Glycolic acid, a commonly and popularly used chemical exfoliant and is the main active ingredient of many skincare products. It being derived from sugarcane belongs to the alpha hydroxy acid family of chemical exfoliants.
It particularly has a small sized molecule which helps in clearing skin deeply. It penetrates into the skin and then dissolves the bonds of dead skin cells which hold them together and help in clearing them out from the skin.
The concentration of glycolic acid varies in each product and it depends on the concentration which would suit your skin better. Not everyone can adapt to higher concentrations of active ingredients. It is ideally best to stick to lower concentrations of glycolic acid to ensure skin safety and reduce chances of irritation.
The range of 1% to 10% is ideally the best range of concentration for glycolic acid. For beginners it is better to use low concentrations and then adapt to higher concentration of glycolic acid. Finding the best and safe concentration of glycolic acid face wash is important for your skin.
Understanding the purpose of glycolic acid
Glycolic acid is one of the popular alpha hydroxy acids(AHA) which is a chemical exfoliant. This is a naturally derived chemical exfoliant which is derived from sugarcane. It has an exceptionally smaller molecule size as compared to other alpha hydroxy acids which makes it deliver fast and quick results.
This small sized molecule can penetrate into the skin and helps in exfoliating. It focuses on dissolving the bonds of dead skin cells that hold dead skin cells together. When the bonds of dead skin cells break apart it clears them out and helps in brightening the skin. This helps in achieving a brightened skin tone and reveals fresh skin cells. It helps in smoothening the skin texture and makes skin look fine after routine use.
Benefits of using a glycolic acid face wash
- It helps in accelerating the skin renewal process by shedding the dead skin cells and helps in providing a brightened skin tone.
- It helps in reducing the chance of skin irritation and rinsing off formulation of cleanser makes it more safe for daily cleansing.
- It helps in clearing out the buildup of impurities from the pores and surface which could result in blackheads and acne breakouts.
- It helps in evening out the skin colour by exfoliating buildup of pigmented cells from the face and helps enhance skin appearance.
- It helps in providing better absorption of skin care products after cleansing as it clears out the buildup from the skin.
- It helps in stimulating the production of collagen in the skin and helps to even out the skin texture by reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Different concentrations of glycolic acid
The right concentration of glycolic acid helps in determining its effect on the skin and irritation on the skin. The concentration of glycolic acid determines its penetration and action also and it varies from concentration to concentration.
- Low concentration: This contains 1% to 2% percent of active glycolic acid and helps in gently cleansing the skin. It works very gently on the skin and performs surface level cleansing only. It is ideal for daily cleansing and for sensitive skin it serves the purpose best for gentle cleansing without any skin irritation.
- Mild concentration: Ideally 3% to 5% is the best optimal concentration for noticing visible changes in the skin without causing any skin irritation. It works effectively to break apart the dead skin cells clusters from the face and exfoliates skin properly. Works well for normal or combination skin.
- High concentration: 5%- 10% of active glycolic acid belongs to high active concentration. It works by penetrating deep into the pores and deals with problems like stubborn dark spots and dullness. It also helps in clearing mild acne. It might not be the best solution for daily cleaning and must be used once or twice a week.
Skin type variation
- For oily and acne prone skin: A concentration of 5%-8% works best for dealing with stubborn oil and breakouts
- For combination and normal skin: A concentration of 3% to 5% works ideally best for gentle cleansing.
- For sensitive and dry skin: A concentration of 1% to 2% works the best for surface gentle cleansing without causing any skin irritation
Signs of unsuitable concentration
If you use a higher concentration of glycolic acid than your suitable window it might result in skin irritation and problems. It would result in-
- Skin barrier damage: Higher concentration of glycolic acid could strip the moisture barrier of the skin making it damaged and cause skin dryness.
- Burning and peeling sensation: High concentration can cause stinging and redness on the skin and it would feel like burning and sometimes skin peels due to irritation.
- Acne breakouts: Damaged skin barrier could result in acne breakouts due to this when any trigger happens.
Summing up
Glycolic acid is a great ingredient for gentle cleanser which helps a lot for skin clearance as it is a chemical exfoliant. It works differently in different concentrations and opting for a safe concentration for your skin is important to get desired results without causing skin irritation. Unsuitable concentration could result in skin irritation which is not ideal. Look for gentle concentrations for your skin.
