When I asked my mom what she wanted for her 56th birthday, she requested only one gift: Yse Beauty's Your Favorite Ex Exfoliating Pads. Before you ask, no, she doesn't normally ask me for beauty samples (and yes, I do frequently offer, like any good beauty editor daughter would!). She doesn't wear perfume, and she keeps her skincare and makeup routines very minimal.
But these peel pads are special. They're gentle yet effective, able to clear dark spots, smooth fine lines, and prevent breakouts in a single swipe. I know because I'm genuinely obsessed with them too—so are a gazillion others, it seems, as they had been sold out for months. (Yes, really. My mom counted the days.)
Now, you can likely guess why she was begging for the birthday gift. She's been rationing her final few discs for weeks, hoping I could work some beauty editor magic and snag a top-secret box. The brand was kind enough to send me its only sample left, and I was officially crowned daughter of the year. (Thank you, Yse!) Fast-forward a few weeks, and the beloved peel pads finally arrived back in stock—as you can surmise, my mom was pretty hyped.
Allow me to reiterate that my mom doesn't get this jazzed about skincare products, like, ever. She's a true product loyalist; once she finds a formula she loves, she rarely ever changes course, and Yse's peel pads are definitely her most prized beauty possession. And I can totally see why. Since adding them to my own routine, they've become nonnegotiables for a clear, healthy glow. I've convinced friends, other family members, and fellow beauty editors to give them a try, and even though I'd selfishly love to gatekeep so they don't sell out again, I simply must share every reason you should give them a whirl.
"Touch my face," Molly Sims (yes, the Molly Sims, who's the founder of Yse Beauty) instructs as we sit on a plush couch at NYC's Nine Orchard Hotel. Let me back up. It's August in the city, which means peak sweat and humidity—and for me means angry zits and uneven skin texture. I brush her cheek, and whoa, it is unbelievably soft. It also appears smooth and even-toned, with not a sunspot in sight. Sims, who admits she has struggled with cystic acne for years, tells me her skin has transformed since using her Your Favorite Ex Exfoliating Pads. This was after telling her about my own sensitive, acne-prone skin. She assures me that I'll fall head over heels for these pads.
I wasn't expecting miracles. Sure, Sims had glowing things to say about the product, but what brand founder wouldn't? Still, I went home with a bag full of Yse goodies and tested the pads that week. Pardon my French, but I immediately had a "holy shit" moment. I had been struggling with chin and forehead breakouts for the whole summer (again, sweat and humidity are not a good combo for me), and nothing had successfully kept those clogged pores—and their subsequent dark spots—at bay. That is until I tried Your Favorite Ex.
Each round is infused with glycolic acid, gluconolactone (a very gentle exfoliator), and PHAs, all of which dissolve dead skin cells and smooth texture while preventing inflammation. Glycolic acid is also known for promoting collagen production and skin brightness, which is why it's a godsend for fine lines and dark spots. My mom specifically loves how it keeps her skin soft, and like me, she discovered that the pads help decrease her hormonal acne.
The formula also comes buffered with ectoin, an ingredient known for soothing and strengthening the skin barrier, so it doesn't give me the same stinging, burning sensation as the other alcohol-soaked solutions I swiped on in middle school. I experience a little tingling around more sensitive areas (like my cheeks), but my skin doesn't flush whatsoever. (Neither does my mom's, FWIW.)
As for the glow, well, it's unmatched. The first time I used the pads, I was greeted with noticeably brighter, tighter-looking skin in the a.m. I truly have never experienced such immediate results from an exfoliating product, and my mom agrees. "I am literally addicted," she recently texted me.
Suffice it to say we both will never part with these pads. I didn't think the unassuming exfoliator would become such a secret weapon for brighter skin and fewer breakouts, but for me, these blow every other skin-clearing product out of the water. So I highly suggest copping a box (or three) for yourself before they inevitably sell out again. Given their best-seller status, I don't expect them to be available for long!
More Yse Beauty Products I'm Obsessed With
These are my favorite eye patches, period. They don't have the annoying slippage common with slimy eye patches, and they brighten the delicate skin in seconds. My fellow beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock agrees, even calling them "autocorrect" for her under-eyes.
It's a mask! It's a balm! It's a gloss! This multitasking hero is such a staple. It's nonsticky and deeply hydrating.
Don't let the name make you hesitate. Yes, this is a thicker, richer moisturizer, but it's not so dense that you couldn't wear it during the day. It sinks in like a dream.
I've been using this oil cleanser every night for the past few months, and I'm utterly obsessed. It dissolves all traces of makeup, leaving my skin dewy and never stripped.
Yes, this is a highlighter stick, but I'm calling it a multitasking MVP. I'll swipe it on my lids, my brow bone, my collarbones, and even across my lips for a hint of shimmer. It's just so pretty.
Shop Other Exfoliators I Love
I've already waxed poetic about U Beauty's sensitive skin–approved peel, but let me just say, it is magic. I love using it as a once-a-week treatment, sticking to my beloved peel pads for the remaining days.
Sofie Pavitt's mandelic acid serum will always have a place in my heart. Its gentle yet effective formula is perfect for my sensitive, acne-prone skin. I wouldn't expect anything less from the acne whisperer herself!
Another glycolic acid–infused number is this resurfacing serum, which smooths texture and fine lines without triggering inflammation.
I love everything from Tata Harper's Superkind line, but this exfoliating mask is probably my number one favorite. It's powered by self-neutralizing AHAs that automatically stop working after the preferred 20-minute time frame, meaning you can theoretically leave it on for hours (hey, it happens!) without any irritation from those potent actives.
I also love this mandelic- and lactic acid–powered mask from one of my favorite dermatologists, Naana Boakye, MD. In addition to those lovely exfoliators, it also features cocoa powder to feed skin antioxidants, plus tranexamic acid, peptides, and licorice extract to fade dark spots and even tone.
If you prefer peel pads, I also adore these rounds from Skinbetter science. They're a bit pricier, but you get what you pay for. These are super potent with the brand's signature retinoid-AHA blend (called AlphaRet), plus glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids.
On the topic of exfoliators, we can't forget about cleansers! For those with super-sensitive skin, a gently exfoliating cleanser is likely all you need to encourage cell turnover without irritating your skin barrier. This soft, purifying foam comes with a silicone brush applicator, so you can control the pressure (and, in turn, the exfoliating power) as you manually buff the skin.
Here's another peel-pad option I love. Skinfix is known for providing acne-fighting products that don't wreck your skin barrier, and these rounds perfectly fit the bill with salicylic acid, AHAs, and niacinamide.
If you're looking for super-gentle peel pads, look no further than these Elemis discs. They're formulated with lactic acid (the gentlest AHA, aside from mandelic), enzymes (which lightly slough the skin), and a probiotic ferment complex to strengthen the skin barrier during the renewal process.
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