Today we will be talking about the best exfoliators for milia and how they should be more effective at removing it than using retinol.

Important note Do not use them near the eyes or on the eyelids. They are meant to be used for milia on the cheeks, chin, and nose.

This is more like a toner and exfoliant that can be used for treating milia and is a product that people with milia-prone skin have recommended.

It helps with uneven skin tone, textural irregularities, and dullness. It is also cheap and the pH of this formula is approximately 3.6.

What ingredients does it contain?

Aqua, Glycolic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Pca, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Hexyl Nicotinate, Dextrin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Gellan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.

This is an overnight peel that contains both glycolic acid and lactic acid that helps to exfoliate the skin while you sleep.

This can be good exfoliant for milia as it contains 2 AHAs – glycolic acid and lactic acid.

What ingredients does it contain?

Purified Water, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polysorbate 60, Stearyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Organic Green Tea Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.

This is a gentle leave-on exfoliant with 2% salicylic acid that quickly unclogs pores, smooths wrinkles, brightens, and evens out skin tone.

It clears and minimizes enlarged pores and has a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly.

You can use it twice daily after cleansing & toning your skin.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water⁠, Methylpropanediol⁠, Butylene Glycol⁠, Salicylic Acid⁠, Polysorbate 20⁠, Camellia Oleifera⁠, Sodium Hydroxide⁠, and Tetrasodium EDTA.

This is an at-home chemical peel that contains a 25% blend of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Polyhydroxy Acids, including glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and gluconolactone.

This is a high-performance peel that can help with milia and also prevent it. The only problem is that it is really expensive.

It helps to refine pore size, diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve clarity and brightness, even skin tone, and provide smoothness to the skin.

What ingredients does it contain?

Activator Pad Ingredients:

Aqua, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Arginine, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Bisulfite, Gluconolactone, Ammonium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben.

Neutralizer Pad Ingredients:

Aqua, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Glycine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Benzalkonium Chloride.

This is an exfoliant that contains 2% salicylic acid along with glycolic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides.

This is pretty cheap and can be an option if you want to remove milia.

What ingredients does it contain?

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: SALICYLIC ACID 2%

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, GLYCERIN, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, GLYCOLIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, NIACINAMIDE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, DISODIUM EDTA, HYDROXYPROPYL GUAR, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, XANTHAN GUM, CARBOMER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, TRIETHYL CITRATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLESTEROL, CHLORPHENESIN, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, BENZOIC ACID

This is the strongest exfoliant out of all the other products we mentioned here and is the most effective and cheapest option to treat milia.

We recommend going with the ordinary 7% glycolic acid first as people have had positive experiences with it. Then you can try out Paula’s choice or the cerave acne control gel. If that doesn’t work then, go for adapalene as it is the strongest exfoliant.

• Mario Badescu – Drying Cream and Spot Treatment (use it only on the areas where there are milia and avoid the eye areas).

• Mario Badescu – Silver Powder Oil-Absorbent Powder Mask (can help to drive milia out).