Speed Racer & Glow Getter: Meet Your New Skincare Power Duo
Kasey Bennett, FNP-BCYour skin has two basic jobs to manage most days: keeping oil and bacteria in check, and holding onto an even, bright tone. Most skincare cabinets end up with five products trying to do those two jobs badly. We built Speed Racer and Glow Getter to do them well, and to work as a pair — one pad for clarity, one for radiance.
If you've been to our Nashville practice for a facial or a skincare consult, you've probably heard us talk about "the duo." Here's the actual science behind why we hand these two products to almost every patient who walks through our door, and how to use them correctly at home.
What's Actually in Speed Racer
Speed Racer is our glycolic acid and salicylic acid pad, built for patients who deal with excess oil, clogged pores, or active breakouts. It's also the pad we hand to patients who work out regularly, because sweat mixed with bacteria on the skin's surface is a common trigger for body and facial breakouts. A quick swipe after a workout removes that excess oil before it has a chance to clog a pore, and the pads are compact enough to keep in a gym bag or purse.
The two active ingredients do different jobs:
Glycolic acid is a small-molecule alpha-hydroxy acid, which means it works on the very surface of the skin to loosen the "glue" holding dead skin cells together. That gives you gentle exfoliation, smoother texture, and a brighter look over time. Glycolic acid is also a natural humectant — it pulls moisture up from the deeper layers of the skin to hydrate the surface. Because Speed Racer uses a pure glycolic acid formula rather than a heavily buffered or blended acid, it exfoliates without leaving skin feeling stripped or dry the way some acid toners can.
Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, so it gets down into the pore itself — think of it as a liquid plumber for clogged pores, clearing out the oil and bacterial buildup that leads to blackheads and breakouts. A randomized within-person comparison study found that a combination of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and other cosmeceutical ingredients improved mild-to-moderate acne when used alongside standard treatment, supporting what we see clinically: these two acids work better together than either one alone.(1)
Speed Racer also contains witch hazel, which helps with both scent and a light astringent cleansing effect, and the formula is designed to help correct the skin's natural pH after cleansing — many facial cleansers push skin toward a more alkaline state, which can actually encourage acne-causing bacteria to thrive.
A note on purging: if you start Speed Racer and see a few new small breakouts in the first couple of weeks, that's usually the salicylic acid bringing existing congestion to the surface faster than it would have appeared on its own — not a sign the product is "breaking you out." For patients with papulopustular acne (the deeper, more inflamed bumps), we typically recommend pairing Speed Racer with a benzoyl peroxide product, since salicylic acid alone isn't as strong an antibacterial as benzoyl peroxide for that acne type.
What's Actually in Glow Getter
Glow Getter is our brightening step, formulated for uneven tone, sun spots, and that overall dullness that creeps in — especially after a Nashville summer of sun exposure. Where Speed Racer works on oil and breakouts, Glow Getter works on pigment and radiance.
The formula relies on natural brighteners: kojic acid, bearberry extract, and vitamin C. Kojic acid is a byproduct of fermentation that interferes with melanin production at the source, bearberry is a natural source of arbutin, a gentle plant-derived brightening compound, and vitamin C both brightens and provides antioxidant protection against the free-radical damage that drives future dark spots. A split-face clinical trial found that a topical combination of alpha-arbutin and kojic acid performed comparably to a triple-combination prescription cream for melasma, with a lower rate of irritation — good news for patients who want real results without constant sensitivity.(2) Separately, a Bayesian meta-analysis of more than 30 controlled trials found that topical vitamin C measurably reduces UV-induced pigmentation, reinforcing why we include it here rather than treating it as a marketing add-on.(3)
Because brightening ingredients work by interrupting pigment production, they're most effective — and gentlest on skin — when used at night, away from UV exposure and layered under your morning SPF the next day.
Consistency matters more than intensity here — brightening ingredients work gradually, over multiple skin cycles, so daily use is what actually moves the needle on tone. For patients who want to build out a fuller brightening regimen, we're happy to talk through how Glow Getter fits alongside other steps like tretinoin during a consult. And because Glow Getter comes in pad form, it's just as easy to toss in a gym bag or carry-on as Speed Racer.
How to Layer Speed Racer and Glow Getter
You don't have to choose between clarity and radiance — most patients use both, just at different times:
Morning: Cleanse, then use Speed Racer to control oil and keep pores clear through the day. Follow with SPF, always.
Evening: Cleanse, then use Glow Getter to target tone and pigment overnight, while your skin is in repair mode and away from sun exposure.
If your skin tolerates both acids well, some patients use Speed Racer twice a day — morning and evening, whenever your face is feeling its dirtiest — with Glow Getter layered in at night on top. If you're newer to actives, start with one pad type per day and build tolerance before combining.
Who These Pads Are Good For
Speed Racer is a strong fit if you deal with regular breakouts, oily or combination skin, or post-workout congestion, and you want something portable enough for a gym bag or carry-on. Glow Getter is a strong fit if your main concern is sun spots, melasma, post-acne marks, or an overall uneven tone rather than active breakouts. Many Nashville patients use both because clogged pores and pigment issues tend to show up together, especially through humid summers.
FAQ
Can I use Speed Racer and Glow Getter on the same day?
Yes. Many patients use Speed Racer in the morning to manage oil and Glow Getter at night to target tone, since brightening ingredients work best without UV exposure.
Will Speed Racer dry out my skin?
It shouldn't. Speed Racer uses a pure glycolic acid formula rather than a heavily concentrated or blended acid, and glycolic acid itself is a humectant that helps pull moisture into the surface of the skin.
Why am I breaking out more after starting Speed Racer?
This is usually purging, not a reaction to the product — salicylic acid can bring existing congestion to the surface faster than it would appear on its own. If breakouts persist past a few weeks or seem to be getting worse, check in with your provider.
How soon will I see results from Glow Getter?
Most patients notice smoother, more even-looking tone within a few weeks of nightly use, though visible improvement in stubborn sun spots or melasma can take longer since brightening ingredients work gradually over several skin cycles.
Can I bring Glow Getter with me when I travel?
Yes — like Speed Racer, Glow Getter comes in pad form, so it's easy to pack in a gym bag or carry-on without worrying about spills or measuring out product.
For more on layering exfoliating acids into a full routine, see our guide on building an at-home skincare routine, and if pigment is your main concern, check out our breakdown of hyperpigmentation.
Ready to build your routine? Book a consultation at hifinch.com and we'll help you figure out exactly how Speed Racer and Glow Getter fit into your skin's needs.
