By dissolving dead skin cells and oils, glycolic acid, a chemical-based ingredient, exfoliates your skin without the need to scrub. Glycolic acid may enhance skin hydration and increase the formation of collagen. It is a fantastic skincare ingredient for on-the-go skin that is clear, healthy, and glowing.
What is Glycolic Acid1?
Glycolic acid is considered to be the star of your skincare regimen. As an alpha-hydroxy acid, glycolic acid is sourced from sugarcane. Among all the acids, it has the lowest and lightest molecular weight, which facilitates deep skin penetration and maximizes its advantages. In addition to being colorless and odorless, glycolic acid dissolves well in water.
It is included in treatments for dry skin, poor complexions, sun-damaged skin, older skin, and oily or acne-prone skin. Depending on how much glycolic acid is used in each treatment, it can control seborrhea in youthful or oily skin and moisturize and brighten older or dry skin. Be advised, nevertheless, that it occasionally irritates delicate skin.
What are the Benefits of Glycolic Acid?
The benefits of glycolic acid are many. Here are the top five:
1. Fights signs of aging2
Glycolic acid may deeply penetrate your skin's epidermal layer and promote cellular activity because it is a very tiny molecule. This implies that in order to moisturize, brighten, and tone your skin, it's frequently included in anti-aging and anti-blemish treatments. By promoting cell regeneration and eliminating extra dead skin cells, this powerful smoothing ingredient balances out the texture of the skin and reduces the visibility of wrinkles, leaving the skin feeling clean, smooth, and young.
2. Reduces hyperpigmentation3
When the skin's outer layer becomes darker while the skin beneath it stays less pigmented, this is known as hyperpigmentation. By eliminating darker skin cells from the skin's surface and exposing a new layer of even skin, glycolic acid helps treat hyperpigmentation. Regular application is the only way to reap the benefits of glycolic acid for the face.
3. Permits other skincare ingredients to penetrate the skin
In addition to speeding up skin cell renewal, glycolic acid's exfoliating qualities enable other skincare products to penetrate deeper and provide the most possible advantages. Your skincare products perform their best and provide effects more quickly when they penetrate deeper and better into your skin. Therefore, it may be advantageous to use glycolic acid on the skin in addition to other products.
4. Keeps the lipids in your skin healthy4
The bouncing barrier of the skin is made up of lipids, which are good fatty acids that keep moisture in and toxins out. The lipids in your skin are unaffected by the melting of dead skin cells caused by glycolic acid. Hence, one of glycolic acid’s benefits is its ability to maintain your skin’s health.
5. Hydrates the skins and gives it a smooth, radiant feeling5
The secret to good skin is hydration, which may be unlocked with glycolic acid for skin. Because it draws water molecules to itself, it is classified as a humectant, which leaves the skin feeling moisturized. Moreover, one of the primary advantages of glycolic acid for the face is that its tiny molecules penetrate far beyond the epidermis and remove dead skin cells. Fresh, baby-soft, glowing, smooth, and bright skin is revealed as a result.
How Can I Use Glycolic Acid in my Skincare Routine?
If you are willing to use glycolic acid, they should do the following:
Apply the product to a small, non-face skin area to do a patch test. This way, the tolerance of the skin may be evaluated. If no symptoms are present, apply it to the face.
It is advised to start with a mild glycolic acid and use it sparingly. If a person's skin feels smoother and shows no adverse effects, they can gradually increase their usage of the product by following the instructions on the package. Never take it more often than the label or a doctor advises.
Because glycolic acid raises the risk of sunburn, you might want to use it at night.
Before going outside, always finish your skincare routine with a coat of sunscreen.
As a multipurpose powerhouse for keeping skin healthy and radiant, glycolic acid is a useful supplement to any skincare routine because of its capacity to exfoliate, minimize wrinkles, fight hyperpigmentation, and improve moisture. Glycolic acid makes sure your skin gets the most out of your skincare regimen by encouraging skin regeneration and enhancing the absorption of other skincare products. Glycolic acid can help you attain smoother, brighter, and more radiant skin if you use it consistently and with awareness.
Check out our bestsellers, such as the Neutrogena Skin Detox Cooling Scrub and the Neutrogena Skin Detox Clarifying Clay Wash Mask, which contain the benefits of glycolic acid.
References
1 Sharad, J. (2013). Glycolic acid peel therapy–a current review. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 281-288.
2 Mbituyimana, B., Mao, L., Hu, S., Ullah, M. W., Chen, K., Fu, L., ... & Yang, G. (2021). Bacterial cellulose/glycolic acid/glycerol composite membrane as a system to deliver glycolic acid for anti-aging treatment. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 6(2), 129-141.
3 Perez-Bernal, A., Muñoz-Pérez, M. A., & Camacho, F. (2000). Management of facial hyperpigmentation. American journal of clinical dermatology, 1, 261-268.
4 Lukic, M., Filipovic, M., Pajic, N., Lunter, D., Bozic, D., & Savic, S. (2021). Formulation of topical acidic products and acidification of the skin–Contribution of glycolic acid. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 43(4), 419-431.
5 Bernstein, E. F., Lee, J., Brown, D. B., Yu, R., & Van Scott, E. (2001). Glycolic acid treatment increases type I collagen mRNA and hyaluronic acid content of human skin. Dermatologic surgery, 27(5), 429-433.