Medical-grade cleansing: money down the drain or a vital step in your bid for beautiful, ageless skin?

We strongly believe the former – and here’s why.

Contrary to the belief that moisturizer is the most important step in your beauty routine, cleansing is the absolute foundation for healthy skin. Start on the wrong foot and no amount of miracle cream will give you youthful, baby-soft, blemish-free skin. Skin needs to be cleansed to the best of your ability, rather than left to its own devices to deal with the perils of daily grime, sweat, dirt, oil, makeup and environmental pollutants. Take your nightly cleanse, for example. Overnight is the prime time for skin to rest, recuperate and regenerate using targeted anti-aging treatments, antioxidants and retinols. But how the heck can it do this if you’ve not cleansed properly? Answer: it can’t.

So, if you’re looking for a new way to kick-start your cleansing game, we believe new SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser is a great place to begin.

What It Is

Glycolic Renewal Cleanser is a veritable dream for anyone hoping to brighten and refine their skin. Formulated with a free acid value of 8 percent glycolic acid, it works by exfoliating the skin on a cellular level to minimize the buildup of dead skin cells. But let’s back up a little. If you’ve not heard of free acid value, this basically denotes the amount of acid that is absorbed by the skin. The higher the value, the better the skincare effects. That being said, 8 percent might not sound like a lot, but it’s a significant concentration which offers all manner of skin benefits, including an increase in cell turnover and collagen production.

Glycolic Renewal Cleanser also contains 1 percent phytic acid to promote clarity, aloe leaf juice to calm and refresh, and glycerin for intense hydration. We call that all-singing and all-dancing.

What It Does

Ideal for most skin types (except super-sensitive), Glycolic Renewal Cleanser combines all the above ingredients in one bottle to create what is undeniably a powerful, yet soothing exfoliating cleanser. It not only removes all traces of makeup, but it’s alcohol-free and non-comedogenic, so won’t block your pores or dry out your complexion. Use it twice daily to brighten, clarify, smooth and clear your skin. You won’t regret it.

The Scoop

We’re big fans of glycolic acid here at HintMD, so this cleansing gel is definitely catapulting its way to the top of our skincare plans. Glycolic acid is one of the most effective and highly researched alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) out there and works hard to help repair photodamage, smooth fine lines and fade dark spots – especially in such an ideal concentration. And what we love the most about Glycolic Renewal Cleanser? The fact that it’s super-effective, but doesn’t completely strip the skin of every ounce of moisture. Big. Win.

The Price

$38