FAQ

Glycolic Acid, an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is perhaps the best-known of a group of chemicals called fruit acids. It is derived from sugar cane, so it can be considered a natural product. Citric acid, from oranges and other citrus fruits, and Lactic Acid, from milk, also fall under the same classification as Alpha Hydroxy Acid.

Glycolic Acid works as an exfoliating agent because of its high acidity but easy solubility. When placed on the skin as part of an exfoliating cream or gel, Glycolic Acid goes under the damaged upper layers of skin and destroys the ‘glue’ which holds dead skin to the surface.

Glycolic Acid has a sloughing effect (removal of dead cells) on the skin. By accelerating the normal rate of sloughing it helps the regeneration of your skin by growing new cells faster. This AHA can be found in Line Smoother 8% Glycolic Acid Treatment, Deep Dive® Glycolic Facial Cleanser, and Power Peel Multi-Acid Resurfacing Pads.

Salicylic Acid is the only Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA).

The main difference between Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acid is their lipid (oil) solubility. Alpha Hydroxy Acids are water soluble only, while Beta Hydroxy Acid is lipid (oil) soluble.

This means that Beta Hydroxy Acid is able to penetrate into the pore which contains sebum and exfoliate the dead skin cells that are built up inside the pore. Because of this difference in properties, Beta Hydroxy Acid works very well on oily skin with acne, blackheads, and whiteheads.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids work well on thickened, sun-damaged skin where breakouts are not the main problem. In theory, it penetrates the skin faster. For acne, Salicylic Acid (BHA) is with no doubt the best choice.

Salicylic Acid is also effective in treating ingrown hairs.

Alcohol is not all bad. In fact, most skin care products do contain some type of alcohol even if they claim to be “alcohol-free”.

This is because there are both moisturizing alcohols and more drying alcohols. When skin care product labels read “alcohol-free” it means they are free of the stronger, harsher types of alcohol called ethyl alcohol (aka: grain alcohol), SD Alcohol, or Alcohol Denaturant. These alcohols are considered harsh because they can dry and irritate skin.

However, “alcohols” in general are a huge, diverse family of ingredients (with different names and varying effects on the skin), and there are many types of very beneficial, moisturizing, non-irritating alcohols used in skin care, hair care and shaving products. And just because a product claims to be “alcohol-free”, it may still contain emollient alcohols called fatty alcohols–like cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl and lanolin alcohol–which provide skin and hair benefits. Rather than dry or damage, these alcohols actually provide beneficial moisture and hydration.

Our advice: check to see what type of alcohol a product contains before making your decision.

A lot of men suffer from oily skin, so you are not alone. While extremely oily skin requires special care, the great advantage is that it tends to age at a slower rate than other skin types.

To care for oily skin, special cleansing will help prevent pores from becoming clogged. Avoid harsh products that can strip your complexion of oil and encourage flakiness, as this paradoxically causes your skin to produce even more oil than usual. Harsh cleansers can also cause the oil glands to work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils.

The fact that you know enough to ask puts you way ahead of the game. And once you start incorporating the corresponding techniques and products into your routine, we guarantee you’ll notice the benefits.

First, let’s talk about exfoliation. Put simply, this is the process of scrubbing the skin to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, exposing newer, fresher cells underneath. Why bother? Because removing the dead cells (and accompanying dirt and oil) helps your razor get closer to the skin for a smoother, easier shave. And as an extra bonus, you’re helping to prevent ingrown hairs.

To understand the importance of antioxidants, we need to discuss free radicals—unstable oxygen molecules produced by ultraviolet light, pollution, and stress. The effect? Healthy skin cells are robbed of electrons and collagen is corroded, causing wrinkles. The solution? Skin care products containing antioxidants, which work to help neutralize free radicals and minimize their damage.

At last men are realizing what their wives and girlfriends have known for a long time—the right skin care products really do make a difference. But what to use (and how much to spend) can be tricky.

Should you share? That depends. First, consider what’s different about a guy’s skin. It’s thicker than a woman’s and in most cases, produces more oil. But even more importantly, a man’s skin care needs to revolve around a daily shaving regimen, which has its own unique set of requirements. Luxso Cosmetics happens to be the ultimate guy product, offering three benefits—pre-shave oil, shave cream, and skin conditioner—in one easy-to-use product.

That said, there is an important point to be made in the case of sharing products in the anti-aging category. According to an NBC news report, prices for these creams and lotions are generally higher on the women’s side of the counter, based more on who they’re marketed to (women or men) rather than their effectiveness. In fact, a comparison of Luxso Cosmetics’s Care Products and a comparable women’s anti-aging cream showed the Luxso Cosmetics product to contain more beneficial ingredients—and it was less than half the price. With that in mind, it makes sense to us that she should be using your products. (Similar results can be found comparing men’s and women’s eye treatments.)

