What does gluconolactone do in skin care and what are its benefits?
You may have never heard of gluconolactone, and I can’t blame you if you’re complaining about having to go through another chemical peel. But I’d be lying if I said this clever PHA should be ignored. There’s a lot of magic packed into this humble skin ingredient, and you’ll be amazed at the difference your skin can make in its appearance, especially since gluconolactone is considered the gentlest acid on the market. So what’s it about this gentle skin giant that makes it stand out from the crowd? That’s exactly what we’re going to explore today.
What is gluconolactone?
As a member of the PHA family, gluconolactone is known as the gentlest chemical peel and has one of the largest molecular sizes, meaning it can’t penetrate deeply into the skin, making it a great choice for those with sensitive skin who still need to remove the buildup of dead skin cells. Despite its many benefits, gluconolactone is less likely to be found at active levels in skin care formulas compared to powerful AHA and BHA ingredients like glycolic and salicylic acids. However, gluconolactone provides impressive support for active ingredients by exfoliating the skin and locking in moisture to the skin. These moisturizing properties alone mean that introducing PHAs into your daily routine will benefit your skin, making it look and feel healthier.
What are the benefits of gluconolactone for skin?
You’ll find that gluconolactone is a multi-tasking ingredient that provides countless benefits to the skin and helps you achieve an overall flawless complexion. Here are some of the key benefits you can expect when you incorporate this PHA into your daily routine.
Provides Antioxidant Properties to the Skin
Studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of gluconolactone cannot compare to other ingredients like vitamins C and E. However, gluconolactone is praised for its ability to neutralize free radicals and the damage they can cause to the skin. It is also able to bind to free radicals, thereby inhibiting damage caused by the sun, pollution, central heating, and other environmental stressors.
Exfoliates
Since gluconolactone is a PHA, it can exfoliate the skin by disrupting the attachment of the dead skin cell layer to the outer surface of the skin. When these cells build up, it can lead to flaky, dry patches and skin that is dull in tone and uneven in texture. You may also notice the appearance of breakouts like pimples and blackheads, which can become severe depending on your skin type. For example, oily skin is more susceptible to breakouts due to excess sebum in the pores. Typically, other sensitive and dry skin types cannot use any form of chemical peel without experiencing some form of skin irritation. However, as mentioned earlier, gluconolactone is very gentle and, like all PHAs, can be used by people with skin allergies and skin issues like eczema and rosacea. You may find that common side effects like redness and irritation are less likely to occur than with stronger chemical peels like glycolic acid and salicylic acid.
Hydrates the Skin
One of the unique properties of a PHA like gluconolactone is that it is a humectant, meaning: h. It draws moisture from the surrounding areas of the face and locks it into the skin. This keeps your skin hydrated and looking plump. Fine lines and wrinkles are significantly reduced, and your complexion looks more youthful.
Because gluconolactone has so many skin benefits and is so gentle, it’s easy to incorporate into your skincare routine. However, we must stress the importance of first patch testing any new products or ingredients that haven’t been applied to the skin. If you have any further concerns about using gluconolactone, it’s best to consult a doctor or trained professional.
How to Use Gluconolactone in Your Skin Care Routine
For some products, such as moisturizers, the formula is gentle enough to apply twice a day. It really depends on the specific products you want to use when introducing gluconolactone into your skincare routine. For stronger products, such as acid toners and exfoliants, you should limit the frequency of use as this may cause irritation, especially if your skin type is sensitive. Regardless of your skin type, you may find that your complexion benefits from alternating products with complementary ingredients that can be used safely with gluconolactone, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. For stronger ingredients like retinoids and vitamin C that don’t mix easily with gluconolactone, try using them at different times of the day, such as a vitamin C serum in the morning and a gluconolactone-rich serum in the evening.
Since this PHA is a humectant, you will find that combining it with a moisturizing product like a serum will increase the moisture content of your skin, giving you an overall more hydrated, glowing complexion. Dry patches disappear, fine lines and wrinkles are smoothed, while the skin becomes more elastic and signs of sagging are reduced due to moisturization.
What are the side effects of gluconolactone?
Since gluconolactone is a PHA, you will experience very few or no side effects when using it in your daily life. We must remember that it is still an acid and should be used with caution, especially if your skin is sensitive or prone to eczema and dermatitis flare-ups. If you use an acidic tonic rich in gluconolactone, your skin may still experience some redness and flashes after use, but the redness will subside within a few minutes. Dryness, stinging, and itching should not occur, and if you notice these reactions, it is recommended to stop using the product immediately.
Today, I hope I’ve given you some insight into gluconolactone and the skin benefits you can expect when using it in your daily routine. As we’ve already discussed, this clever PHA may not be a staple in your favorite skincare formula, but it plays an important role in taking your skincare to the next level and quickly resolving your skin concerns. If you’d like to learn more about PHAs, you can read our blog post on what are polyhydroxy acids and their benefits for skin.
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.
