SaliZinc Neostrata Gel is a sebum-regulating anti-imperfections exfoliant formulated with glycolic acid (10%) and salicylic acid (2%). It includes other active ingredients such as niacinamide (4%) and zinc (1.2%), which stand out for their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and astringent properties.

It has a gel texture that does not completely absorb in my skin, so I only used it at night.

I bought it because my dermatologist recommended it to me as a spot treatment for blemishes and acne scars. I was very doubtful about this product since I had never tried glycolic acid on my sensitive skin. The alcohol content also concerned me.

For a few days I did several spot tests on different areas of the face to make sure that it did not irritate my skin, and it was fine, but when I applied it for the first time in a larger area it made my skin burn. I had read that it was normal to feel some stinging in the first applications, but it was too much and I had to wash my face. Still, I kept trying for the next few weeks, leaving 4-5 days between applications. I discovered that it stung less if first I used an acidic pH cleanser instead of the usual pH-neutral one that I use at night, although the tingling remained. After about 4 weeks of use, the areas where I applied it (chin and nose mainly) were very irritated and they began to peel off, so I decided to stop using it. I have to say it did help to make the blemishes disappear faster.

I do not know if it's because of the glycolic acid or the alcohol, but there's something about this product that my skin doesn't tolerate. I'm not surprised, since I have sensitive skin and I probably shouldn't use this type of product. Maybe on a more resilient skin it will do wonders about the scarring, since the formulation seems good (except alcohol...) and the active ingredients are well trusted in the cosmetic industry.