Isaac and Ciraldo agreed that the glycolic acid products available for at-home use are quite safe and effective. Glycolic acid is a naturally occurring Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). The safe-for-skin acid (that's derived from sugarcane) is an AHA—short for alpha hydroxy acid. Dr. Melda Isaac, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C., added that glycolic has the ability to really get down into the hair follicles and loosen up any built-up sebum and proteins that could otherwise lead to blackheads and breakouts. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. “Everything goes on so much more smoothly.”, Glycolic acid, in various levels of potency, is found in a wide array of products, including cleansers, toners, creams, masks and peels. SkinCeuticals www.dermstore.com. Glycolic acid is one of those ingredients you see on plenty of skin care labels. The latter will cleanse the skin of dirt, oil, and debris while sloughing away dead skin and pore-clogging impurities that, if left alone, could cause dull skin, acne, and other blemishes. As Isaac explained, the exfoliating properties of glycolic acid make it great for prepping the skin for other products. Thanks to those ingredients, along with its glycolic acid content, it promises to quickly and effectively address hyperpigmentation. The brand is famous for curating other products, though it recently started an in-house line of its own—starting with this cleanser and the ever-popular Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. No wonder why so many dermatologists and estheticians swear by this safe-for-skin acid for at-home use. ), Its main function is to exfoliate the skin, or, as Ciraldo explained, it’s “ungluing dead cells from each other.”. We wanted to find out all about this acid, a word that can seem a little intimidating at first. Those same dead skin cells that can stick together and clog pores, leading to acne, can also make our skin look less vibrant. It uses a combination of glycolic acid and vitamin C to lift dark spots and even skin tone. And as if it doesn’t already sound like a magical ingredient, glycolic acid has also been shown to stimulate collagen production, which will help reduce the appearance of fine lines, Isaac said. Kate Somerville's purifying foaming cleanser combines glycolic acid with fruit enzymes for a true brightening and exfoliating effect. If you want to have increased benefits, Ciraldo said, you can “probably start to use it every night” after about one or two weeks. As the glycolic acid removes the top layer of skin cells and … It is a beta-hydroxy acid. Glycolic acid, typically derived from sugar cane, belongs to the alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) family ― along with malic and lactic acids ― and is a common ingredient in many skin care products. Boscia Detoxifying Black Charcoal Cleanser, 11 Exfoliating Face Washes That Will Leave Your Skin Fresh and Flawless, Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash, Peter Thomas Roth 3% Glycolic Solutions Cleanser, Glo Skin Beauty Glycolic Resurfacing Cleanser, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser, You Heard It Here First: These Are the Best Drugstore Face Washes, DermaDoctor Wrinkle Revenge Antioxidant Enhanced Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser, The 8 Natural Face Washes Your Skin Will Thank You For, SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser With Glycolic Acid, Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel, InstaNatural Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser, These Oily Skin-Approved Face Washes Keep Excess Shine Under Control. Using a 10 percent glycolic acid product regularly will offer the same kind of benefits you’d see if you went to your dermatologist for a higher-concentration peel on less frequent occasions, Ciraldo said. Dr. Mariwalla's go-to glycolic acid product is SkinCeuticals Retexturizing… Its oil-controlling and pore-reducing properties make it a good option for anyone who has shiny skin. Some people have raised questions about whether glycolic acid is safe to use on darker skin tones, but Isaac said it’s generally OK, though there could be some risk for pigmentation if someone uses a formula that’s too strong and irritates their skin. This glycolic acid cleanser is a lightweight, oil-reducing gel, which is why we like using it in the heat of summer. Just like how the La Roche-Posay product was formulated for oily sensitive skin, this product was formulated for mature and aging skin. It's truly brightening too. Then there's the namesake charcoal, which naturally purifies and detoxifies the skin. Alternatively, she said, you could apply your glycolic before bed. According to Isaac, the ideal percentage of glycolic acid for at-home use would be 8 percent to 30 percent, with 30 being what she called the “high normal.”. The reviews are in, and the vast majority are glowing. It's oil-free, which makes it a good option for people whose skin doesn't tolerate oil-infused skincare products. “Most face washes are somewhere between 8 to 10 percent. This product has over 30,000 "loves" on Sephora's website, with reviews to match. It also sets up your skin for better makeup application. Reach for this one if you've found that oil triggers acne. This cleanser is formulated with 4.9% glycolic acid to exfoliate, brighten, smooth, and even release ingrown hairs. It also happens to be fragrance- and oil-free. “You also lose some of the rough texture, so you get more skin smoothness,” she said. All rights reserved. “Another benefit from the exfoliating is it helps with pigment.”. SkinCeuticals is another skincare brand that's universally adored by Byrdie beauty editors (it is, after all, the maker of our favorite C E Ferulic Acid Serum, $166). She suggested incorporating it into your routine a few times a week, and if you’re seeing desired results, keep it up with that same frequency. review process here. Camellia and licorice extracts are included to kill germs on the surface of the skin and fight inflammation. But once we learned more about it, it sounded like a pretty magical ingredient; it’s said to be great for clearing the skin, evening out skin tone and anti-aging, among other things. For a budget-friendly pick, look no further than Mario Badescu's glycolic cleanser. Once it washes off, our skin feels soft, smooth, and clean of oil and debris. It cleans the skin while exfoliating, brightening, and fighting signs of aging too. The pH level isn’t always listed on product labels, but some terms you can look for are “low pH” or “medical grade pH.” Ciraldo’s ideal is a 10 percent glycolic with a pH of 3.5, and both she and Isaac agreed that a product with 10 percent glycolic is safe for daily use. “But for someone in their 20s, 30s and above, if they want to do an at-home glycolic peel, I think that would be anyone 18 and above,” she said. That's why we always keep our sights on a few favorite glycolic acid cleansers. Glytone is a skincare brand that specializes in glycolic acid products (take a look at any of its products and you'll see the ingredient listed somewhere along the way). It works to dissolve sebum and other dead skin cells, therefore brightening skin and reducing blemishes, sunspots, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. This mild cleanser is suitable for sensitive skin types and does everything a glycolic acid cleanser should do. Glytone is a skincare brand that specializes in glycolic acid products … La Roche-Posay is one of our favorite French pharmacy brands (even though it sounds and looks high-end, you can find its products at places like Dermstore and Target). At the end of the day, if it works for our skin, we'll use it. It boasts 8.5% glycolic acid to exfoliate, smooth, and brighten, along with green tea to provide antioxidants.