What Does Gluconolactone do in Skincare and What are its Benefits?
Gluconolactone, you’ve probably never heard of it before and I wouldn’t blame you for groaning at the thought of having to learn about yet another chemical exfoliant.
But I would be lying if I said this clever PHA is one to pass by.
This under the radar skin ingredient carries with it a lot of oomph and you’ll be amazed with the difference in the appearance of your skin, especially with gluconolactone being hailed the gentlest acid available on the market.
So, what is it about this gentle skin giant that makes it really stand out from the crowd, well that’s exactly what we are going to explore today.
What is gluconolactone?
As a member of the PHA family, gluconolactone is known for being the gentlest of the chemical exfoliants and has one of the largest molecule size meaning it is unable to penetrate very deeply
into the skin making it the best option for those who have sensitive skin, who still want to slough away the build-up of dead skin cells.
With all its benefits, the chances of finding active levels of gluconolactone in skincare formulations is unlikely, compared to the AHA and BHA powerhouse ingredient, such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid.
Having said that gluconolactone provides impressive support for the active ingredients allowing the skin to be exfoliated as well as locking in moisture into the skin.
These hydrating properties alone mean that introducing the PHA into your daily routine will benefit your skin enabling it to look and feel healthier.
What are the skin benefits of gluconolactone?
You will find that gluconolactone is a multi-tasking ingredient offering countless skin benefits and helping you achieve an overall flawless complexion.
Here are some of the main benefits you can expect to find when introducing this PHA into your routine.
Offers antioxidant properties to the skin
Studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of gluconolactone do not compare to those found in other ingredients, such as vitamins C and E.
Having said that gluconolactone is praised at its abilities to neutralise free radicals and the damage they can cause to the skin.
It is also able to bind together the free radicals encapsulating the damage caused from exposure to the sun, pollution, central heating and other environmental stresses.
Exfoliates the skin
With gluconolactone being a PHA, it is able to provide exfoliation to the skin by dissolving the bounds holding the layer of dead skin cells to the outer surface of the skin.
If these cells are left to build-up it can result in flaky, dry patches, dull looking skin with uneven texture.
You may also find that breakouts such as spots and blackheads develop which can become severe depending on the skin type you have, oily skin for example, can suffer from more frequent blemishes due to the excess sebum found in the pores.
Quite often other skin types that are sensitive and dry cannot use any form of chemical exfoliation without experiencing some form of skin irritation.
However, as previously mentioned, gluconolactone is very gentle and much like all PHAs can be used by those with hyper-sensitive skin and skin concerns such as eczema and rosacea.
You may find that common side effects, such as redness and irritation won’t occur compared to more potent chemical exfoliants such as glycolic and salicylic acid.
Hydrates the skin
One of the properties that make PHAs such as gluconolactone unique is the fact it is a humectant, meaning it is able to attract the water from the area surrounding the face and locking in that moisture into the skin.
This will keep your skin hydrated and looking full of bounce with fine lines and wrinkles notable reduced with a youthful looking complexion.
With the many skin benefits and the fact gluconolactone is so gentle you will find adding it into your skincare routine is very simple,
however, we must stress the importance of ensuring you first perform a patch test with any new product or ingredient that hasn’t been applied to your skin before.
If you have any further concerns about using gluconolactone then it is best to consult a doctor or trained professional.
How to use gluconolactone in your skincare routine
For some products, such as moisturisers the formulation is gentle enough to be applied twice a day.
This really depends on the particular product you decide to use when introducing gluconolactone in your daily skincare routine.
For more potent products, such as acid toners and peels it is best to limit how often you use them as it can cause irritation, especially if you have a sensitive skin type.
No matter which skin type you have, you may find your complexion will benefit from alternating products that contain complimentary ingredients that can be used safely with gluconolactone, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
For stronger ingredients such as retinoids and vitamin C that do not mix as easily with gluconolactone try applying them on different times of day, for example, vitamin C serum in the morning and a gluconolactone enriched serum in the evenings.
With this PHA being an humectant you will find that teaming hydrating products, such as serums, will boost the levels of moisture locked into the skin giving your complexion an all over more hydrated finish and luminous glow.
Dry patches will disappear and fine line and wrinkles will be ironed out with the skin gaining more bounce and any signs of skin sagging are lifted thanks to the hydration boost.
What are the side effects of gluconolactone?
Because gluconolactone is a PHA, there are very little, if any side effects to using it in your daily routine.
We must remember that it is still an acid and should be used with some caution, especially if your skin is sensitive or prone to eczema and dermatitis flare-ups.
When using an acid toner enriched in gluconolactone you can still expect to find your skin to appear red and flashed after application but should calm in a matter of minutes.
Dryness, stinging and itchiness should not occur and should you find you are suffering from these reactions it is advisable to stop using the product straight away.
I hope that today has given you a little insight into gluconolactone and the skin benefits you can expect to see when using it in your daily routine.
As we have previously discussed this clever PHA may not be a leading member of the formulation of your favourite skincare product,
however, it does play a vital part in taking your skincare to the next level of combating your skin concerns in rapid time.
If you are wanting to know more about PHAs in general, you can check out our blogpost about what polyhydroxy acids are and what are their skin benefits.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
