TikTok Creators Are Giving This Liquid Exfoliant a 10 Out of 10

There’s no sugarcoating it: Adult breakouts suck. What also sucks is that most of the treatments we used as a teen are now too much for our drier, aging skin (blerg). That’s why we were excited to hear about Burt’s Bees Clear & Balanced—a clean, dermatologist-tested skin care line set out to work harder, not harsher to clear and soothe blemishes—and their breakout (no pun intended) product Even Tone Liquid Exfoliant ($13).

The product has been circulating on TikTok, with influencers adding it to their GRWM routines along with the brand’s Herbal Blemish Stick ($8). Curious what a liquid exfoliant is exactly? Here’s everything you need to know.

Let’s take it from the top, shall we? According to our friends at the American Academy of Dermatology, exfoliation is “the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layers of your skin.” Skin is in a constant state of regeneration. Because of this, most of us end up with dead cells that sit on the surface and cause that dullness, dryness and breakouts for some.

Exfoliation helps remove those old cells, allowing healthy, new skin underneath to come to the surface. And there are two ways to do this: chemical and physical exfoliation.

Chemical exfoliation, which is the kind we’ll focus on here, uses, well, chemicals (more specifically alpha or beta hydroxy acids or fruit enzymes) to gently dissolve surface skin cells and the intracellular glue that holds them together so they are more easily removed. Liquid exfoliants are a form of chemical exfoliation. On the other hand, physical exfoliation typically uses a grainy scrub to slough the skin surface. Both forms have their merits, but surprisingly, liquid formulas tend to be gentler and also have anti-aging benefits.

Most derms, including the folks at Burt’s Bees, recommend easing into an exfoliating routine with just one to two days per week to start, and then working your way up to no more than three to four days per week from there.

It’s important to mention that neither chemical nor physical exfoliants should be a part of your daily skincare routine. Over-exfoliating is possible and if you notice signs of this (excessive dryness, redness, peeling/flaking, soreness or inflammation) stop exfoliating and discuss the products you’re using with your esthetician or dermatologist before easing back in.

Well, for starters, the reviews are rave. According to TikTok beauty creators, this product is a game-changer for setting your skin up for success—especially if you’re someone who struggles with uneven pigmentation, such as dark spots or post-acne blemish marks. Formulated with a 10 percent blend of AHA, PHA and BHA, it gently exfoliates the skin on your face (and body) to reveal brighter skin after regular use. It’s suitable for all skin types, in fact it was developed with a dermatologist whose professional focus has been on melanin-rich skin. But the best part about this exfoliator is that it’s formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS (which cannot be said of many blemish-fighting skin care products).