NeoStrata Resurface High Potency Cream Review

NeoStrata Resurface High Potency Cream is an 18% Glycolic Acid and Lactobionic Acid night cream, sitting at the top of NeoStrata's glycolic acid strength ladder. It's formulated for skin that has already adapted to lower-strength AHAs, and is aimed at helping improve the appearance of texture, tone and fine lines. It is not suitable for sensitive skin.

What is NeoStrata Resurface High Potency Cream?

This is NeoStrata's step-up night cream for experienced Glycolic Acid users. It combines a high 18% concentration of Glycolic Acid with Lactobionic Acid and Vitamin E in a silky, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic base designed for nightly use. It sits above NeoStrata's entry-level and mid-strength AHA products, and is positioned for mature or photodamaged skin that needs a more intensive approach to resurfacing than a starter product can offer.

Key ingredients

Glycolic Acid (18%)

Glycolic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that works on the skin's surface to loosen the bonds between dead skin cells, helping improve the appearance of texture, tone and dullness with regular use. At 18%, this is a high concentration intended for skin already accustomed to AHA exfoliation. Read more in the Glycolic Acid glossary entry.

Lactobionic Acid

Lactobionic Acid is a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) with humectant properties, meaning it helps draw and hold moisture in the skin. It's included here to offset some of the drying effect that a high-strength Glycolic Acid formula can otherwise have. See the Lactobionic Acid glossary entry for more detail.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant included to help support the skin barrier alongside the exfoliating actives. Read more in the Vitamin E glossary entry.

Who it's for — and who should avoid it

NeoStrata positions this cream for adults with dry, normal or oily skin who already use Glycolic Acid regularly and want to progress to a stronger formula, typically for concerns like uneven tone, rough texture or visible signs of cumulative sun exposure. It is not intended for first-time AHA users.

This product is not recommended for sensitive skin. At 18% Glycolic Acid, it's one of the stronger over-the-counter AHA formulas available, and skin that reacts easily to actives is more likely to experience irritation, redness or excessive flaking. Anyone unsure whether their skin can tolerate this strength should start with a lower-percentage NeoStrata AHA product first and build up gradually.

How to use it

• Apply in the evening, to cleansed, dry skin.
• Use a thin, even layer — a high-strength formula like this does not need a heavy application.
• Introduce gradually if you're moving up from a lower-strength AHA, rather than using it nightly from the start.
• Follow with a daily SPF the following morning, since AHA use can increase sun sensitivity.
• Avoid combining with other strong exfoliants (retinoids, other high-strength acids) on the same night unless directed by a skin professional.

Pairing it with the rest of a NeoStrata routine

NeoStrata's Glycolic Acid range is built to be used as a system, with cleansers and treatment steps at different strengths. Two products worth knowing alongside this cream:

• NeoStrata Foaming Glycolic Wash — a gentler, rinse-off way to introduce Glycolic Acid into a cleansing step, rather than a leave-on treatment.
• NeoStrata Clarify Gel Plus — a lighter-weight AHA gel from a lower rung of the same strength ladder, useful for comparison or for skin not yet ready for the High Potency Cream.

For a full view of how this cream sits against the rest of the brand's Glycolic Acid and AHA lineup by strength, see our NeoStrata Glycolic Acid and AHA products ranked guide. For the wider NeoStrata range, visit the NeoStrata brand hub.

Verdict

NeoStrata Resurface High Potency Cream is a well-positioned top-tier option for skin that has genuinely built up tolerance to Glycolic Acid and wants a more intensive nightly resurfacing step. The addition of Lactobionic Acid and Vitamin E gives it more support for the skin barrier than a plain high-strength Glycolic Acid product might have. It is not a starting point — and it's explicitly not for sensitive skin — but for the right, experienced user it's a logical step up within the NeoStrata system.