What are the Benefits of Glycolic Acid for Skin?
- Exfoliation: Removes dead skin cells, revealing brighter, cleaner skin without stripping essential lipids.
- Anti-aging: Reduces fine lines and wrinkles by promoting skin cell renewal, increasing collagen production, and hydrating the skin.
- Hyperpigmentation Reduction: Fades dark spots and age spots by removing darker skin cells.
- Hydration: Acts as a humectant, attracting moisture to the skin.
- Brightening and Smoothing: Eliminates dead skin cells for radiant, smooth skin.
- Acne Fighting: Prevents breakouts by unclogging pores.
- Enhanced Ingredient Penetration: Improves the effectiveness of other skincare products.
To maximize these benefits of glycolic acid for skin, incorporate this magic ingredient in a routine:
Step 1: Cleanse: Use a glycolic acid cleanser.
Step 2: Serum: Apply a glycolic acid serum (start with a low concentration).
Step 3: Eye Serum: Use a glycolic acid eye serum.
Step 4: Moisturise: Use a glycolic acid day cream with SPF in the morning and a glycolic acid night cream in the evening.
Step 5: Sun Protection: Always apply sunscreen to prevent sun sensitivity.
What are the Benefits of Glycolic Acid for Skin?
Glycolic acid, a water-soluble alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugarcane, has a small molecular size that allows it to penetrate deeply into the skin to remove melanin formation for bright, spotless complexion. Learn more about glycolic acid benefits for the skin below.
1. Exfoliates Skin
What does glycolic acid do for skin, you ask? Glycolic acid works as a chemical exfoliant and helps slough off dead skin cells and oil trapped in the outermost layer by dissolving them. As a result, you achieve healthy, bright, and clean skin. Even though glycolic acid melts away dead skin cells, your lipids remain intact. Now, what are lipids? Lipids are healthy fatty acids that make up the skin’s bouncy barrier while keeping the hydration in and the bad stuff out.
2. Anti-ageing
Youthfulness is one of the major glycolic acid benefits for the skin. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by exfoliating the top layer of the skin. This, in turn, accelerates skin cell renewal, increases collagen production, and maintains the skin’s natural ability to retain hydration while preventing and reducing fine lines and wrinkles when used regularly. Other benefits of glycolic acid focus on flattening the skin’s surface, leaving it feeling even, and making wrinkles less noticeable.
3. Fades Hyperpigmentation
Using glycolic acid for hyperpigmentation is great as it regularly helps fade mild hyperpigmentation like dark spots and age spots. Wondering how? Hyperpigmentation happens when the skin’s surface changes its colour, i.e., it starts becoming darker, and the skin underneath remains less pigmented. Using glycolic acid for pigmentation helps by removing darker skin cells from the surface to reveal a fresh layer of even skin. This glycolic acid benefit for the face can only be achieved with regular use.
4. Hydrating
Moisturisation is the key to healthy skin, and using glycolic acid for dry skin helps you unlock it. Categorised as a humectant that attracts water molecules to itself, it leaves the skin feeling hydrated.
5. Brightens and Smoothens Skin
One of the main glycolic acid benefits for the skin is that its little molecules go deep beneath your skin’s surface and eliminate dead skin cells. This reveals fresh, baby-soft skin that is bright, smooth, and radiant.
6. Fights Acne
Using glycolic acid benefits oily as well as acne-prone skin because it exfoliates dead skin cells that tend to clog pores and trigger breakouts. It also helps your skin appear even and smoother. Make sure you consult your dermatologist before using AHAs like glycolic acid on very sensitive skin.
7. Allows Penetration of Ingredients
The benefits of glycolic acid are endless. It’s exfoliation properties not only accelerate skin cell rejuvenation but also allow deeper penetration of other skincare ingredients and help achieve maximum benefits. When your skincare products penetrate better and deeper, they work their magic and give you faster results. Thus, using glycolic acid for the skin can be beneficial while applying other products as well.
You can use glycolic acid for skin as it helps exfoliate, brighten, and hydrate, making it ideal for oily, dry, dull, or mature skin. Now that you’re aware of what glycolic acid does to the skin, let us tell you how you can include this star ingredient into your regular skincare routine and get the most out of it.
How to Use Glycolic Acid in a Routine?
Understanding the benefits of glycolic acid isn’t enough! You need to know how to use this magic ingredient in a skincare routine to maximise its benefits. Here’s an easy yet effective glycolic acid routine to reveal healthy skin with ease -
Step 1: Glycolic Acid Cleanser
The first step in a glycolic acid skincare routine is to eliminate dirt, dust, impurities, and makeup residue with a glycolic acid face cleanser.
Step 2: Glycolic Acid Serum
The best way to get the maximum glycolic acid benefits is by using it in a serum form, as serums are made with potent formulations and absorb into the skin quickly. Use face serum with glycolic acid for hyperpigmentation twice a day on cleansed skin.
Pro Tip: Start slow with a low concentration glycolic acid product and increase frequency as your per skin’s tolerance level.
Step 3: Glycolic Acid Eye Serum
Bid adieu to dark circles, hyperpigmentation, and puffiness with a glycolic acid-infused eye serum. Apply it after face serum, massage gently with the applicator to reveal bright and awakened eyes.
Pro Tip: Pair glycolic acid and retinol, and glycolic acid with niacinamide to unveil youthful, bright, and healthy skin.
Step 4: Glycolic Acid Moisturiser
AM - Opt for a glycolic acid day cream with SPF to hydrate your skin, protect it from the harsh UV rays of the sun, and achieve brighter skin.
Pro Tip: Always do a patch test before applying glycolic acid or any other skincare ingredient for that matter.
PM - Provide your skin with the nourishment it needs while you enjoy your beauty sleep by using glycolic acid night cream that repairs the skin’s barrier, fights dullness, reduces dark spots, and gives you supple and radiant skin every morning.
Step 5: Sun Protection is a MUST
For added protection and to avoid sun sensitivity, apply sunscreen.
So, what are you waiting for? Now that you know the benefits of glycolic acid, go ahead, and create a routine with the best-in-class glycolic acid products.
Browse through our wide range of L’Oréal Paris glycolic acid products and make them a part of your regular skincare routine to flaunt healthy skin all day, every day. If you're unsure about creating a regimen for your skin type and concerns, try the Skin Genius tool to get expert-backed recommendations. Check out our skincare blogs and pave the way for healthy skin.
