What does glycolic acid do for your face and what are its benefits?
Yes, we are here again to talk about another chemical peel, but I can assure you that you want to know everything about this glycolic acid. It is truly good for your skin, which is why we incorporate glycolic acid into a variety of products, including our glycolic acid face wash, blackhead peeling mask, and glycolic acid egg. So let’s jump right in and learn more about the benefits of glycolic acid for skin care.
What is glycolic acid?
As mentioned earlier, glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA) that is derived from sugar cane. Similar to other AHAs, it has humble and natural origins. But there is one thing that is unique about this acid, and that is its small size. Its molecular size is the smallest of all acids, which means that it is extremely effective and penetrates the skin the fastest to reach the lower layers of the skin and start repairing.
What does glycolic acid do on the face?
Glycolic acid exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the face and can cause skin problems such as blemishes, dry spots, and dull complexion. Glycolic acid dissolves the “glue” that holds these skin cells to your face, revealing new, more vibrant, brighter skin underneath. Glycolic acid doesn’t stop there, it penetrates deeper into the skin, passing through the epidermis and increasing collagen production. As we age, this natural production slows down, causing our skin to lose firmness. With the help of this glycolic acid, you’ll find your skin feels firmer, with fewer signs of fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a noticeably smoother, more radiant complexion.
How often should you use glycolic acid?
This basically depends on your skin type and whether your skin can tolerate a chemical peel. For combination and oily skin, using glycolic acid every morning and night can help open up your pores and leave you feeling clean without stripping your skin of the important oils and moisture it needs for good health. If you have dry skin, you can try incorporating this product into your daily routine, using it once a week and keeping track of how your skin responds to the formula. This should all be done after performing a patch test 24 hours before using the product or consulting with a dermatologist or GP.
You know your skin better than anyone. So even if you use glycolic acid products as directed, but your skin feels tight and uncomfortable, you should stop using it immediately before you over-exfoliate your skin and potentially trigger a reaction.
However, glycolic acid is a milder acid that many people find safe and easy to use in their skincare routine. You’ll also be interested to know that glycolic acid is immediately neutralized when it comes in contact with water. Not only does this mean you can wash it off if it burns or feels uncomfortable, but once it penetrates the skin and reaches the water in the lower dermis, it stays there. In other words, you won’t have severe irritation and bright red skin.
What should I put on my face after using glycolic acid?
It depends on which product has glycolic acid in its formula, but whether it’s a cleanser, face wash, or toner, glycolic acid should be followed by a hydrating serum rich in hyaluronic acid (learn more about the benefits of hyaluronic acid here) to hydrate and soothe the skin, followed by a moisturizer if you want to use one, and finally an SPF if you use it in your daily routine. Peeling can make your skin sensitive to UV rays. So, apply a sunscreen with SPF 30+ every day to protect your skin from sun damage.
What shouldn’t glycolic acid be used with?
Avoid using other AHAs when using glycolic acid as it may be too much for the skin. Instead, you can try mixing up your products, such as using a toner with glycolic acid at night and a serum with vitamin C in the morning. This way you can get the most out of these products but not over-exfoliate and overburden your skin.
It is also recommended not to use both physical and chemical peels at the same time as this will remove sebum from the skin, which can lead to overproduction and then your skin will have many breakouts such as spots and blemishes.
How long does glycolic acid take to work?
As with many ingredients in skincare, consistency is key. Regular use of products rich in glycolic acid will significantly improve the overall appearance of your complexion. The speed at which glycolic acid improves the skin is one of the many benefits of this AHA. Expect that you will start to see results after 2-3 weeks and your skin will show a complete transformation after 6-8 months.
Which is better, retinol or glycolic acid?
Both skin ingredients work very differently on the skin. Glycolic acid has an impressive effect in maintaining skin clarity and restoring a healthy glow. Retinol is a highly effective ingredient that effectively fights all signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and more. These ingredients act on different parts of the skin, so you can use both in your nighttime routine. You may also find that retinol is able to penetrate the skin and show results faster, because glycolic acid removes all the dead cells from the skin. You can find out more about retinol in our special blog post. There you can read about all the benefits of using retinol and why it is so good for the skin.
Do I need to wash off glycolic acid?
This again depends on the product containing glycolic acid. In a previous blog post, we mentioned the advantages of keeping active ingredients on the skin for as long as possible, such as in the form of a serum. However, due to the low molecular weight and size of glycolic acid, it can penetrate deep into the skin and work its magic. This means that your skin will not reap any benefits if you wash off glycolic acid in your skincare routine.
Didn’t we tell you that it would be in your best interest to learn more about this hard-working AHA? If you want to learn more about what alpha and beta hydroxy acids do for your skin, check out our complete guide to AHAs and BHAs.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
