Quiet Exfo — Gentle AHA Exfoliant

Overview

Exfoliation is where most routines go wrong — not because the ingredient is bad, but because the dose is wrong and the frequency is undisciplined. Quiet Exfo is our answer: a genuinely effective acid at a genuinely tolerable strength, buffered so it works gradually instead of all at once.

We use 5% lactic acid, the gentlest of the common AHAs and the one with the largest molecule, so it works mostly in the upper layers rather than diving deep. Lactic acid is also a humectant, which means it exfoliates and hydrates at the same time — a rare and useful combination for dry or dehydrated skin that usually cannot tolerate acids at all. Alongside it, 1% gluconolactone (a polyhydroxy acid) adds an even larger-molecule exfoliant with antioxidant benefits and a strong safety record on sensitive skin.

Buffered and Slow-Release

The formula sits at pH 3.8 — acidic enough to be effective, high enough to be comfortable — and includes a buffer system that slows the acid's activity over the first hour after application. Instead of a sharp sting that fades, you get a mild tingle that stops. Most people feel nothing at all after the first two or three uses.

What It Actually Does

With consistent twice-weekly use: rough, bumpy texture on the cheeks and forehead smooths out; post-blemish red and brown marks fade measurably faster; skin takes moisturiser more evenly and makeup sits better; the dull, grey look that builds from dead cell accumulation goes away. Results on texture typically show within two weeks. Marks take four to eight weeks because they are pigment, not surface cells.

Who It's For

Normal, dry, combination and dull skin; anyone dealing with post-inflammatory marks; anyone who has been burned — literally — by a strong acid before. Not for skin currently compromised by over-exfoliation, active eczema or rosacea flares, or while using a prescription retinoid on the same night.

How To Use

Use in the evening only, twice a week to start, on clean dry skin. Apply 2–3 drops with fingertips across the face, avoiding the eye area, the corners of the nose and any broken skin. Wait five minutes, then follow with moisturiser. Always wear SPF the following morning — acids make skin more photosensitive, and skipping sunscreen undoes the work twice over.

Do not use on the same night as Night Shift retinal. Alternate nights. If your skin feels tight or looks flushed, drop to once a week. More is not better here; consistency at a low dose beats intensity at a high one.

Key Features

• 5% lactic acid + 1% gluconolactone (PHA) at a buffered pH 3.8
• Lactic acid doubles as a humectant — exfoliates and hydrates together
• Slow-release buffer minimises stinging
• 2% panthenol and sodium PCA to offset acid-induced dryness
• Visible texture improvement in ~2 weeks, mark fading in 4–8 weeks
• Fragrance-free, no menthol, no cooling agents, no scrubbing beads
• Vegan and cruelty-free