Alpha Hydrox Review for Skin Care

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When that reflection in the mirror starts reflecting back skin that doesn’t look as young, healthy, or vibrant as we remember seeing not so long ago, your first instinct might be to panic, leading you to fork out big bucks to the most convincing product (usually meaning the website with the most alluring promises and scientific-sounding ingredients).

One such skin care line gaining attention right now is Alpha Hydrox. Offering a broad range of products targeting all major anti-aging concerns, and trumpeting scientific research and ingredients, this product looks to be the real thing.

But is it? Let’s take a look…

Brand Overview

Alpha Hydrox Review

Alpha Hydrox is one of two major lines produced by Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc., located in Denver, Colorado. Neoteric was founded in 1991 and is a subsidiary of Scott’s Liquid Gold Inc.

They manufacture and distribute skin, body, and hair care products through the Alpha Hydrox line, and also manufacture and distribute diabetic skin, hair, and scalp care products through the Neoteric Diabetic skin care line.

There does not appear to be any brick-and-mortar stores, as their products are mainly distributed on the website. The website also marks them as distributors for 2 European dry shampoo and skin care lines, Batiste and Montagne Jeunesse.

Alpha Hydrox reviews often include a brief summary of the company. Sometimes finding information about the brand can be difficult especially when it’s a relatively new brand. Fortunately, we were able to find quite a bit of information on this company.

In summary, here is what we found:

  • Alpha Hydrox is owned by Neoteric Cosmetics.
  • They are a U.S. company that manufactures all their products domestically in Denver, Colorado. (This doesn’t mean that all ingredients are made in that facility – some may be sourced from other companies, making it difficult to source where the ingredients are coming from).
  • This brand also carries a line that improves skin healing called Neoteric Diabetic. It helps those who suffer from diabetes by improving circulation.

Product and Claims

Happy charming woman outside with clear skin

About the skincare line, according to the Neoteric Cosmetics website:

Our Skin Care products, manufactured in Denver, Colorado, have been featured on Oprah, Dr. Oz and numerous other national television programs because of their ability to actually improve your skin.

For a full, complete list of all Alpha Hydrox products, we suggest you visit their official site. Here are a few popular products that this brand manufactures that you’ll want to get your hands on.

Alpha Hydrox Foam Face Wash

You need a quality face cleanser to use every morning and night. This face wash contains AHA’s that come from citrus fruits. Extremely affordable, you can purchase this facial cleanser for less than $8. With a pH balance of 6.3, this wash is more acidic than your face, which helps your skin rid itself of dead cells.

AHA Souffle

This face cream is another popular product brought forward by Alpha Hydrox. It works to exfoliate skin in a gentle manner. Unlike other exfoliants, it does not have to be washed off. Instead, use this cream as your moisturizer and leave it applied. AHA Souffle contains glycolic acid, which unclogs pores and helps repair damaged skin.

Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Lotion

The final product we’ll touch base on is their lotion. This product contains 10% glycolic acid with a low pH level of 4. This helps exfoliate skin and reduce the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines. For a full description of these products, we suggest reading more third-party reviews.

Alpha Hydrox AHA Anti-Aging Treatment Products:

  • Contain glycolic Alpha Hydroxy Acid, clinically proven to help prevent & reverse the signs of aging skin
  • Are formulated with the ideal percentages of glycolic AHAs at the most effective pH levels to actually rejuvenate skin
  • Help to erase fine lines, wrinkles and creases
  • Improve skin’s tone and refine texture
  • Help unclog pores
  • Leave skin looking healthier, clearer, more radiant & youthful
  • Are a fraction of the cost of less effective brands

The glycolic AHAs in Alpha Hydrox products are natural exfoliants that gently and gradually “peel away” dead surface skin cells, allowing fresh, new cells to emerge.

AHAs, particularly glycolic, are recommended by dermatologists and plastic surgeons throughout the world because they actually improve the skin.

Lotion for hydration

The AH line contains 16 products, as listed on the Neoteric Cosmeticswebsite:

  • Toner Astringent
  • Foaming Face Wash
  • 10% AHA Enhanced Cream (for normal skin)
  • 10% AHA Enhanced Lotion (for dry skin)
  • 10% AHA Oil Free Formula (for oily/combination skin)
  • 12% AHA Souffle (for all skin types)
  • 14% AHA Intensive Serum
  • 14% AHA Swipes
  • Retinol ResQ (.15% Pure-Active Retinol as Vitamin A)
  • Spot Light Targeted Skin Lightener (2% Hydroquinone and 10% Glycolic AHA)
  • Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30
  • Sheer Silk Moisturizer SPF 15
  • Night Replenishing Cream
  • Eye & Upper Lip Cream
  • Moisturizing Body Wash
  • 12% AHA Silk Wrap Body Lotion

Ingredients

This skincare line has a wide selection of products that includes face wash cleansers, anti-aging products, sunscreen, moisturizers, and skincare kits. While their range of items is very large, they have one thing in common – they’re formulated around AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids).

AHA’s can be synthetically made in a lab or taken from natural sources like fruits. They are popular and effective ingredients in the world of skincare. Although they’re commonly used, manufacturers need to use this ingredient with caution. Too much of it can irritate sensitive skin.

