Complete Guide to Glycolic Acid FAQ

Will layering a 5% glycolic exfoliant with a 10% glycolic exfoliant give me the

same results as applying a 15% glycolic exfoliant?



Should I exfoliate with glycolic before or after I get a wax?



What does pH-adjusted mean?



Why is buffering important?

Why should I use glycolic exfoliation instead of microdermabrasion or other

physical exfoliants such as scrubs?



Can I use BeautyRx exfoliants with my prescription Retin -A?



How do I get the most effective glycolic exfoliation?

What if I’ve used an exfoliant from another line – do I still need to begin with the

BeautyRx Progressive Peel?



Are there any long-term effects of glycolic exfoliation to consider?



Can you use a glycolic exfoliant with your sunscreen?

Why should I use a glycolic exfoliant instead of a beta hydroxy acid such as

salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide?



If glycolic is so great, why is this the first time I’m hearing of it?

1. What is glycolic?

Glycolic is member of the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family. When properly formulated and used, it’s

very gentle yet extremely effective. It is naturally derived from sugar cane, which is why it’s called a

“fruit acid,” but the glycolic in most skincare products today is synthesized in commercial labs.

2. What will glycolic exfoliation do for your
skin?

Glycolic exfoliation effectively removes the dead cells that both sit and accumulate on the surface of

your skin. These dead cells lead to dull, discolored, and uneven skin. Glycolic exfoliation therefore

removes those dead cells restoring radiant, even-toned skin. Glycolic exfoliation also stimulates the

healthy, live lower layers of your skin, causing them to generate new live, healthy skin and even

produce collagen, all making your skin firmer. Lastly, glycolic exfoliation is instrumental in the

prevention and treatment of acne breakouts and minimizing the appearance of enlarged, clogged

pores. (

BeautyRx Daily Exfoliating Therapy

3. Will glycolic irritate your skin?

BeautyRx glycolic exfoliants are pH-adjusted and buffered to ensure that they are effective yet also

gentle on your skin. Moreover, the best way to avoid irritation is to gradually introduce glycolic to

your regimen. Think about it this way. Would you go to a gym and on the first day lift a 50 pound

weight? Instead, you’d gradually work your way up. When it comes to glycolic, begin with an 8%

starter-strength glycolic exfoliant appropriate for your skin type (eg. the

BeautyRx Essential 8%

Exfoliating Serum

for Normal and Combination skin, or the

Cream

for Dry and Sensitive skin). Then, you can introduce higher strength glycolic exfoliating

products (eg. the 10%

BeautyRx Advanced 10% Exfoliating Pads

). When introducing a higher

strength, we also recommend that you alternate it with your starter strength product ever other night.

After your skin has adjusted to the higher strength, you can even then move onto a 15% maximum

strength glycolic exfoliant (eg. the

BeautyRx Maximum 15% Exfoliating Gel

for Normal and

Combination skin, or the

BeautyRx Maximum Exfoliating Therapy Cream

for Dry and Sensitive skin).

When introducing a maximum strength glycolic exfoliant, it still makes sense to alternate it with a

high strength (eg. a 10%), every other day. By leveraging this gradual escalation and alternation of

glycolic strengths, your skin adapts to and thereby is able to tolerate the stronger products without

irritation, enabling you to achieve the optimal results that will give you the skin you’ve always

dreamed of. This approach of gradual increases in strength and alternation is the exact system that

Dr. Schultz provides to his patients and is at the core of his

4. How can I start using glycolic exfoliants?

We recommend that everyone begins with the

BeautyRx Progressive Peel

. As described above, as

Dr. Schultz does with his patients, it starts you with starter strength glycolic exfoliants and safely

progresses you to higher strengths over time. (

5. Should glycolic exfoliants burn?

Properly formulated glycolic exfoliants should not burn, but they may tingle. The easiest way to

describe the difference is that a tingle, while it may increase briefly, plateaus. On the other hand, a

burn continually increases in strength. If while using any exfoliant you experience a burning

