Glycolic 101

Why go glycolic?

Glycolic acid has long been heralded as a cure-all for dull, lackluster skin. Used in a plethora of skincare products, this natural acid boasts the ability to refine and renew the skin, diminishing fine lines, sun-spots, and acne.

How does glycolic acid work?

Glycolic acid is the smallest type of alpha hydroxy acid and has many applications in skincare products as a natural skin exfoliant. Its capability to penetrate the skin is key when allowing old, sun-damaged skin cells to shed, renewing the skin’s texture and vitality.

By loosening the glue-like substance that keeps dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, glycolic acid can help you gain back that healthy glow. This exfoliation process may help reduce wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, and promote an overall rejuvenated appearance.

Through stimulating new cell and collagen production, fine lines and shallow acne scars are reduced, improving the skin’s tone and texture. As well as promoting new skin cell growth, glycolic acid can also help unclog pores--aiding those with acne-prone skin.

Glycolic Acid for at-home Use:

There are many options for using glycolic acid at home. Low concentrate glycolic acid can be found in creams and moisturizers. Unlike regular moisturizers, these also have the ability to promote the ongoing creation of revitalized skin cells.

Higher glycolic acid content can be found in glycolic acid peels, with more instantaneous results. Peels provide the most effective at-home treatments as the glycolic acid is formulated in a way that is safe, yet very effective. Non-invasive and non-surgical, glycolic acid peels can refine the skin’s texture, leaving skin younger-looking and rejuvenated.

The lower the pH level of the glycolic peel, the deeper and quicker it will penetrate into the skin. Physician-strength peels can have a pH level as low as pH0.6. Though low-level pH peels can be highly beneficial to severely damaged skin, they must be administered by a dermatologist.

While store bought peels are less potent, they are easier to use, safe for use without medical supervision and can garner similar results from the comfort of your own home.

An at home glycolic peel, capable of removing pore-clogging debris, improving skin tone and texture, is thus the perfect, affordable solution to beautiful skin.

Tips For Younger Looking Skin This Year

A new year brings to mind a lot of ways to improve. You want to eat better, dress better, treat your body as the temple it is...especially after the overindulgence of the holidays. Your skin deserves just as much attention as the rest of you, especially during colder weather getting and after a few nights of skipped makeup removal during the holidays. Whether you want to eliminate unsightly blemishes, smooth out wrinkles, or brighten up dark spots, we have everything you need to reach those skincare #goals.

Give your skin a jump start with our Fusion Peel. Perfect for all skin types, the Fusion Peel offers in depth rejuvenation with little to no downtime. Dead skin cells are removed and pores are cleared of oil and cellular debris. This proprietary fusion of acids helps to minimize fine lines and hyperpigmentation while combating breakouts. This is the reset your skin needs to look fresh and clear for the new year!

If you don’t want to go as far as a peel or you’re looking to maintain results between treatments, you need the Glycolic 10% Daily Exfoliator. This daily use treatment eliminates dead skin cells, which in turn reduces pore size and breakouts. Glycolic acid encourages cell turnover, boosting collagen and elastin--just what you need to minimize (or prevent!) wrinkles and fine lines. When used between peel treatments, it maximizes and lengthens results to keep skin looking radiant.

Looking to achieve younger looking eyes? Our Vitamin C30X Eye Lift Kit tackles the trifecta of ocular issues: fine lines, sagging skin, and dark under eye circles. Containing both a serum and a line filler, this kit works deep into the sensitive skin of the eyes, renewing without irritating. The serum improves tone and reduces the dark circles while the line filler improves moisture and elasticity. Crow’s feet will be a thing of the past and you’ll be looking brighter and more energetic.

There’s no skin that doesn’t need a great moisturizer. Our Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream heals and hydrates, making it perfect for daily and post-peel use. Dry and combination skin can benefit from use as an overnight moisturizer, imparting deep hydration. Effective moisturizer keeps skin from drying out even during cold weather. Skin is protected from age and environmental damage, appearing plump and smooth. If you’re using it after a peel, this is a great way to impart lost moisture, protect healing skin, and extend results.

