But I also began noticing more clogged pores and small bumps. My skin had been completely clear before, and it's not as though I was replacing a previous, stronger exfoliant with this one - l wasn't even using an exfoliant before.
I can't say for certain whether this product was responsible, but the timing makes me suspicious of the formula. But even if it wasn't, at best, this did nothing.
Ultimately, this was a miss for me, and it's not worth chasing it down. Maybe there is a reason they're discontinuing it. It felt lovely to apply and never stung, but I saw no improvement in my skin and actually experienced more congestion and breakouts. Gentle is good, but gentle without results isn't much of a selling point.