sensation, discontinue use and immediately wash your face with water. Even consider consulting a

dermatologist if you deem it to be necessary. (

6. How often should you exfoliate with glycolic
acid?

Dr. Schultz has observed through over 45,000 in-office peels and proven through the experiences of

his patients that daily glycolic exfoliation delivers optimal results. While some people may be

concerned that daily glycolic exfoliation is too harsh, while we cannot speak for other product lines,

the formulation of BeautyRx glyciolic exfoliants, including their pH adjustment and buffering, enables

them to be effectively used daily without irritation. (

7. Can I run out of skin by exfoliating with
glycolic too often?

Glycolic exfoliation, in fact all exfoliation, will never cause you to run out of skin. This question is

usually asked based on the Hayflick Limit, which states that, "There is a limit to the number of times

a fully differentiated human cell divides. That limit is between 40 and 60 divisions, and applies to all

human cell types that have been studied." From this theory, it may sound like you have a finite

number of skin cells and exfoliation is depleting them faster than the natural process. However, the

Hayflick Limit only applies to differentiated cells, cells in their actual final, useful form. The Limit does

not apply to your skin stem cells, as they are not fully differentiated and continue to make new cells

for your entire life. Proper exfoliation only removes the surface layer of dead cells that should have

already fallen off. Put another way, if the Hayflick limit applied to skin, then at a certain age your cuts

and abrasions would stop healing! And we know that doesn’t happen. (

8. Does skin type matter for glycolic
exfoliation?

Glycolic exfoliation is appropriate for all skin types, and all skin types can receive all of the benefits

from glycolic. In addition, for oily skin, it helps to remove dead cells, which can clog pores. For dry

skin, glycolic allows moisturizers to penetrate the skin better and removes the flakes of dry, dulling

dead skin. For normal skin, glycolic creates a smooth surface and a youthful, luminous glow. For

sensitive skin, glycolic can be paired with moisturizers. The key, as with any skincare product, is to

ensure that the vehicle (eg. cream versus serum) is skin type appropriate. (

9. At what age should I add a glycolic exfoliant
to my skin care routine?

Glycolic exfoliation should start in the early teens, around 13 to 15 years old, and continue

throughout the rest of your life. In the earlier years, glycolic exfoliation helps to prevent and treat

acne, which is common in teenage years and through your 20

’s. In fact, glycolic acid treatments are

a staple of Dr. Schultz’s acne treatments for his patient. In your 30s and older, the benefit of glycolic

exfoliation shifts towards restoring skin smoothness and luster, as your shedding dead skin cells

becomes irregular leading to accumulation of dulling dead cells which also contribute to excess

brown pigmentation. Dr. Schultz’s patients visit him for weekly peels to help maintain their radiant,

healthy and younger looking skin. In addition, as adult acne becomes more and more prevalent,

glycolic’s importance in preventing and helping heal acne often continues past your 20’s. (

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10. When should I exfoliate with glycolic acid?

It is best to use your glycolic exfoliant at night. This way, it will not conflict with your sunscreen and

you are less likely to sweat it off. Additionally, most people have more time for their evening skin

care routine so there is time use several products such as exfoliants, moisturizers, bleaches, etc.

11. Is it safe to use a glycolic exfoliant if you
have broken capillaries?

Yes, it is safe to use glycolic exfoliants with broken capillaries, and many of Dr. Schultz’s patients do.

However, exfoliation removes dead surface cells, which are opaque and can actually obscure the

look of the broken capillaries. Once those dead cells are removed, while the glycolic exfoliation has

not aggravated the capillaries in any way, it may make them more apparent. If you have broken

capillaries, see your dermatologist to talk about removing them with painless laser treatments.

12. How does exfoliating treat brown spots and
brown discolorations?

When your skin is damaged, your pigment cells overproduce melanin (brown pigment) causing

brown spots and discoloration. This can occur from the inflammation of acne, harmful uv rays of the

sun, a curling iron burn, age, and from many other causes. As cells that have been infused with this

extra pigment naturally die and collect on the surface of your skin, your discolorations increase.

