Glossier has been hinting at its latest skincare product for the past few weeks, and now it’s finally here. Meet Solution, Glossier’s new liquid exfoliant. I love how they’re slowly adding to their skincare line, starting with the bare necessities and slowly beefing it up. Solution is their second foray into serious skincare, coming with drug facts on the outer foil packaging like the sunscreen did. This time the product is a blend of acids to treat acne, redness, texture, clogged pores, and uneven tone. It promises to do all this plus give the skin that signature Glossier Glow. The magic behind Solution is the powerful combination of acids. It’s a 10% AHA/BHA/PHA formula, so it really gets down to business treating the skin. I've only had the product for a few days, so this will be an overview, and a full review will come in a few weeks.
Let's break down the acids included in Solution: AHAs, or alpha hydroxy acids, are hydrophilic (attracted to water) molecules that work to break down the bonds between skin cells to aid in exfoliation. The most commonly used AHAs are lactic and glycolic acids, both of which are in Solution. They work best to brighten dull skin and aid in reducing dark spots.
BHAs, or beta hydroxy acids, on the other hand, are lipophilic (attracted to oil), so they can penetrate deeper into the pores and clear out debris. This makes them powerful against acne. The most stable is salicylic acid.
PHAs, or poly hydroxy acids, are a new find for me, and they basically behave in a similar fashion to AHAs, but the molecules are larger, meaning they do not penetrate the skin as much. This makes them a great gentler option. They cause less irritation and also work as anti-inflammatories. When used in conjunction with other acids, PHAs increase their efficacy. The PHA used in Solution is gluconolactone, which is a naturally-occurring compound in skin cells.
In addition to the acids, Solution also contains what Glossier calls an "anti-stress" complex to keep the formula gentle and reduce irritation. This complex refers to a blend of aloe, glycerin, and niacinamide.
I for one am a huge fan of acids in skincare - I much prefer chemical exfoliation to physical. As I said above, I’ve only been using Solution for a few days, so all I can give for now is my first impression. I've been using it every night right after cleansing by soaking a cotton pad with it (the pump-top packaging makes this so effortless) and sweeping it over my face and neck. The first few nights I used it I felt some mild stinging that went away after a few seconds, but by the fourth night that didn't happen anymore. Already I'm feeling like my skin is getting smoother, but I will update in a few weeks once I've used it more consistently!
As always, you can shop through glossier.com/reps/kelsey for 10% off your first order. If you're a returning customer, you can get free shipping when you order Solution plus Glossier's own cotton rounds (!!) and enter the code SOLUTION at checkout. The cotton rounds are currently backordered and will ship separately after 1/22.
Solution was sent to me by Glossier, but all opinions are my own. I earn commission on orders through my rep link.
Full Ingredients list:
Active Ingredient: Salicylic Acid 0.5%
Inactive Ingredient(s): Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Propanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Magnesium Chloride, Glycereth-7 Trimethyl Ether, Niacinamide, Betaine, Inositol, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Phytic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum/Fragrance, PEG-8, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Acetic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide.
