“Glycolic acid.” You may be familiar with the term but not know why. We’ll help you out a bit: It’s one of the most common ingredients found in drugstore and dermatologist-approved skincare products. It’s also the ingredient that put skincare on the map back in the early ‘90s.
Glycolic acid is a naturally occurring ingredient that is sourced from foods, such as sugarcane. It’s also an alpha hydroxy acid, which help to loosen the glue-like substances that hold dead skin cells to the outermost layer of the skin and thereby reveal the newer, healthier skin beneath. Moreover, AHAs stimulate new cell growth, resulting in a brighter, more toned and even complexion. Studies also show that glycolic acid helps to encourage the growth of elastin and collagen, which means that prolonged use can accelerate healing and reverse the signs of environmental damage. Finally, because glycolic acids have the smallest molecules of all AHAs, it can easily penetrate the skin.
Using Glycolic Acid in Your Skincare Routine
So, now that you know what glycolic acid is and how it benefits your complexion, you may wonder how you can incorporate it into your skincare regime. The good news is that you don’t have to try very hard. Most skincare products use glycolic acid as an ingredient, so all you have to do is load up! Some glycolic acid-containing products to look into include the following:
- Overnight Cream: Find a night cream that boasts the perfect concentration of glycolic acid and pH value. Ideally, you should look for one with a glycolic acid concentration of 10%, which offers maximum efficiency and tolerability.
- Everyday Cleanser: Use a cleanser in tandem with the overnight cream to improve radiance and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
- Exfoliating Moisturizer: Eliminate steps in your skincare regime with an exfoliator/moisture wrapped into one.
- Peel: Use a peel with glycolic acid to reduce signs of aging, improve skin tone and erase hyperpigmentation and scars from acne.
- Blemish Remover: Glycolic acid is great for dissolving whiteheads, exfoliating the skin and clearing pores of impurities. The right blemish remover can even serve to lighten acne scars.
At Hale Cosmeceuticals, we don’t just believe in the power of glycolic acid — we have scientific proof of it. Learn more about this amazing ingredient and how we use it in our skincare products today.