Ready to jump into the new year skin first? Beautiful skin is the gift that lasts through every season, as long as you’re willing to give it what it needs. Smooth and tight, clear and bright, whatever your goal is, we’re here to get you there.

Best Skincare for Fall

Fall is our favorite season for a lot of reasons. The weather starts turning cool, you get to pull your favorite clothes out of the back of the closet, and, okay, yeah, Pumpkin Spice Lattes! But chillier weather isn’t always great for your skin. As your summer glow fades, dryness can set in. Never fear: bust out your boots, your scarves, and these products and you’ll be set for your best fall ever!

Even if you don’t normally consider yourself to have dry skin, the change in seasons has a way of evaporating all the moisture in the air...and on your face. Natural Squalane Oil is fortified to work for dry skin. This nutrient-rich, deep penetrating moisturizer nourishes the surface of your face, soothing and softening even the dryest skin. And if it helps protect against wrinkles and other signs of aging? We’ll call that an added bonus.

If you haven’t yet heard that hyaluronic acid is one of the best moisturizers you can use, this is the time to find out. The name “acid” might make you wary, but it’s full of natural properties that heal and hydrate. Gentle enough for everyday use, Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream is a rich, powerful moisturizer that is the perfect heaviness for cooler weather. You can use it as your daily cream or leave it on overnight for deep penetration--either way, skin will be left plump, softened, and renewed.

Think an exfoliator is too rough on your skin during the colder seasons? Think again. Glycolic 10% Daily Exfoliator is just what you need to prevent the buildup of dead skin cells. Exfoliating maintains your complexion to keep breakouts away, while the glycolic acid minimizes pores. Renewed skin and smaller pores? Sounds like the perfect base for moisturizers that will keep skin hydrated and smooth.

Your skin might do even better with a scrub, like the one found in the Fusion Duo Kit. The microdermabrasion scrub is light enough to use every day, but powerful enough to rejuvenate skin. Paired with the kit’s Pro Collagen Serum, skin is left renewed and strengthened. The serum’s boost of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and natural extracts restores elasticity. Healthy skin can withstand even the toughest of winters.

When you’re coming out of the sunny summer, your skin may look great: there’s no mistaking that healthy glow of a happy vacation. But because most people forget to use their SPF (yeah...we mean you), that glow can come with sun damage that is much more evident when your tan fades. The powerful antioxidants in Vitamin C30X Anti-Aging Serum fights to diminish UV Damage, sun spots, and other visible signs of hyperpigmentation. By promoting healthier skin function, this serum can reduce inflammation, minimize fine lines, and even helps to protect the most delicate areas around the mouth and eyes.

One of the most surprising things to switch up during the winter months is your cleanser. All cleansers are not made equal and what works in summer doesn’t always work the rest of the year. During the summer, it’s important to be able to wash away heavy sunscreens…not to mention the heavy sweat! Swapping out a more gentle cleanser in fall will keep your skin from stripping when it’s at it’s most vulnerable. Pre-Peel Cleanser is perfect for everyday use and will encourage necessary skin cell turnover. Your skin: clean and ready for your heavier moisturizing products. You: radiant and gorgeous.

The Best Skincare for Dads

For the lifetime of care that fathers give us, it feels good to be able to give something back and take care of them in return. Even the greatest dad amongst them tends to neglect his own self care while he’s busy helping others. But no matter how tough he may be, every man deserves a little extra boost to his confidence and overall sense of well-being. The gift of healthier, younger looking skin is a great way to show him you care and that his skin deserves a little extra attention.

With Father’s Day approaching, we’ve hand-picked some of the best products to create a Father’s Day Gift with his health specifically in mind! 

These are essential products to boost his skin’s health and appearance, and will quickly become his secret skincare weapons. Whether he has an important meeting coming up, or just wants a more youthful edge on a daily basis, he’s sure to thank you for the difference this kit makes in his life!

