Lit from Within: I love my Max Life... but Maybe Not These So Much #spotreducerfacialcream #TCA15Facialchemicalpeelingserum

Press Samples. All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I never dreamed I would be peeling my face. A few years ago, I never even heard of facial peels, and now I've tried several different kinds, from fruit acids to the strong stuff. I had the opportunity to try Max Life's I-Max Spot Reducer and pair it with their TCA 15% peel for some serious skincare stuff!

I have some sun damage on my cheeks that I'm always trying to lighten. Some products I've tried have gotten it a little lighter over time, but I'm always on the hunt for that perfect, porcelain skin.

This spot reducer is a concentrated serum that looks and feels like a cream, and you leave it on like one, too. It has a yellowish tint, and a ...fragrance.

One of the ingredients in this serum is Tiglim Oil, a botanical extract from the Croton plant, used for exfoliating the skin. It can cause irritation and even pain, and it has a very unpleasant smell.

I tried. I really did. I tried using a tiny bit, I tried applying thinly with a fan brush, I tried putting it on and going straight to bed, I tried.

This is the first time I have tested a product that my husband said to me, very gently, "You're done testing this, right?" Yes, I was done. Even my husband couldn't stand the way my face smelled any more.

Of course, everyone's chemistry is different, and I'm sure there are some that wouldn't experience this issue. Your Mileage May Vary.

I was asked to test the Spot Reducer along with this Trichloroacetic Acid peel. I've used other acid peels, but this was the first time I'd tried TCA. It's always recommended to do a patch test, and so I did.

Like many other products I've tried from MaxLife, they package it in these great cobalt blue bottles with a European-style dropper. These really work well to protect the product from light and spillage, and keep everything fresh. Mine was so fresh that when I opened it, it tried to get out, spraying everywhere. I was a little nervous because it had gotten in my eye, but a little flushing, and I was fine. I contacted the company and they said that the other active ingredients may cause the gas, and that it was still safe to use. Still, be careful upon opening!

This peel is very thin, and they recommend you dilute even more - 2 to 4 times. Like I said, strong juju. I diluted it and applied it with a brush in a very thin layer. Like most peels I've tried, it was painful, with sharp, stinging sensations. And, again, an unpleasant odor. This peel, unlike the others I've tried, doesn't require a neutralizing solution, which is nice. After I washed off the peel, my skin was quite sensitive, which is a common side effect. I followed up with their Ceramide Post-Peel Cream and that helped a lot. Apparently, after a few days, you're supposed to see actual skin peeling with this product, but I did not.

I've tried lots of other products from Max Life that I've really loved, and some innovative ones I've not seen from other brands. I really like their stuff, but these two products just didn't work out for me.

Two pieces of nailart for the price of one! The TCA-inspired nail art uses A-England Polovetsian Dances, a gorgeous indigo holo, as the base. I created the square detail first with Color Club French Tip, and then with Ulta Blue Skies, and then framed the square with a silver striper. The other nailart is inspired by the golden bottle of the Spot Reducer. I did a glitter gradient tip of Deborah Lippmann Baby, I'm a Star, over A-England Sparks Divine.