Product Focus: Glossier Solution

If you have seen this obscure, yet adorably packaged bottle on your Instagram feed frequently, you wouldn't be the only one. It seems to be raved about and heavily photographed in the beauty blogger community - this is what brings us to the subject of today's Beauty Edit article – the beloved Glossier Solution.

Glossier Solution is a self-described exfoliating skin perfecter, but not in the traditional form - it's a chemical exfoliant which claims to have cleared the skin of thousands around the world.

Part of the reason as to why this product is put on such a high pedestal is that chemical exfoliants are typically produced by high-end skincare companies, making them unattainable for the average person. Glossier changed that by formulating a product with the exact same benefits as its pricey predecessors - but at a far more affordable price point. The product can be likened to Alpha-H's Liquid Gold and the Kate Somerville Triple Acid Resurfacing Treatment.

In our first Glossier Haul and Brand Focus we embarked on the journey of getting their best-selling products to New Zealand but this time we wanted to experience all that is Glossier in-person.

We visited the Glossier HQ on Melrose Place in Los Angeles this past November, which was dreamy, to say the least. Stepping into their HQ is like stepping into an alternate universe where everything is millennial pink and selfie-ready. There’s nothing quite like a Glossier store to having you feelin’ yourself, have you seen their mirrors with quotes ’objects in mirror are dewier than they appear‘ and ‘you look good’ stuck on them? Iconic.

We walked out with a tote bag full of goodies and whilst a lot of the product of choice were re-stocks of our favourites - Birthday Balm Dot Com, Boy Brow and Haloscope - the star product in our basket was the solution, which happens to be frequently sold-out online, adding to the alluring appeal even more.

As good as an aesthetically pleasing product looks on your skincare shelf, it really isn’t worth your money unless the product quality inside matches up.

The product itself is marketed as a liquid exfoliator with abolishing acne in mind. The Solution boasts containing a particular 10% blend of three acid groups – Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), and Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA), as Glossier say, ‘acids are your friends’.

Glossier state that you should notice drastic improvements in your skin over 4 weeks, starting with initial cleanliness and softness on your first week, smaller pores, reduced blackheads and glowy skin after two weeks, unclogged pores and reduced redness after three weeks and a drastic reduction of acne after four weeks.

Solution should be used as part of your nighttime routine, after cleanser and before serum. The product comes out of a unique pump, convenient for pressing your cotton round onto and distributing just the right amount of product.

All of the apprehensions about whether the Solution would be holy grail status or just an overly Instagram-hyped Glossier product flew out of the window after our first time using it. The next morning we immediately noticed that our complexion was brighter and felt softer.

The product removes all of the excess makeup and build-up from your day that your makeup wipes or cleanser didn't remove - it's definitely satisfying knowing that you're going to sleep with a completely fresh face.

Whether your skin is acne-prone, you suffer from uneven skin tone and redness or you have normal to dry skin - this product will likely serve you well. The main benefit of the product in your skincare routine is that it will stabilise your skin so that it doesn't over-produce oil and your pores won't be clogged.

Our favourite benefits are also that it can clear up severe cystic acne, lighten hyperpigmentation, prevent those pesky time-of-the-month spots from popping up and even out your skin tone over time.

We can safely say that this will remain a must-have in our skincare routine in 2019 - even if it means patiently waiting for a Glossier delivery when we run out!