Ingredient Spotlight: Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is not only one of the most effective skin exfoliators, but the cosmetic industry’s go-to skin brightener, famous for evening skin tone and texture. Here’s what you need to know about this powerhouse AHA!

You might recognise it by the term AHA; we like to call it a star player in skincare. Glycolic Acid is one of the most effective skin care exfoliants, trusted by dermatologists worldwide to effectively boost skin radiance, smooth out skin and even out skin tone. We are hooked! Here’s what you need to know.

What is Glycolic Acid?
Glycolic Acid is a type of AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) and it’s one of the most effective skin exfoliators, revealing a brighter, smoother complexion. Due to its small molecule size it’s able to penetrate the skin easily, allowing it to get to work quickly and effectively.

So what does Glycolic Acid do for your skin?
• Amazing exfoliator
• Exceptional radiance booster
• Powerful skin re-surfacer
• Collagen booster and line minimiser

How does Glycolic Acid work?
Glycolic Acid is a type of chemical exfoliant that works by weakening the ‘glue’ in between skin cells, allowing older cells to be shed from the surface and encouraging new cells to transfer to the top. As the older cells are shed from the top layer of skin, brighter and fresher skin is revealed underneath. These new, more vibrant skin cells mean a fresher, more illuminated appearance with better skin glow and smoother texture.

A build-up of old, dead cells on the skin surface can cause the skin to feel rough, look dull and lack vitality – Glycolic Acid very effectively removes this, revealing a supple, more radiant look! Notably, this also helps with blemishes: one of the main causes of blocked pores and blemish formation is build-up of dead skin cells.

We don’t want to overwhelm you with more that this incredible active can do, but Glycolic Acid also has the ability to boost collagen, which helps skin stay firm, and over time, decreases wrinkles and thickens the skin.

What To Look For
The pH and pKa are two factors that influence the effectiveness of Glycolic Acid. The pH and concentration of Glycolic Acid are important because lower pH and higher concentration mean better, faster results. pKa is a specific measure of the acid’s strength.

Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid both have a pKa of 3.8; to work best, the pH of the formula it’s in should be very close to this. NovAge ProCeuticals 6% AHA Peel Solution has a pH range of 3.8 – 4.2, ideal for effective results.

As it is very important to strike a balance between efficacy and comfort, you’ll need to find a level that works for you and that your skin tolerates. A patch test on skin is always recommended.

Pro Tip: Our NovAge ProCeuticals 6% AHA Peel Solution with Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid is designed for optimum efficacy for all skin types.