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Glycolic Acid in Skin Care: Myths Busted and Benefits Revealed
You might have heard of glycolic acid and its benefits before. It is one of the most common AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) used in skincare products. So, why is glycolic acid in skin care products so popular? Let’s find out.
Unlike other acids that are used in skincare products, such as lactic acid or mandelic acid, glycolic acid is a small carboxylic acid with a chemical structure of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; it also has an alpha-hydroxy group. As you know, every substance has its own properties and characteristics.
The alpha-hydroxy part makes this chemical unique because it makes it extremely effective for exfoliating the skin and reducing wrinkles and fine lines through natural exfoliation without the need for scrubbing or manual manipulation.
Our Glycolic & TCA Exfoliating Cream is the perfect choice for new and experienced glycolic acid users.
What Exactly Does Glycolic Acid Do?
Glycolic acid in skin care works by slowly and gently exfoliating the skin’s surface by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This allows dead skin cells to be removed more easily and new, healthy skin to be revealed. As a result, your skin looks more smooth, even, and radiant.
Glycolic acid also stimulates collagen production and promotes new cell growth by increasing blood flow to the surface of the skin. This gives you more youthful-looking skin by preventing and reducing wrinkles, reducing pore size, and improving skin texture!
What is the Benefit of Glycolic Acid in Skin Care?
Glycolic acid is one of the most effective chemical exfoliants you can use on your skin. It penetrates below the skin’s surface to remove dead skin cells that clog your pores and cause breakouts. It also stimulates collagen production and improves the texture of your skin by removing fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, including glycolic acid in skin care is one of the best ways to treat dark spots, sun damage, and other marks that are caused by over exfoliation or sun damage. It can also be used to treat acne, uneven skin tone, and clogged pores. Glycolic acid is strong, but when used correctly, it can be extremely beneficial for your skin. That’s why it’s important to look for products that contain high-quality ingredients. If you find a product with high-quality ingredients that has a low price tag, that’s even better!
Two Proven Benefits of Glycolic Acid
ONE: Reduces Wrinkles and Fine Lines During facial exfoliation, your skin is exposed to micro-tears that cause a breakdown of the collagen fibers, leading to dull, saggy skin. Glycolic acid, being a naturally occurring AHA, has the ability to penetrate far below the surface of the skin, reaching the collagen and elastin fibers. The reason why this is important is that these are the building blocks of your skin, the fibers responsible for giving it its youthful appearance. When these fibers break down, your skin looses its elasticity and your skin looks aged and tired. When these fibers are strengthened through the use of Glycol, they are able to keep your skin looking youthful, healthy and vibrant.
TWO: Treats Hyperpigmentation and Dark Spots Dark spots can be caused by lots of different things, but one of the most common causes is over exfoliation. Over exfoliation can cause your skin to be much darker than it normally would be, and there’s really no way to reverse the damage. However, through the use of Glycolic Acid, you can target the mark left behind from over exfoliation and reverse the damage.
3 Common Myths About Glycolic Acid You Should Know Now
MYTH ONE: Glycolic Acid Is Only Good for Your Face. Glycolic acid can be applied to your entire body, including your face and hands. However, you should be careful about how strong of a percentage it is. Glycolic acid should never be applied to your eyebrows, hairline, ears, eyes, or any other place on your face where your skin is extremely sensitive.
MYTH TWO: Glycolic Acid Is Too Strong for Sensitive Skin. If you have sensitive skin, you shouldn’t be worried about the strength of the glycolic acid. It’s important to remember that the majority of glycolic acid products on the market have a low concentration, usually between 5 and 10 percent. You should be careful, however, that you aren’t purchasing a product that contains an amount of glycolic acid that’s not listed on the product. Products without a specific percentage of glycolic acid can be deceiving; you may think you’re buying a low-strength product when you’re really buying a high-strength product.
MYTH THREE: Glycolic Acid Is a Scrub. There are two ways to exfoliate your skin: using a topical chemical like glycolic acid and using a physical scrub style product. Both are fantastic ways to exfoliate your skin – but they’re both quite different from each other.
6 Tips to Find the Best Glycolic Acid Product for Your Skin Type
ONE: Read the Ingredients List. The most important thing you can do is read the ingredients list of the product you’re thinking about purchasing. The best Glycolic Acid products have a high concentration of 10 percent. Additionally, you should look for ingredients such as aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C.
TWO: Make sure the product you choose has a pH between 3 and 4.
THREE: Consider the Other Ingredients in the Product As we’ve said before, Glycolic acid is great for your skin. However, it’s not the only ingredient you should be looking for in a product. You should also look out for ingredients that will moisturize your skin.
FOUR: Check What the Product Is Meant For Different Glycolic Acid products are meant for different things. Some are meant for deep exfoliation, while others are meant for daily use. Make sure you know exactly what the product is meant for so you can get the most out of it.
FIVE: Check the Price While price isn’t everything, it’s still important to consider. The best Glycolic Acid products aren’t always the most expensive. However, you should always check the price of the product before purchasing it.
SIX: Look for a Brand You Trust You may not think this is important. You should look for a brand you trust, a brand that you know will produce high-quality products. When you trust the brand, you know you can trust the product. Our glycolic products have been trusted for over 10 years and have a 5 star rating.
Our Glycolic & TCA Exfoliating Cream is the perfect choice for new and experienced glycolic acid users:
Conclusion
Glycolic acid is a great chemical exfoliant for any skin type. It’s beneficial for people who are new to using chemical exfoliants and you can choose from a wide range of strengths to meet your needs. The obvious main benefit of glycolic acid is that it exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells and revealing new, smoother skin – but an added benefit is that it can encourage the production of collagen.
Glycolic acid is safe for all skin types including sensitive skin. It’s also helpful for reducing signs of aging and reducing acne. When shopping for a glycolic acid product, read the ingredients list and look for one that contains hydrating and healing ingredients to help the exfoliation process along.