Glycolic exfoliation works to remove dead skin cells, including those that the extra brown pigment

has already settled into, helping to restore an even skin tone. In conjunction with a skin lightener

(also called a depigmentor or bleach) and a sunscreen, glycolic helps to treat and remove brown

spots. (

13. Can glycolic exfoliation thicken your skin?

Daily glycolic exfoliation will not thicken dead skin nor create calluses. It does however thicken the

good, live layers of the epidermis which provides many beneficial effects. As glycolic exfoliation

removes the top layer of dead skin, the process stimulates the production of live healthy cells and

collagen in the three lower layers. This causes a thickening and evening of the healthy lower layers

in the epidermis and gives your skin a luminance, helps reduce fine lines, and creates a lustrous

bright finish. (

14. Can glycolic exfoliation thin my skin?

No. Glycolic exfoliation removes and thins the top, dead, dulling and clogging layer, but it also

stimulates cell development in the live layers of skin below, making up for any dead cells removed.

15. Should I use an exfoliating glycolic
cleanser?

A glycolic cleanser does provide a deeper cleanse when compared to a traditional cleanser,

however, it shouldn’t be viewed as an exfoliant to be used for anti-aging or rejuvenation purposes.

The glycolic in the cleanser will only sit on your skin for 15 - 30 seconds prior to rinsing off, which is

not enough time for any chemical exfoliant to have a meaningful effect. Consider pairing your

glycolic cleanser with a separate glycolic treatment for best results. (

16. Does exfoliating with glycolic make your
skin sensitive to sunlight?

Glycolic exfoliation does not over-sensitize your skin to sunlight, as long as you use an effective

sunscreen daily and you are not over-exfoliating. (

17. Will using a glycolic exfoliant dissolve the
ingredients in my other products?

No. Glycolic exfoliants work over a period of hours, not minutes, so your other skincare products can

be applied in conjunction with your glycolic exfoliant, without conflict. However, you should always

wait for any skincare product to be absorbed into your skin before applying another. The one

exception to using glycolics with other products is that glycolic exfoliants (and even salicylic

exfoliants) will break down retinoids. Regardless, retinoids should not be used with glycolics due to a

potential for over exfoliation. Dr. Schultz believes that glycolic exfoliants are superior to retinoids and

therefore there is no need to use retinoids. If you must, at least use them at opposite ends of the

day. (

18. If I use a glycolic exfoliant, can I still use a
self-tanner?

While it may be surprising to hear, a glycolic exfoliant will actually improve the efficacy and results of

your sunless tanner. A sunless tanner works by staining the dead skin cells on the top layer of your

skin. If you don't exfoliate, those dead skin cells can collect into microscopic mounds that cause an

uneven skin surface (and which will also result in an uneven sunless tan). Exfoliating with glycolic

before using your sunless tanner will actually ensure a more beautiful, even tan. However, since the

sunless tanner stains the top layers of dead skin, and a glycolic exfoliant removes some of them, the

glycolic may diminish the intensity of the tan even though it makes it more even. Additionally,

exfoliating may cause your sunless tan to fade more quickly. As a result, you may want to switch to

exfoliating every other night to compensate for the faster fading, or even better, just reapply the self

tanner more often. That being said, you will get the best sunless tan if you exfoliate prior. In fact, that

is why in professional salons exfoliate you before they apply a spray-on tan. (

19. Why should I use a glycolic exfoliant and
not a retinoid?

While retinoids used to be the go-

to exfoliant in the 1980’s – Dr. Schultz use to prescribe them in the

80’s – the frequent side effects, irritation, and reactions Dr. Schultz observed in his patients and

heard from countless others led him to stop prescribing retinoids all together. Between the flaking,

stinging, facial darkening, rashes, and breaking of capillaries, any results that users experienced

were not worth the side effects. Instead, Dr. Schultz found a superior alternative: pH-adjusted and

buffered, gentle yet effective glycolic exfoliants. Glycolic truly is the gold standard of chemical