Hyaluronic Replenish Serum 

What makes this ingredient such a wonder is its ability to hold moisture. It’s naturally present in the connective tissue throughout your body. While it moisturizes, it strengthens the exterior layer of your skin, leaving it softer and more youthful looking.

The Hyaluronic Replenish Serum is great for daily use, or after a peel. It’s especially great for men who have dealt with sun damage, acne, or rosacea. It counteracts wrinkles as it smoothens and softens his skin.

Glycolic Micro Peel Scrub

This scrub contains real microdermabrasion crystals to resurface and rejuvenate his skin. It can be used 1-2 times a week for a visibly refreshed face, or to prep the skin before a peel and increase its effectiveness. Men naturally have thicker, tougher skin than women do, so a regular exfoliating routine is a valuable tool for men to have in their skincare arsenal.

Pre-Peel Cleanser

As an added bonus, you will receive a free Pre-Peel Cleanser in this kit! This is a fantastic, lightweight daily cleanser with glycolic acid . It has the added benefit of prepping your skin for a more effective peel by lowering its pH level.

Which Chemical Peel Is Right For Me?

Determining which chemical peel is right for you is a difficult decision but the most important question a person needs to ask themselves is what are your goals for your skin. It is important to realize that all chemical peels all differ in result and how deep they penetrate the skin.

If you want to exfoliate the skin, then using a low strength glycolic, jessner or salicylic chemical peel can be used. In order to correct any pigment abnormalities such as melasma, using an AHA Kojic peel is very beneficial. For deeper peels that target fine lines and wrinkles, a TCA peel is a good peel to use.

In order to maintain healthy skin, it is vital to use a chemical peel to maintain that beauty. Several factors should be considered before applying a peel which include possible downtime and budget. A chemical peel that is applied by an esthetician usually ranges between $200 and $300 per application; however, any individual who is knowledgeable on the result they want to achieve can apply a peel.

It is important to consult with an esthetician so they can guide you in the proper direction and can help you with the result you plan on achieving. Please take a look through our  peel lineup and talk to our estheticians before making any decision.

What Are Some Exfoliation Options I Can Use?

Can't decide between the exfoliation options? Let us help you in some handy information. Exfoliants are charged with the task of removing dull, dead cells on the skin’s outermost surface. There are two general categories of exfoliation treatments: topical and mechanical. The exfoliation action of topical treatments may be considered “physical,” as when abrasive action is applied to create friction to slough off the dead cells, or “chemical,” as when the natural exfoliating properties of the topical product alone get the job done. 

Chemical exfoliants dissolve and loosen dead skin cells and encourage them off the skin. Once the dead skin cells are removed, new, healthy skin cells are revealed, creating a more youthful, vibrant complexion. Physical exfoliation has a long history of popularity thanks to its simplicity, reliability and versatility. There are two kinds of physical exfoliants: Gommage applications, also known as “sloughing creams,” best used on young, oily skin and rubbed into the skin using massage-like movements and the good old scrub applications. Which are often used for dry to normal, sensitive as well as mature skin, really depends on the constitute of the scrub. 

Chemical exfoliation as “the application of a liquid or gel solution that contains an alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) or beta hydroxyl acid (BHA).” AHAs may include glycolic, lactic, citric, malic and tartaric acids; the most commonly used BHA in skin care is salicylic acid. Fruit enzymes such as pumpkin, papain (from papaya) or bromelain (from pineapple) also fit into this category. Enzymes functionally work to ‘digest’ dead skin cells after they have been brought to the surface.

 The skin cells are like layers of bricks held together by a glue-like substance. AHAs dissolve the glue that holds the cells together, which allows them to fall off. BHAs, on the other hand, digest protein, dissolving the actual skin cell.” Because the skin has an acid mantle to protect itself, a chemical exfoliant needs to have a specific pH to work. The skin’s pH range is 4.5 to 5.5, thus to penetrate the protective mantle, the product pH must be lower. So the simplicity of choosing the right peel lies in your hands and the options are there!

Glycolic Acid Attacks Bacteria In Pimples?

