{"title":"Glycolic Acid","description":"\u003cp\u003eSmallest AHA. Refines texture, brightens tone, used carefully and not every night.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-sweep-glycolic-exfoliating-toner","title":"The Sweep : Glycolic Exfoliating Toner","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Sweep : Glycolic Exfoliating Toner\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGlycolic Exfoliating Toner · 250 ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 5% glycolic acid toning solution with organic berry extracts that clears surface build-up and gradually reveals a smoother, more even-looking complexion with every application.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5% glycolic acid at an effective working pH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganic cranberry and lingonberry antioxidant support\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBetaine and Sodium PCA condition as it exfoliates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVegan · Cruelty-free · Made to order in EU \u0026amp; US · Full INCI listed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA clear, low-viscosity toning solution built around 5% Glycolic Acid : the smallest-molecule AHA, and the one with the deepest body of evidence behind it. Applied after cleansing and before serums, it dissolves the protein bonds between dead skin cells at the surface, accelerating a turnover process that daily life slows and pollution disrupts. The finish is clean; the liquid absorbs quickly and leaves no residue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy this exists\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost exfoliating toners resolve into one of two failure modes : so dilute that no meaningful exfoliation occurs, or so aggressive that the skin barrier is left compromised and reactive. This formulation sits in the evidence-supported middle. At 5% Glycolic Acid, it delivers genuine keratolytic activity at the surface without requiring the neutralisation step that salon-strength acids demand. The pH is buffered with Potassium Hydroxide to a level where Glycolic Acid is functionally active but not inflammation-inducing. Betaine and Sodium PCA replace the skin's natural moisturising factor components that the acid disrupts, so the net effect on the surface is resurfacing and conditioning simultaneously. The 250ml volume reflects how the product is used : a few applications per week for months, rather than one-drop-per-use like a targeted serum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormulation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlycolic Acid at 5% is the primary active. As the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid by molecular weight, it achieves the deepest surface penetration of the AHA family, loosening corneodesmosomes : the protein bonds that hold dead cells at the surface : and allowing them to shed more rapidly. This physical turnover acceleration is what produces the texture improvements and clarity gains that consistent users of Glycolic Acid report; it is not a temporary surface smoothing but a genuine change in how fast the surface renews itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePotassium Hydroxide is used to bring the pH into the 3.5 to 4 range, the window where Glycolic Acid exfoliates effectively while remaining within normal skin's tolerance. Glycerin provides baseline moisture support. Betaine, derived here from organic sources, and Sodium PCA together restore the skin's surface hydration layer immediately after the acid acts, preventing the post-application tightness that indicates over-stripping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract and Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea (Lingonberry) Fruit Extract : both organically sourced : contribute antioxidant activity from their natural polyphenol content. These Nordic berry extracts are included because the skin is briefly more sensitive to oxidative stress immediately following AHA application, and short-circuiting that sensitivity is part of good formulation. Sodium Levulinate and Sodium Benzoate maintain microbiome-compatible preservation. The formula is fragrance-free in practice, clear, and applies simply with a cotton pad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn skin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDay one : a very faint tingling on application that resolves within thirty seconds; by morning, the skin surface feels smoother to the touch and slightly more luminous in the mirror. Week one : surface texture begins to even out; areas of post-blemish discolouration appear less pronounced against the surrounding skin in natural light. Week four : a consistent improvement in skin clarity and surface quality; the toner has become a reliable step in an evening exfoliation ritual that the skin responds to without resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApply a small amount to a cotton pad and sweep across clean, dry skin a few times per week in the evening. Do not apply to broken or actively irritated skin. Leave on; no rinsing required. Follow immediately with serums and moisturiser. Always apply a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 the following morning, as Glycolic Acid increases the skin's sensitivity to UV radiation. Do not use on the same evening as other acid-based products or retinol-alternative actives. Introduce gradually if new to chemical exfoliation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small-batch boutique skincare house, made to order. Every bottle is formulated and filled within two working days of your order, then dispatched from the fulfilment centre closest to you : our European facility for United Kingdom and European Union customers, our United States facility for North American customers. Because every bottle is bottled to order, what arrives at your door is at the peak of its actives : nothing has been sitting against light, heat, or oxygen for months. Two-day production is the price of formulation freshness, and the boutique standard we hold ourselves to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCruelty-free. Vegan. Gluten free. Allergen Label Free.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe House Standard\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe will only ever list a formulation if it meets four conditions :\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo claim we cannot evidence in the bottle.\u003c\/strong\u003e Every benefit on this page is backed by an ingredient that does the work at a dose that does the work. If a peptide is on the page, it is in the formula at the level peptides start performing at, not a fragrance-trace included for the marketing department.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo active dosed below its working threshold.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is the single most common dishonesty in skincare. We do not do it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFull INCI, top to bottom, on every product page.\u003c\/strong\u003e In the order the regulator requires : highest concentration first. You can read the formula before you decide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne quality bar across two continents.\u003c\/strong\u003e Every formulation is held to the same European cosmetic standards, whether it leaves our EU facility for a customer in London or our US facility for a customer in Brooklyn. One bar. Two doors closer to you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the standard. It is how we work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFull ingredients\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAqua, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Levulinate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract➀, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea (Lingonberry) Fruit Extract➀, Alcohol ➀ Ingredients from organic farming\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOVESSI. Modern skin rituals. Korean philosophy, Scandinavian restraint, Japanese calmness, French editorial luxury, kept together. Made to order in our EU and US facilities.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"OVESSI","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":59626930307406,"sku":"195355","price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1032\/1313\/8254\/files\/As2-Q-b73YqKqIkcJXEp9tE6Uip5WeKW.jpg?v=1778453733"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1032\/1313\/8254\/collections\/f66bb662adb6f69b68fe3c492a0b2133.png?v=1780237147","url":"https:\/\/ovessi.com\/collections\/ingredient-glycolic-acid.oembed","provider":"OVESSI","version":"1.0","type":"link"}