Facial Radiance Pads - FAB or Fad?

First Aid Beauty's Facial Radiance Pads

Exfoliating facial pads seem to be everywhere at the moment. The price ranges for these little discs of wonder varies hugely, with some courses costing £100s. But the question is, what are they and what do they do?! The key to their magic lies in the alpha hydroxy acids contained within the formula the pads are soaked in. These acids have quite a number of beneficial properties and as such, are taking the beauty world by storm. Not only do they exfoliate and tone, they can also help to boost collagen production (read as bye bye fine lines) and brighten your skin. I don't really think there is anyone who wouldn't be interested in some, if not all, of the benefits they provide so it's no wonder they have become so popular in recent years!

 I was really curious to try them considering their numerous benefits so have started out with First Aid Beauty's Facial Radiance Pads. First Aid Beauty is an American brand which was launched by Lilli Gordon in 2009. The main goal was to fill a gap in the market for products that treat both every day and more serious skin conditions while still providing that luxury feel. I for one have suffered with blemishes and problem skin since I was about 12 years old so was interested to try their one of their products.

The alpha hydroxy acids contained within the Facial Radiance Pads are a combination of lactic and glycolic acids at a concentration of 5%. That is at the lower end of what is advised to be an effective concentration but it still enough to provide some great results. For me, it was actually the perfect entry level as these products can be a little harsh on sensitive skin so its a good idea to build up to the higher concentrations.

The Facial Radiance Pads are priced at 60 for £22 or 28 for £12 so are pretty budget friendly, which is especially good if its your first foray into the world of exfoliating pads. There is nothing more frustrating than spending a large amount of money on a product, only for it to be your skin's worst enemy so at least this way you wouldn't be too out of pocket if you decided they weren't for you. What I have found that increases their affordability even further, is that half a pad is more than enough for one use so you could always cut the pads in half to make them last even longer.

First Aid Beauty's description of the pads are as follows:

"FAB Facial Radiance® Pads contain just the right amount of lactic and glycolic acids to make them safe and effective for daily use. Cucumber and Indian gooseberry tone the skin, while lemon peel and licorice root leave the skin bright and glowing. FAB’s facial radiance pads are free of parabens, harsh chemicals and colorants."

As you can see, there is certainly a great combination of ingredients contained within the pads. Not only will you see the effect of AHAs but also benefits from licorice, lemon and cucumber. Most importantly as well, the product contains no harsh chemicals and should be suitable for sensitive skin.

So what were my results? I have been using the pads for a month now about 3 times a week. Although they are supposed to be suitable for daily use, I feel like it would probably be overkill for my sensitive skin so I decided to limit the use a little, at least at first.

The texture on the Facial Radiance Pads also helps with gentle exfoliation

The pads are loaded with plenty of the treatment itself and I haven't had any trouble with them drying out at all once the product was opened. They have a bumpy texture which also aids in the gentle exfoliation and a light, fresh scent. I tend to experience a very gentle tingle while applying them but there is no "sting" that can be associated with some of the higher concentrated products. Given this, I think unless you have extremely sensitive skin, they should definitely suit most skin types.

Over the course of a month, I have been genuinely impressed with the change this product has made to my skin. It is far smoother, the fine lines around my eyes are now barely visible and it is so much brighter. Using them on a regular basis has also had the added benefit of making it so much easier to apply my makeup as I have a much better base to work on. They have become a staple part of my beauty routine and I will definitely be keeping them around! I think these products will really enhance any beauty regime with their additional properties and I'm interested to try similar products in the future to see how they compare. 

Have you tried exfoliating pads, by FAB or another brand? What did you think of them, are they worth the time or just another fad?