exfoliation. It does not cause irritation or side effects. It just effectively removes dead cells to make

your skin more radiant, healthier and younger looking. (

20. Can I combine a glycolic exfoliant with
another type of exfoliant?

Yes, assuming you are not over exfoliating, using combination exfoliants is a great way to maximize

your results. For example, layering salicylic acid and glycolic allows both to work better. This is

because the glycolic is water-soluble, so it is good at dissolving excess cells on the surface of the

skin. Salicylic acid, on the other hand, is lipid soluble, which means it is better at penetrating deeper

into the skin, even though it is less effective at dissolving dead skin cells. When used together, the

glycolic preps the surface of the skin to allow the salicylic to penetrate a little deeper, which in turn,

allows the remaining glycolic to penetrate deeper and work better than it would have on its own. This

is part of the reciprocal enabling ingredient technology Dr. Schultz leverages in his proprietary

compounds, including his favorite proprietary exfoliating compound, Tetrafoliant™. (

21. Will layering a 5% glycolic exfoliant with a
10% glycolic exfoliant give me the same results
as applying a 15% glycolic exfoliant?

No. Layering these two products would result in a 7.5% glycolic product if the same amount of both

products was used . This is because the amount of acid is based on a weighted average. It is not

additive. (

22. Should I exfoliate with glycolic before or
after I get a wax?

Waxing not only removes hair, but also removes skin cells. Therefore, waxing is a form of physical

exfoliation. If you exfoliate regularly, your dead cells have been removed and the live layer of cells is

exposed. This means the wax may grab those live cells, causing a waxing burn. To avoid this, stop

exfoliating the area you are getting waxed two or three days prior to your appointment, or tell the

esthetician you have been exfoliating so she or he can adjust the wax appropriately. After waxing,

wait two or three days before resuming your nightly exfoliation. (

23. What does pH-adjusted mean?

pH is the level of acidity or alkalinity in any chemical. pH ranges from 1 to 14, with 1 being the most

acidic, and 14 being the most alkaline. 7 is approximately the pH of our skin. pH is very important in

terms of glycolic as it determines the effectiveness and potential irritancy. In terms of effectiveness,

glycolic exists in skincare products in two different forms. The first form is bound to proteins in the

product. The second form is free floating in the product. It’s the free-floating portion that actually

exfoliates your skin and determines the efficacy of the exfoliant. The amount of glycolic that is bound

and that is free-floating is determined by the pH. The lower the pH, the more that is free floating, and

vice versa. This brings us to pH’s effect on the potential irritancy of the product. While a lower pH

yields more free glycolic, the lower the pH, the more irritating the exfoliant. This is why precise pH-

adjustment, that only comes with time and experience, is so important when developing glycolic

exfoliating products. Dr. Schultz’s expertise from having performed 45,000 in-office peels has

enabled him to achieve glycolic formulations that deliver highly effective glycolic exfoliation that is

not at all irritating. (

24. Why is buffering important?

Over time, even pH-adjusted glycolic will change in strength because glycolic that is bound can

become free. Buffering is the chemical process that ensures that the glycolic that is bound stays

bound. By maintaining the pH of the product, the (effective) free glycolic remains constant, which

ensures that its efficacy (and gentleness) is also consistent throughout the life of the product. (

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25. Why should I use glycolic exfoliation instead
of microdermabrasion or other physical
exfoliants such as scrubs?

Chemical exfoliation is superior to physical exfoliation. It’s almost impossible to deliver consistent,

specific results when physically exfoliating. This is due to every physical exfoliation session varying

in direct proportion to the duration of use of the physical exfoliant, the pressure or strength of rubbing

with the physical exfoliant, and the actual makeup of the exfoliant (eg. crushed nut shells, sand, a

washcloth, etc.) Chemical exfoliants are consistent and specific because they are developed to

provide exactly what the formulator intended, no more or no less. For example, a 10% chemical

exfoliant will only exfoliate as much as it is meant to, regardless of how long you leave it on or how

