How Often Should You Use Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is a star of the beauty world, capable of refreshing and rejuvenating your skin at any age. If you want firmer, fuller, clearer, and brighter skin, it’s time you incorporated glycolic acid into your skincare routine.

You may be wondering, “What is glycolic acid?” Or perhaps, “Do I even need it?” We’re here to answer both of these questions. In addition, we’ll take a look at what glycolic acid does, how to use it, and most importantly, how often to work it into your routine.

What is Glycolic Acid?

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid or AHA. It is derived from sugar cane and is in the same family as lactic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid. However, it is smaller than its cousin compounds, capable of penetrating your skin easily and working miracles.

How? Glycolic acid works as a natural peel, helping to remove the top layers of old, dead skin from your complexion, making it appear more youthful. Because it is all-natural, it’s not as strong as a chemical peel, which suits it to any skin type – including sensitive skin.

What Does Glycolic Acid Do?

So what does glycolic acid do for you, specifically? Here’s a closer look at its many benefits.

Fades Dark Spots And Sun Damage

Because glycolic acid removes the top layer of facial skin, it takes sun damage and dark spots with it. Even people with years of built-up damage notice amazing improvements with regular applications of this AHA formula.

Fights Blemishes and Acne Scars

Glycolic acid is also excellent for acne and the scars they cause. As a natural exfoliant, it removes buildup that might clog pores, resulting in fewer new blemishes. Its buffing abilities also reduce the appearance and raised nature of scars and help minimize them.

Smooths Skin

The exfoliant and peeling factors of glycolic acid lead to a smoother, more even skin texture overall. At the same time, removing sun damage and spots evens out coloration and tone.

Makes Skin Glow

Younger skin is brighter, dewier, and more luminous. When it’s hidden under old, dead cells, it’s hard to tell how lovely your complexion is. You owe it to your skin to reveal its true nature with glycolic acid!

How Often Should You Use Glycolic Acid?

Glycolic acid is a natural substance that is excellent for your skin. Be sure to give your skin time to adjust to it, as with any new product you test.

For starters, you can use glycolic acid two to three times a week. Apply it at night rather than during the day since glycolic acid increases your skin’s photosensitivity and makes it more susceptible to sunburn and damage.

Once your skin has gotten used to the peel, you can begin to use it daily for the best results. Note that glycolic acid can also work magic on your arms and legs, so feel free to apply it to areas with sun damage or dark spots on your body.

So now you know how often to use glycolic acid. From here, it’s time to learn how to use glycolic acid in your skincare routine.

How to Use Glycolic Acid

How you use glycolic acid really depends on which product you’re using.

If you opt for a glycolic acid peel, you shouldn’t do it more than once a week at first. For normal to dry skin, that is often enough indefinitely. However, for oily or combination skin, you can eventually move to twice a week. Start by leaving it on for two minutes, and once your skin builds up a tolerance, you may begin to increase the time in 30-second increments.

If you prefer to use a glycolic acid facial cleanser – which has a lower concentration of the active ingredient – you can use it once a week after you’ve built up a tolerance. The same is true for a toner that contains it.

Pro Tips for Glycolic Acid Use

Some people go too hard on the glycolic acid at first and get burned – literally. If you want to avoid that, follow these tips:

• Test glycolic acid on a small patch of your skin where it won’t show, such as under the chin. That way, if you have any reactions, you won’t have to hide them.
• The first time you use glycolic acid, leave the product on no longer than 30 seconds before rinsing it off. Increase usage time from there.
• Always use a morning moisturizer with SPF or wear sunscreen, as glycolic acid makes skin more sensitive to light, even the next day.
• Glycolic acid is drying, so you may need to wear more moisturizer or choose one with a greater oil content than normal.

Add glycolic acid to your routine and prepare to meet the youthful, beautiful skin you deserve.