Every advertisement, every skin care product, and almost every Influencer raves about Glycolic Acid and how it’s awesome for your skin. But no one really talks about “why.” I don’t know about you, but before I use anything on my skin, I always want to know more. Skincare is not one size fits all. That’s why you need to know what works best for you.
What is Glycolic Acid?
Glycolic Acid is a colorless, odorless, crystalline solid which is very soluble in water. There’s more chemistry to describe glycolic acid, but let’s skip that. We want to know more in relation to our skincare right? Let’s go.
Glycolic Acid is a type of AHA, or alpha-hydroxy acid. Because of its simple structure and low molecular weight, it’s easily absorbed into the skin!
AHA works with your skincare to smooth fine lines, and wrinkles, improve the texture of your skin and clean your pores.
What does Glycolic Acid do for your skin?
Glycolic acid is an exfoliant. An exfoliant works to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. By doing this, Glycolic acid makes your skin look brighter. You’ll notice Glycolic acid as a key ingredient in many toners and cleansers. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid toner is my favorite! I’ve seen great results with this toner and I can’t live without it. The best thing about it? It’s very affordable!
Besides being a great exfoliant, Glycolic acid keeps your skin hydrated by creating a barrier on the surface to prevent any loss of water. You’ll see this in many hydrating moisturizers.
Glycolic acid works in reducing fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production and hyaluronic acid in the skin. As you age, production of these two decreases, which is why Glycolic Acid is important for anti-aging.
Works well for certain skin types
Like skincare, glycolic acid will work differently for each skin type. Dermatologists do not recommend using more than 10% at home. You can get prescription skincare if needed. So going higher than 10% might result in your skin having a chemical burn.
If you have oily, combination, or normal skin types, then I really recommend trying out products with Glycolic Acid (I’ll give you suggestions later on). If you have sensitive or extremely dry skin, then I would consult with your dermatologist first because the last thing you want is a nasty skin reaction.
Also note, that if you use any product with Glycolic Acid, you MUST wear sunscreen. You should be wearing sunscreen anyway (I know some of you skip out…I do too). Remember I said, it’s an exfoliant, it removes the top layer of dead skin cells. That’s why it makes your skin more prone to UV damage, so protect it!
When and How To Use Glycolic Acid
In addition to using it as a cleanser, you can use Glycolic Acid as a toner. If you’ve never used a toner before, try the Ordinary one and make sure you use it twice a day. Next, if you want to use it as a serum, I would prefer you to use that at night time. Because glycolic acid makes your skin sensitive to the sun, try it at night!
The first thing to keep in mind as a new user is that it might sting. I know, I know. I’m giving you a heads-up. That doesn’t mean that it’s painful. Your skin will get used to it quickly. But if you’re itchy or wind up with any reaction to it, consult your doctor. I would suggest doing a small patch test first.
Finally, when using it as a serum, make sure you use it just a little bit. Less is more! Make sure you apply it well into your entire face (avoiding the eyes and lips of course). Like any serum, do not scrub it into your skin. Glide and gently massage.
Do Not Use:
Sunburned skin or inflamed acne
With any harsh exfoliator
With Retinols and Vitamin C
My recommendations for Glycolic Acid
As a cleanser:
Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser: The Glow Recipe has some great products that are great for sensitive skin types (like mine!).
Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser: Very affordable!
As a serum:
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores: has both Hyaluronic and Glycolic Acid.
L’Oreal Revitalift Derm Intensives Drugstore brand that I love.
As a toner:
The Ordinary: My favorite toner hands down!
Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner
L’Oreal Revitalift Peeling Toner
These links are for products that I have tried (not affiliate links) and enjoyed. I hope you have a better understanding of what Glycolic Acid is and how it can benefit your skin if used correctly. Remember, consistency is key! With any skincare, you need to be consistent to see results.
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