much you apply. Glycolic acid is the gold standard of chemical exfoliants due to its wide therapeutic

range (ie. strength can range from 1% - 70%, although strengths above 15% should only be

administered by a professional), which makes it very versatile and effective, as well as its ability,

when formulated properly, to be non-irritating and cause no side effects. (

26. Can I use BeautyRx exfoliants with my
prescription Retin-A?

BeautyRx exfoliants offer the same great skin benefits as retinoids such as Retin-A, but do so

without the irritation that many experience from retinoids. In fact, Dr. Schultz used to prescribe

retinoids to his patients but now has them use only glycolic. However, if you would like to continue

use of Retin-A or other retinoids while also incorporating a BeautyRx exfoliant into your routine, you

can do so by applying the two products at different times of day. For example, apply the BeautyRx

product in the morning and apply the Retin-A at night. This way, you can be sure that you get full

results from both products. (

27. How do I get the most effective glycolic
exfoliation?

To get the best results from your glycolic exfoliation, aside from using your exfoliant at night after

you have used a cleanser and a toner, we always recommend beginning with a starter-strength

exfoliant and working your way up in strength over time to allow your skin to adjust. To make this

easy for you, we’ve developed the

Progressive Peel

to jumpstart your skin’s rejuvenation. This six-

week regimen enables you to achieve maximum exfoliation with no irritation. (

28. What if I’ve used an exfoliant from another
line – do I still need to begin with the BeautyRx
Progressive Peel?

Since BeautyRx uses a proprietar

y glycolic formulation, even if you’ve already been exfoliating, just

as Dr. Schultz recommends to his patients, we still recommend that you begin with our starter

strength. In fact, we recommend that you begin the same exfoliating regimen that Dr. Schultz

’s

patients do: The Progressive Peel. It will start you gently with a starter strength glycolic exfoliant and

end with the results of a maximum strength glycolic exfoliant, preventing any irritation. If while

beginning the Progressive Peel you believe your skin is ready for a higher strength glycolic exfoliant

than the starting serum, we recommend you skip to Step 2 of the Progressive Peel. We never

recommend starting with maximum strength glycolic exfoliants. (

29. Are there any long-term effects of glycolic
exfoliation to consider?

The long-term effects of glycolic exfoliation make it a great addition to your daily skin care regimen.

Prolonged use of glycolic sends a positive feedback signal to the bottom layer of the epidermis to

produce more normal cells, causing a thickening of the healthy layer, resulting in more translucent

and lustrous skin. So while it minimizes the dead top layer, it thickens and enhances the healthy,

living layers underneath. Glycolic exfoliation also sends a message to the dermis to produce more

collagen, resulting in strengthened skin and an improved look to fine lines and wrinkles. And of

course, daily glycolic exfoliation will ensure you maintain radiant, even-toned, younger looking skin.

BeautyRx Exfoliating Green Tea Complex SPF 20

30. Can you use a glycolic exfoliant with your
sunscreen?

Sunscreen is the most important preventative skin care product you can use. When the FDA

determines the SPF rating of a sunscreen, they do so by applying the sunscreen to bare skin,

without any other products interfering, and measure the level of protection the sunscreen provides.

As a result, we cannot guarantee what effect on the sunscreen’s SPF applying a glycolic product

underneath or on top of it would have. Since sunscreen is so important, Dr. Schultz recommends

using your glycolic products at night to ensure there is no interference with your sunscreen during

the day. The only exception to this rule is combination sunscreen, glycolic products that have been

tested by the FDA, such as the

. (

31. Why should I use a glycolic exfoliant instead
of a beta hydroxy acid such as salicylic acid or
benzoyl peroxide?

Glycolic has a wide therapeutic window which means that it can be used in concentrations ranging

from 1% - 70% (higher strengths should only be applied in-office by professionals). This means that

glycolic products can be tailored to the exact skin condition you are trying to treat, from dull under

eye area skin to acne-prone skin. Beta Hydroxy Acids, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid,

are very brittle in comparison. (