Gluconolactone (Ingredient Explained + Products)

PHAs are generally less irritating than AHAs/BHAs. They help to exfoliate dead skin-cells and act as a humectant.

The most common cause of textured skin is a build up of dead skin cells. The easiest way to get rid of textured skin is to exfoliate and give your skin the proper nutrients.

Pores are little openings on the skin that let out sweat and oil. They can become enlarged from excessive sebum production, acne, sun damage, and by using pore-clogging ingredients.

Helps with Anti-Aging

Decreased natural production of oils, degraded collagen, UV exposure, and lifestyle all contribute to how your skin looks over time. Although we cannot stop aging, there are ingredients that have been shown to slow the process: retinoids, antioxidants, and some peptides.

Good for Scar Healing

A scar is an area of fibrous tissue that remains after the skin has been wounded and healed.

Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.

When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.

PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.

Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:

It is a humectant and helps draw moisture to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
It exhibits antioxidant activity and neutralizes free-radical molecules. Antioxidants help with anti-aging.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent oxidation.
It works well with other actives, often enhancing the benefits of other ingredients.

In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.

This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.