Glycolic Acid: The Ultimate Exfoliant for Radiant Skin | BeautyRx

BeautyRx

Ingredient: Glycolic Acid

We Love: BeautyRx Advanced 10% Exfoliating Pads, $70, beautyrx.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliator that makes all of your other skin care products work better. "Besides glycolic being a wonderful exfoliant that will give you smoother, brighter, skin with smaller pores, it also removes the armor of dead skin cells that cause breakouts and prevent everything else from working predictably," says Neal Schultz, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and creator of BeautyRx by Dr. Schultz.

So what's the catch? Well, not all products with glycolic acid are created equal. In order for glycolic to be effective, a higher percentage has to be used, which can be extremely irritating to the skin. The masterminds behind BeautyRx did extensive research to solve this issue. "The reason my glycolic works so well is because it's high pH—relatively higher than most other glycolics—which makes it effective but non-irritating, which then enables me to make it even stronger," explains Schultz. Trust us, you'll never see a red, peeling face with the BeautyRx glycolic formulation.

Swipe on the exfoliating pads every other night. You get 50 in one jar, which will last 100 nights, so it ends up being less than a dollar a day—a small price to pay for youthful skin.

SkinCeuticals

Ingredient: Vitamin C

We Love: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $162, skinceuticals.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Vitamin C is a gold standard antioxidant for shielding skin from damaging free radicals (think: sun damage, pollution, and oxygen) that assault the skin on a daily basis and lead to premature aging. What makes this serum special is that it's a triple threat for protection. "C E Ferulic is a combination of three highly active antioxidants: vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid," says Candace Spann, MD, a dermatologist in Las Vegas. "The vitamin C is pure 15% L-ascorbic acid, which neutralizes free radicals in the skin that lead to sun damage, discoloration, and skin aging. The vitamin E is 1% alpha tocopherol, which also helps to neutralize free radicals and helps to replenish the skin's natural barrier. And the ferulic acid is a plant-based antioxidant that reduces inflammation and sun damage," she says.

This cocktail combo of antioxidants sounds great for your skin, but it's getting those ingredients into the skin that really matters. "It also has a patented delivery system that allows for superior and lasting penetration," says Spann. Once absorbed, it stays on the skin for a minimum of 72 hours.

StriVectin

Ingredient: Retinol

We Love: StriVectin Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer, $112, stricvectin.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that work by increasing cell turnover in the skin. This helps promote new cell growth. Multiple studies also show that retinoids impair collagen breakdown and boost collagen production. "Retinoids help with acne, fine lines, and wrinkles as well as skin discoloration," says Emily Wise, MD, a dermatologist in Wellesley, Massachusetts. "I always tell my patients that it's killing three birds with one stone."

Problem is, the good stuff is usually irritating. Enter: StriVectin's patented NIA-114 technology, which nourishes your skin's moisture barrier to limit irritation and intensify efficacy. It's also formulated with copper tripeptides, plant lipids, and hyaluronic acid, which drench the skin in moisture, lock it in, and replenish what's lost during the day (from sun, pollution, stress, and dehydration) while you're sleeping—the optimal time to restore skin as it naturally regenerates. You'll start 2016 with even, firmer, more radiant skin.

Wise suggests starting a retinol program with an over-the-counter retinol, especially if you have sensitive skin. Be patient—visible results can take four to six months. But if you want to see improvement faster, talk with your dermatologist about whether you are a candidate for prescription-strength retinoids.

SK-II

Ingredient: Pitera

We Love: SK-II Mid-Day Essence Spray, $80, sk-ii.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Not familiar with Pitera? It's a specialized yeast extract full of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids that work together to help skin function at its prime. "Japanese sake workers (who handled fermented yeast) have hands that looked significantly younger than their faces," explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City. "Working with fermented yeast extract was thought to be the reason." Scientists spent more than a decade isolating the single yeast strain that held the secret to youthful skin.

This essence will give you the benefits of Pitera while protecting your face from aggressors throughout the day. Spritz it on (it's ideal for travel) to combat oxidative damage caused by daily stressors such as UV rays and pollution. It'll even penetrate through your makeup to hydrate with the fine particles of the MoistureLock Complex. "It will help even skin tone and improve skin radiance," says Zeichner.

NIA24

Ingredient: Oil

We Love: NIA24 Treatment Catalyst, $71, nia24.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Oils contain moisturizing essential fatty acids. Some oils (like this one) can even help to soothe irritated or inflamed skin and can have antioxidant properties.

It's all about the purity of this product. "Many cheaper products contain additional ingredients or additives that make them less effective," explains Wise. "The more pure, the more effective." This oil acts as a catalyst to help boost the performance of other skincare products. It quickly penetrates the epidermal layers of the skin with a continuous deep delivery of Pro-Niacin to significantly improve moisture and boost radiance. Plus, essential fatty acids from sesame and soybean oils and antioxidants like vitamins A, B, C, D, and E improve skin tone, texture, and firmness and defend against visible signs of aging. That means less discoloration and more youthful-looking skin

Remember, a little goes a long way (use only a few drops!), which will make this product last longer.

SkinCeuticals

Ingredient: Hyaluronic Acid

We Love: SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, $78, skinceuticals.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Hyaluronic acid is a natural humectant capable of retaining 1,000 times its own weight in water: "It's a very potent moisturizer and wrinkle reducer, but the concentration can vary from product to product," Weiss says. "Many expensive serums [like this one] are also boosted with additional ingredients (for example, vitamin C or E) that will have other benefits for the skin." Enriched with vitamin B5, this concentrated gel replenishes nutrients the skin needs to feel smoother and appear younger. It's ideal for all skin types and will be especially beneficial throughout the dry, winter months.

Sisley

Ingredient: Rose Extract

We Love: Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask, $162, sisley-paris.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Rose extracts improve skin tone and texture. "They've also been shown to help improve damaged collagen," says Zeichner.

This mask is like eight hours of sleep in a tube. It contains anti-aging padina pavonica algae, black rose to combat free radicals, and essential rose oils to soothe. "High-quality ingredients from botanical sources support healthy skin function," explains Zeichner. For the best results, apply, let sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then wipe, don't wash, off. Bonus: The aroma has an allover calming effect, which means it's the perfect secret weapon to whip out when you're having a stressful day.

SkinCeuticals

Ingredient: Niacinamide

We Love: SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3, $110, skinceuticals.com

Why It's Worth the Splurge: Niacinamide is a member of the vitamin B family that is well known for improving skin texture and tone by increasing cellular turnover. "The result is more-radiant skin, less discoloration, and improved skin barrier function," says Spann.

"Metacell Renewal B3 makes skin more hydrated, less discolored, and less blotchy (thanks to 5% niacinamide, 15% pure glycerin, and a peptide concentrate)," says Spann. "It also improves texture and radiance, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles." Sounds like a Christmas miracle? It works because SkinCeuticals utilizes a patent-pending inverse aqueous emulsion to deliver these highly concentrated actives. "It is perfect for anyone who is looking to prevent early signs of aging and to restore a dull, blotchy complexion," adds Spann.