PRODUCT REVIEW: THE ORDINARY GLYCOLIC ACID 7% TONING SOLUTION – BEST AHA EXFOLIATOR AND BEST GLYCOLIC ACID DEODORANT
THE ORDINARY | GLYCOLIC ACID 7% TONING SOLUTION
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, Skincare Hacks: Glycolic Acid Is the Natural Deodorant that Works! You can still catch the full piece here.
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The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution has earned its place alongside The Inkey List’s Glycolic Acid Liquid Toner. They are similar formulas, though The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid toner is formulated with a lower concentration of AHA.
There are many more soothing extracts in this one — and at much higher levels, meaning The Ordinary’s glycolic toner is less likely to irritate the skin or cause a reaction in sensitive skin.
The ingredients immediately following water and Glycolic Acid in the INCI are Rosa Damascena Flower Water and Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water — an extraction of common European cornflower that’s rich in antioxidant polyphenols and, when used in skin care, possesses anti-inflammatory, skin conditioning and astringent benefits.
What is Glycolic Acid?
There is an insightful article from the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, Glycolic Acid: What It Is and Why You Should Use It. In it, the experts expound on the many superb benefits of Glycolic Acid for the skin.
Glycolic Acid Benefits
Using an exfoliant with glycolic acid for your face results in a brighter, more even toned complexion. Like all AHAs, glycolic acid works by helping turn over spent cells on skin’s surface.
This type of exfoliation addresses numerous skin concerns, including sun damage, uneven tone, rough, flaky patches of skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. In higher concentrations, glycolic acid can even improve the look of deeper wrinkles.
Studies also show that glycolic acid significantly increases skin’s hydration. It does this by helping skin make substances like mucopolysaccharides, which help skin stay hydrated by increasing its natural content of hyaluronic acid, which in turn enhances skin’s resilience.
One exciting new note about glycolic acid: emerging research shows it might even protect skin against UV damage (in addition to reducing its damaging after-effects), though more studies need to be done and of course it doesn’t replace the need for sunscreen. Still, it’s a promising development!
Glycolic acid occurs naturally in sugar cane, but is most effective when synthesized in a lab, where its potency and concentration are optimized for use in skin care. Using plant sugars, like sugar maple, for their glycolic acid content is an option, but the bulk of the research on glycolic acid’s benefits for skin is about the synthetic form, because this type can be optimized for effectiveness, purity, stability, and pH, all critical to getting effective glycolic acid products.
But it’s that multitude of skin-soothing botanical extracts that are likely the reason The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is so well-tolerated by the skin — on the face and in the underarms. I have never experienced any irritation when using it as a chemical exfoliant or as a deodorant. It just works every time.
Again, like The Inkey List’s Glycolic Acid Liquid Toner, it’s quite affordable (even more so since it’s twice the size!), making it ideal for use as a daily deodorant. It’s just $8.70 for an 8 oz. / 240 mL bottle on Sephora.com. That’ll last you up to four months!
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution for $8.70 here.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW OF
SKINCARE HACKS: GLYCOLIC ACID IS THE NATURAL DEODORANT THAT WORKS!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.