The right skincare products can make or break a beauty routine. Ideally, your skincare products should be selected based on the needs of your skin and your ultimate aesthetic goals. At Timeless Laser & Skin Care in Westlake, OH, we carry several skincare product lines to help you achieve better skin health. One of our favorite and most multi-faceted skincare products is Glytone, a collection that is suited to most skin types and tones.
What Does Glytone Do for Your Skin?
Glytone is a line of physician-grade skincare, which means the products are formulated with high concentrations of skin-supporting products, including niacinamide, azelaic acid, and even salicylic acid. Of course, the main active ingredient in all Glytone products is glycolic acid, which is where the brand gets its name.
This line of products serves several purposes. You can build your entire skincare routine around this line of products, which includes cleansers, toners, exfoliators, moisturizers, and even sunscreen. Some products are formulated for special use, such as body washes and tinted spot treatments for acne. This line of skincare products can address both anti-aging concerns and concerns for challenged acne-prone skin.
The Role of Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is a type of AHA or alpha hydroxy acid, which is a type of chemical that exfoliates the skin. Other AHAs include lactic acid, malic acid, and mandelic acid. You may be most familiar with AHAs as the active ingredients used in chemical peels, but the concentrations used in everyday skincare products are just high enough to prompt the exfoliation of your skin.
In particular, glycolic acid works by breaking down the bond between the outer layer of the skin and the layer of new skin cells underneath. When applied to the skin, glycolic acid helps peel off dead skin cells, impurities, and excess oil production. Glycolic acid is an excellent way to regulate the cellular turnover of your skin, as well as improve the appearance of your skin tone and texture.
What Glycolic Acid Helps With
Glycolic acid has a unique molecular structure because it’s smaller than other AHAs. While this means that this acid is less harsh on the skin, it also means that it can reach deeper layers of your skin over time. Glycolic acid is even small enough to work into the small space around hair follicles, which is why this acid is so effective for acne-prone skin. Some other specific concerns this acid can help with include:
- Blemishes
- Hyperpigmentation
- Anti-aging
- Brightening
- Dryness and dullness
- Lines and wrinkles
Like any other AHA, glycolic acid is a do-it-all skin active that can help you rejuvenate and regulate your skin health. In the right concentration, glycolic acid can turn the quality of your skin around and significantly improve the overall appearance of your skin, even for those who have challenging dark spots, blemishes, and pigmented acne scars.
Who Can Use Glycolic Acid?
One of the most exciting things about glycolic acid is that it can be used by just about everyone. This acid is gentle enough that it’s often recommended to people who have sensitive skin, which is a skin type that is highly reactive to other chemical agents. Almost every skin type can improve with this acid, including oily skin and combination skin. The only skin type that might not do well with this acid is people who have dry skin or generally low oil production.
Glycolic acid can also be used by most skin tones. Even people with medium to dark skin tones can safely use glycolic acid. However, the concentration and frequency of glycolic acid products must be altered for those who have darker skin, since overusing chemical exfoliants can make the skin too reactive. Your dermatology expert will be able to decide if your skin type and tone are ideal for glycolic acid products.
How Often Can You Use Glycolic Acid?
Straight glycolic acid, such as an exfoliating pad, should only be used two to three times a week for people who have normal to sensitive skin; people who have oily skin may be able to use glycolic acid daily. Naturally, the concentration of the acid will dictate the best frequency. It’s common for daily cleansers and toners to have low enough concentrations that can be safely used every day, while peel gels can only be used a couple of times a week.
Your skin type and your skin tolerance will also determine how often you can use glycolic acid products. When you incorporate AHAs into your skincare routine, you must be mindful that your skin will need time to adjust to the exfoliating chemical. When you first use glycolic acid, using products a few times a week and then gradually using products daily is the best strategy.
When Can You See Results?
Glycolic acid is often more gentle than other AHAs, so it may take some time to see your results. While you may see initial exfoliating results a few days after your first use of glycolic acid products, you may not see optimal glowing results until after about 12 weeks. This is a normal timeline for most skincare products, as it takes time for the skin to adjust to new chemicals on the skin.
What Are the Best Glytone Products?
This particular line of glycolic acid products has several different types of solutions to help you customize your skincare routine. Some people choose to use all glycolic acid-based products, while others mix and match from different product lines to create a skincare routine ideal for their skin type, tone, and goals. We will help you explore different products so you can easily find what works for you.
Cleansers
Acne Self-Foaming Cleanser is a unique lather formula that can be used morning and night to control blemishes. This cleanser contains a small percentage of salicylic acid to gently exfoliate the skin. You can allow the lather of this cleanser to sit on your skin for 30 seconds to achieve a mask cleanse. Exfoliating Body Wash is a glycolic acid-based cleanser that is formulated to smooth bumps and uneven skin texture commonly associated with KP.
Toners
Toners can be an essential part of any skincare routine since the goal of a toner is to target excess oil production and soften the skin. Acne Clearing Toner is formulated with 2% salicylic acid to enhance the penetration of other skin active ingredients, exfoliate dead skin cells, and regulate oil production. Likewise, Acne Treatment Spray for the body and chest also cleans the pores and regulates the skin.
Soultions
Soultioins are targeted skincare products that address specific concerns. Acne Tinted Spot Treatment is a double-duty product that is designed to dry and clear blemishes with resorcinol and sulfur. The tinted formula also works as a concealer so you can blur the appearance of blemishes before you apply your daily make-up.
Rejuvenating Mini Peel Gel is a gentle glycolic acid peel that more deeply exfoliates the skin to help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Enhance Brightening Soulution is an all-in-one formula that visibly improves the appearance of the skin by tightening pores and preparing skin for other treatments. This solution contains a variety of active ingredients, including azelaic acid, niacinamide, malachite extract, and salicylic acid.
Moisturizers
When you are using an AHA solution on the skin, it’s essential to moisturize your skin so you can maintain the health of your skin cells. Soothing Lipid Recovery Cream is a rich fatty-based moisturizer designed to be used post-procedure after aesthetic treatments. The camelina oil, pro-vitamin A, and shea butter formula is rich enough to replenish the lipid barrier of the skin after intense exfoliation.
Age-Defying Antioxidant Night Cream is formulated to reduce the signs of visible aging, cancel free radical accumulation from sun exposure, and improve the moisture of the skin overnight. The peptide complex in this night cream makes it an ideal addition to any skincare routine.
Sunscreen
During the day, it’s absolutely essential to wear sunscreen to protect against UV sun exposure that can irritate and prematurely age the skin. Hydra Lipid UV Mineral Sunscreen is a broadspectrum SPF 40 that simultaneously forms a barrier against UV rays and moisturizes the skin throughout the day. This soothing formula contains both hyaluronic acid and squalane, which can visibly improve the appearance of the skin.
Gently Renew Your Skin Every Day
If you want your skin to look healthy every day, then finding the right combination of skincare products is vital. The Glytone family of products can help you build a skincare routine to target each of your aesthetic concerns and manage the health of your skin. Contact Timeless Laser & Skin Care in Westlake, OH today to schedule your consultation with our skin experts.
