Have you tried Glossier or even heard of the brand? Die-hard skincare fanatics love the pink branded products and sing praises of their products all over social media but for me, I haven’t been interested in their products until now. I have been quietly having a look at their stuff and wanting to try & review them for the sake of it but nothing really stood out to me until they released the Glossier Solution toner. Why did it stand out? Because it’s an acid toner and also because it was very hyped up and caused a bit of a stir when it was launched. Anyway let’s get into the review
Glossier Solution is a (multi) acid toner with a blend of 10% AHA, PHA and BHA. In 4 weeks they promise smoother skin, cleared acne and blackheads, smaller pores and reduced redness. Glowing skin and healthy skin is also promised.
Experience
Background – when it was first released Glossier compared it to a lot of the current well-known acid toners e.g. Pixi Glow Tonic and PC 2% BHA and why Solution was so much better. The problem a lot of people had with that is, Solution is formulated to be a multi-acid toner whilst those two are single acids at a lower %, Glossier also commented on the low % of each them. I didn’t really get why they did that because they are clearly two different products in my opinion. It’s like comparing a 2 in 1 product to a product with 1 use. The best example I can think of is comparing washing powder with fabric softener combined to washing powder alone or fabric softener alone. Obviously, the washing powder alone won’t have the added benefits of the fabric softener. Glossier should have compared Solution with other multi-acid toners.
The second issue I have is the % of each acid in Solution is a ‘secret’ according to Glossier. They state it has 10% AHA, BHA and PHA and I actually emailed them to find out the exact % of each acid but this is the response I had back:
Hi Team!
I am wondering if you can give me the breakdown of conc of each acid in solution please? I know Salicylic acid is 0.5% and AHA is 10%, what are the concentrations for lactic ( is this included in the AHA or is the 10% for glycolic acid alone?) and PHA acids please?
Thanks!
Hi Sarah!
Thanks for reaching out! As you know, Solution contains 0.5% Salicylic Acid. The total amount of BHA, AHA, and PHA is 10%. Because we worked so hard to find the perfect balance of acids (our chemist and product developers spent 15 months working on it), the exact breakdown of the acids is a secret. But rest assured that Solution is formulated to give you the best results while remaining gentle on skin.
Is it that all 3 acids make 10% or AHA is 10% PHA 10% and BHA 0.5%?
So my actual experience of it
I didn’t experience any stinging with Solution, it would be the highest acid formula I have used at 10% but I suspect because of the PHA (which is very gentle) I had no issues with stinging or irritation. I actually thought my skin felt quite hydrated and softer. A lot of users said it broke them out so I would be cautious if you have sensitive skin. Solution would be the first multi-acid toner I have used and I do really like it. It left my skin very smooth and kept my pores in check. I did have a few breakouts (maybe 1 or 2) but it was not due to Solution but it didn’t prevent them from forming too. In terms of leaving my skin glowing, I would definitely say it did. My skin looked smooth and healthier.
Verdict
I think it’s a ver good multi-acid toner. This is also the first time I would have used PHA and I actually like it (since then I have used another PHA formulated product and I am now looking to add more of this add to my routine. It’s so good at leaving my skin soft, smooth and hydrated).
I think Glossier was wrong for comparing it to single acids on the market because they are clearly not the same product. Does this have a HUGE advantage over single acids? I think Pixi Glow Tonic at 5% and The Ordinary Glycolic Toning Solution at 7% can give you similar results (esp. TO at 7% at only £6!) But you will get the added benefits of the PHA and BHA in Solution. I would also say Solution was definately more hydrating on my skin and it was much gentler than TO Glycolic Toning Solution.
In terms of price, its £19 for 130ml so I think it’s expensive for the amount you get. I was able to find a discount code for mine. It lasted a a bit longer than expected but I wish it was at least 150ml.
Solution is a really good multi-acid toner that leaves my skin very smooth and healthy. I would like to repurchase this again but only if there was an offer on, I am not happy with the amount you get for £19, for now, I am happy with my 5% AHAs.
If you want to try a multi acid toner, you can try Solution , I’m not sure if there are other multi acid toners on the market.
What do you think?
Solution is £19 and available on Glossier
Reviews on single acid toners
sarah fynn 