We’ll end this discussion with a few more recommendations, continuing in the spirit of what’s yours is hers. Other Luxso Cosmetics products we think she’ll like to include our Class Line, Sport Line, Snail Line.

Luxso Cosmetics product containers – mHigh-Density Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – do not contain BPA. Our containers are not formulated with BPA, and BPA is not used in the manufacture of Luxso Cosmetics bottles, or the inks and coatings for our containers.

Bisphenol A has been discussed in many articles in recent years due to the potential health risk to humans exposed to this chemical. BPA exhibits hormone-like properties that raise concern about its suitability in consumer products and food containers. Since 2008, several governments have questioned its safety, which prompted some retailers to withdraw polycarbonate products.

BPA is used to make certain plastics and epoxy resins; it has been in commercial use since 1957. BPA-based plastic is clear and tough, and was historically used to make a variety of common consumer goods, such as baby and water bottles, sports equipment, and CDs and DVDs, and for industrial purposes, like lining water pipes. Epoxy resins containing BPA are also used as coatings on the inside of many food and beverage cans, and in the making of thermal paper such as that used in sales receipts.

Physical sunscreens contain extremely fine particles of minerals such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and iron oxide that stay on the skin’s surface, creating a barrier that reflects the sun’s rays. Advantages include its ability to keep skin cool, the protection is natural, and it’s unlikely to cause skin irritation because it doesn’t get absorbed into the skin.

Chemical sunscreens contain chemical compounds like Avobenzone and Octinoxate as active ingredients, and they absorb ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn, damages DNA and can lead to skin cancer. Advantages of chemical sunscreens include its ability to defend the deeper layers of skin—including collagen fibers and other tissue—against the aging effects of UVA rays, and prevention of penetration by the UVB rays responsible for tanning and sunburn. Formulations containing chemical sunscreens are usually more pleasant to use, as they are lighter weight, less heavy and greasy, and do not leave the “whitening” effect on skin that some physical sunblocks do.

Yes, Luxso Cosmetics sunscreens are completely safe and very beneficial to your skin. Some people are concerned that some sunscreen ingredients can be absorbed through the skin and cause hormonal changes. This concern came from one study where rats were bathed in sunscreen daily and even forced to eat sunscreen. We are not aware of any proof of estrogen-like effects in humans. The vast majority of doctors and dermatologists agree that the benefits of sunscreen far outweigh the outside risk of any effects due to skin absorption. There are hundreds of published, peer-reviewed studies from medical and research centers all over the world proving sunscreen can prevent deadly skin cancers as well as help prevent premature wrinkles and skin discolorations. In fact, a study published in 2013 showed that regular, daily use of sunscreen not only helps prevent skin cancer, it also reduces the visible signs of skin aging (lines, wrinkles, discoloration) by 24% compared to people who did not use sunscreen regularly.

Ingredients used in sunscreen products that are compliant with government regulations have been carefully and extensively reviewed for safety and efficacy by governing bodies all over the world, including the FDA before they can be put on the market.

Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature aging of the skin and is also the number one cause of skin cancer. Daily sun protection with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 20 is the single most important thing you can do to protect your skin’s health and appearance. Regular use of sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer and also reduces the signs of skin aging (lines, wrinkles, dark spots) by 24%, according to a 2013 study.

Some people only use sunscreen when they go to the beach, but sun damage is cumulative. The real damage comes from cumulative sun exposure over a lifetime, especially incidental sun exposure.  Incidental sun exposure is what happens when you are getting in your car to go to the office, walking across the parking lot, getting the mail in, walking the dog, or sitting by a window while working. UVA rays go through the glass in the car and while you are sitting inside, near a window. When you add up all the incidental sun exposure you get a day in and day out, you are outside quite a bit, and this exposure each day for years is a lot! That’s why using sun protection in your daily grooming regimen is so crucial in protecting your skin’s health and appearance.

Razor burn is the result of removing too much skin when you shave. The wrong product (one that doesn’t provide enough protection from your blade) or applying too much pressure may be to blame.

Start by using Luxso Cosmetics Face Scrub to cleanse the face before shaving. The small scrubbing particles help to gently but effectively remove dead skin cells and oil, so your razor can get closer to your skin. This means you can shave with less pressure, which means less chance of irritation.

Next, shave with a revolutionary Luxso Shaving Cream to help end your razor burn troubles. The unique formula offers three benefits in a single product—it’s a pre-shave oil, shave cream, and skin conditioner in one. The lightweight, the lubricating lotion has high-quality conditioning oils and special silicone technology to form a superior cushion between the skin and blade. The unique formula penetrates whiskers to soften even the toughest beard, allowing for an easier, less stressful shave. Finally, soothing anti-irritants like Heather help reduce the chance of irritation.

An alcohol-free, fragrance-free aftershave treatment will also help alleviate razor burn and irritation—try Anti Wrinkle After Shave Moisturizing Emulsion, which soothes skin and minimizes redness. Plus, the non-oily formula provides lightweight moisturization without burning or stinging.