There are many different types of chemical peels: Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid Peel, Jessner's Peel, TCA Peel, AHA Peels, a our special Fusion Peel, but only a couple of them attack the bacteria that causes the development of pimples. A study was performed by a doctor in Japan name Dr. Yuko Takenaka at Tokyo Women's Medical University. Their study wanted to determine the effect of glycolic acid chemical peels on inflammatory acne.

The doctor and her team performed the study on nine women aged 25-35 with severe cases of acne. They found that each woman all had a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes, which is associated with acne. Each researcher grew the bacteria in a petri dish and then added glycolic acid. The results found that the glycolic acid had inhibited the growth of the bacteria. With these promising results, the doctor and her team applied glycolic acid to one side of the subjects faces. 

The study showed that the bacteria on the side of where the glycolic acid was applied had significantly less bacteria than the other cheek that wasn't treated with the glycolic acid. Moreover, the side applied with glycolic acid had significantly less acne scars then the side not applied with the glycolic acid.

This research supports the use of chemical peels and the effectiveness that it has on the individuals who have cystic acne and strongly suggests that glycolic acid is a great substitute to the harsh alternative of benzoyl peroxide.

Want to see if it works for you? Try our glycolic peels today!

Containing Cold Sores When Performing Chemical Peels

Cold sores can occur when there is any type of disturbance to the skin, even when performing a chemical peel. Before performing any type of chemical peel on yourself, it is important that you visit a dermatologist to make sure you are fit to perform any type of peel or speak to a licensed esthetician. Speak to a professional and explain to them that you have had breakouts of cold sores in the past. In order to prevent the cold sores from inflammation, it may behoove the individual to start medication to prevent or even diminish the possibility of reactivation of the cold sores.


Approximately 90% of people are infected or have been infected by some form of the Herpes Virus. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion all stimulate the skin and can reactivate the virus that usually live in the sensory nerves.


The chemical peels stimulate the nerves and decrease the barriers allowing the virus to start and the cold sores to form. If the peel is more superficial, doctors will prescribe different medications to combat the cold sores. Superficial peels can include Glycolic Acid, TCA peels and Jessner Peels. 


Chemical peels are extremely safe when you have cold sores, however the key to containing them is preventing them from the beginning!

How Daily Facial Cleansing Can Be the Easiest Part of the Beauty Routine

Daily facial cleansing may appear to be the simplest and easiest part of the beauty routine, and if done correctly can promote a healthy glow. “Finding the right cleanser for your skin type is very important but that is only the first step,” says Dr. David Bank, President of the New York State Society for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. “Equally important is knowing how to properly cleanse your face.” Below Dr. Bank gives you the top ingredients to look for in a facial cleanser for different skin woes. 

• ACNE-PRONE: Look for cleansers with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur. These ingredients will gently exfoliate skin while removing bacteria and dirt that can clog pores and form acne.
• ANTI-AGING: Look for cleansers with alpha-hydroxyl acid, vitamins A, B, C and E, and green tea extract. They will exfoliate skin, removing dead skin cells and help new cell growth while repairing skin damage due to environmental assaults.
• SENSITIVE SKIN: Cleansers that contain lactic acid, glycerin or hyaluronic acid will work to clean the skin without provoking irritation.
• DRY SKIN: Ingredients like vitamin A, C and F and hyaluronic acid work best for dry skin as they help hydrate the skin by holding moisture and drawing it deep into the skin.
• REDNESS: Aloe vera, soy and chamomile are ingredients that are gentle and moisturizing enough to the skin so irritation will not occur while cleansing.

The second step is learning how to properly cleanse your face. Below are seven simple cleansing rules to clearer, brighter and younger looking skin.

1. Start with Clean Hands: Keep bacteria and dirt from hands at bay by washing hands and then be sure to rinse ALL of the soap off before moving on so that chemicals from the hand soap do not react with the sensitive skin on your face.

2. Remove all make up: Gently remove all make-up with make-up remover towelettes or a cotton pad soaked with olive oil. Removing make-up first allows for a more thorough cleaning.