We found that most of this company’s products are formulated with a type of alpha hydroxy acid. Glycolic acid was the most prevalent.

As there are 16 individual products in the Alpha Hydrox line, you probably wouldn’t want to read through the ingredients of them all, however, each of the products does provide a list of competing ingredients.

Each product also lists the level of pH (acidity or alkalinity) it contains.

Application and Regimen Recommendations

The application of each lotion/wash product as listed on the Neoteric Cosmetics website seems fairly routine. Only 2 products required slightly more complex instructions:

  • 14% AHA Swipes – The perfect at-home facial that delivers all the radiance and smoothness of a chemical peel with little to no irritation. Precisely calibrated with 14% AHA at an effective pH of 3.7 to deliver immediate, visible results, Swipes exfoliate dead cells, allowing healthier, more radiant-looking skin to emerge.
  • Diminishes the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
  • Immediately reveals brighter, smoother, more even-toned skin
  • Gentle, non-abrasive peel
  • Instantly leaves skin radiant & smooth
  • Great for use on elbows and feet
  • Oil, fragrance & paraben-free

How To Use:

After cleansing with Foaming Face Wash, remove a 14% AHA Swipe from the jar and wipe evenly over face. If your skin is on the sensitive side, rinse thoroughly with cool water to neutralize after 5 to 15 minutes. Discard Swipe after use. Follow with an Alpha Hydrox moisturizing suncreen SFP15 or SPF30 (daytime) or Night Replenishing Crème. Use weekly, or for an anytime-exfoliating boost.

  • Retinol ResQ An effective anti-wrinkle complex that carries pure-active Vitamin A (Retinol) and the antioxidant powers of Vitamins C & E deep into the skin’s surface, where wrinkles and damage develop.
    • For use on face & neck
    • Lessens the appearance of lines & wrinkles
    • Oil, gluten & fragrance-free

How To Use:

Cleanse with Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash and apply a sheer layer of Retinol ResQ to face and neck (do not rinse off). Follow with Sheer Silk Moisturizer (daytime) or Night Replenishing Creme (evening).

Side Effects

You’ll notice that this company and other Alpha Hydrox reviews mention a very low occurrence of side effects, which isn’t false. However, users with sensitive skin need to be very cautious when they first begin using Alpha Hydrox products. AHA’s can irritate the skin, causing redness when used in large amounts.

Woman who is annoyed about something

If you want to try out this product, we suggest testing it on a small patch of skin before applying it to your entire face. If it responds positively, then go ahead and use it in your daily skincare routine. If you experience any irritation, then stop using the product immediately.

While you won’t suffer long-term damage from AHA’s, it’s still not a pleasant experience to have to deal with inflammation or redness before going to school or work. Whenever you start use of a new product, it’s always a good idea to speak with your dermatologist if you have sensitive skin or are dealing with other skin issues.

Reviews

Each of the 16 anti-aging skin products listed on the Neoteric Cosmetics website have multiple reviews posted there, most if not all being in the 4-5 star range (5 stars being the highest). Customers are overwhelmingly pleased with the texture and absorbency of each, but especially with the effectiveness of the products.

Several customers also appear to be writing as long-term users of Alpha Hydrox. There were very few negative reviews on the site; those that were listed cited that they were unimpressed with the results or did not like the consistency.

We also found numerous reviews of the Alpha Hydrox products elsewhere online, and the vast majority of those were equally as glowing. The positive reviews again stated how the results with use of the products were obvious and visible, and they also applauded the company for keeping the quality of the products consistent, and the prices so reasonable, over the years.

Again, there were not many negative reviews to be found, but those we could search out claimed the products did not work for them.

Where to Buy the Products

If interested in purchasing an Alpha Hydrox system, you can do so on their official website. There are also other online retailers like Amazon or eBay that sell their products.

When it comes down to price, we agree with other reviewers that their products are extremely affordable. An entire kit can retail for less than $50, which is a great value when compared to other brands.

Overall Rating and Our Verdict

Initially, to say we were skeptical about Alpha Hydrox would be an understatement. The claims on the site just seemed too good to be true, and the reviews on each of the products were equally as unbelievable (for example, literally every product has at least one review (usually glowing)…even the reusable pump?).

But the science behind the actual products…that seems pretty convincing. AHA is a verified and longstanding powerhouse in the realm of skin care and anti-aging. We like the inclusion of detailed ingredient lists, pH ratings, and also the fact that you can search for a skin care regime suited to your particular skin type.

The “Contact Us” section of the site (always a quick place to find red flags) offers email, written, and telephone means to get in touch, and there is detailed shipping info/FAQ. We were also impressed that the products included such noteworthy ingredients at such reasonable prices.

The only drawbacks we could find was the fact that the number of face wash products were slightly limited (especially when compared to the number of other skin care products), and the fact that the packaging could use some updating.

But, considering the track record of the company and the Alpha Hydrox line of anti-aging skin care itself, as well as the mountain of positive reviews…all for such a reasonable price? You can’t go wrong with at least giving it a try!

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Avatar for Megan Foley

Megan has been a freelance writer and editor since 2016. In that time, she’s penned a diverse collection of articles for online publication, with a focus on skincare and beauty. From in-depth product reviews to concise marketing content, Megan is passionate about developing content that informs, entertains, and inspires.