Glycolic Acid
Depends on dose
AHA · Alpha Hydroxy Acid · Glycolic
The smallest AHA, which is why it penetrates fastest and works hardest, and irritates most.
- What it does
- Actives & treatment
- Our take
- Effective on texture, dullness and post-acne marks, but it's the acid most likely to cause trouble on young or sensitive skin, and it meaningfully increases sun sensitivity. We stock it at 10% and under and don't recommend it under 16. Teen subscription boxes shipping glycolic peels as a selectable option is one of the reasons we wrote an age policy at all.
- What we look for
- 5-10%; nothing above 10%
- Suitable from
- Young adult, 20+ · Middle aged, 40+
- Best for
- Dark marks & dullness · Aging & firmness · Blemish & congestion
- Skin types
- Combination · Oily · Dry
- Pairs with
- Sunscreen, non-negotiable. Never on the same night as another acid.
watch the stacking
Count your acids across the whole routine, not per product. A glycolic toner on top of a lactic mask on top of an exfoliating cleanser is where most over-exfoliation actually comes from.
What we read
- CIR; FDA AHA sun-sensitivity guidance · reviewed Sep 2026
Every other ingredient, with the same treatment.
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