3. Lukewarm Water: Start with a warm water flush to open pores and loosen dirt. Caution: Water that is too hot can shock skin and cause broken capillaries.

4. Activate the cleanser: Apply face wash onto fingertips of one hand. Rub hands together to form lather; this helps to activate the cleanser.

5. Clean: Work fingertips in a circular motion along the face and neck. It is important to be gentle so that skin does not get irritated. By rubbing in a circular motion you massage the face, stimulating the blood and oxygen.

6. Rinse: Rinse cleanser off by splashing lukewarm water on the face. Do not rub face as this can cause irritation.

7. Pat face dry with a clean towel: Cotton towels work best because they have less of an abrasive nature. Also, wash towels after each use as bacteria clings to washcloths and towels.

AHA Kojic Acid Peel 101

Kojic Acid is a powerful skin-brightening agent that is naturally derived mostly from the fermentation of sake. Yes, I am talking about the Japanese wine we shoot back with sushi, from time to time. Kojic Acid is also known as the healthier alternative to harsh bleaching agents such as Hydroquinone.

In the AHA Kojic Acid Peel there are a wide range of exfoliating, highly water-soluble ingredients such as Glycolic and Lactic Acid (AHA's) that help get rid of that annoying acne.

The AHA Kojic Peel inhibits melanin production while simultaneously reducing disorders such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.

This peel is ideal for multiple skin types:

-Normal

-Sensitive

-Dry

-Hyper-pigmented

-Sun-damaged

-Dull

-Uneven

It is also suitable for those of you who are new to chemical peels. While there are some side effects such as a slight stinging sensation, a heightened skin sensitivity, flaking, minor redness, and a downtime of 7-10 days, the benefits far outway the negative.

The benefits that result from the AHA Kojic Peel is improved skin tone, texture and clarity, reductions of acne, clogged pores, shallow wrinkles, fine lines, melasma, and hyper-pigmentation. It also increases collagen and elastin production.

So next time your skin needs a re-vamp and some brightening use an AHA Kojic Peel!

Chemical Peels 101

 

A Chemical peel or skin peel involves:

The application of a specific solution to the surface of the skin to peel away the outermost layers, revealing the fresh skin beneath.  This skin peeling method is used to treat a variety of skin conditions including acne, rosacea, fine wrinkling, blotchy pigmentation, ingrown hairs, yellow complexion and dry skin. Chemical peels are most often performed on the face but may also be beneficial on the neck, chest, back, hands, arms and legs.

 Why Use A Chemical Peel?

Chemical peels, also known as chemical resurfacing, are chemical treatments to produce an improved appearance of the face. Chemical peels are used for the treatment of photoaging (from sun damage), wrinkles, scarring, acne, pre-cancerous lesions, and discoloration (dyschromia) or uneven skin tone. Chemical peels produce controlled injury to the skin to promote the growth of new skin with an improved appearance.

Many different chemicals are used including glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), salicylic acid, “Jessners“ solution, and phenol. The different chemicals produce different degrees of injury to the skin.

The Many Layers Of Skin 

 

There are two layers of the skin. The outer layer is called the epidermis and the inner layer, the dermis.
Superficial peels (e.g. glycolic acid) produce very superficial injury, confined to the epidermis. Superficial peels can help improve conditions, such as acne and dyschromia. Deeper peels, (e.g. phenol peels) produce injury within the dermis and can reverse moderate-to-severe photoaging and wrinkles. In general, the deeper peels offer the most dramatic results but require longer recovery periods and carry a higher risk of complications. 

 

The depth of chemical peeling 

....depends on the type of chemical used. It's best not to assume that a low % of acid is less abrasive than a higher percentage. For example: Salicylic Acid 20% is almost as strong as Glycolic 50%. TCA 30% is a completely different peeling agent and can penetrate into the upper layers of the dermis, causing burns if not used properly.

If you want to learn more about chemical skin peels please leave a comment with your questions. If you have specific questions and would like to speak with a skincare professional we are happy to help just call toll free 1-866-468-4771