Glycolic acid should always be applied in the evening, as it makes your skin sensitive to sunlight. Applying it at night gives ample time for it to do its magic without a higher risk or damaging your skin in the sun. But you should still always apply an SPF moisturizer in the morning.
It is OK to use 1-2% containing glycolic acid face wash or ointments daily. The creams have a higher glycolic acid content (10% and above) and must only be used once or twice a week to avoid skin irritation. The creams with a concentration above 15% may need to be kept only for a few minutes and then wiped off.
They can be used in alternate routines morning/evening.
Is Glycolic Acid okay for everyday use? Depending on the concentration, yes, you can use Glycolic Acid every day. If you're new to chemical exfoliants, you should work up to using it every day slowly rather than overdoing it at the beginning.
Absolutely, using glycolic acid in the morning and retinol at night is considered the most effective way of using these potent actives in your daily skincare regime. You'll find that the most common product formulas you'll find glycolic acid in are face cleansers, exfoliating toners, and serums.
After using glycolic acid, apply a hydrating serum or gel (to hydrate your newly exfoliated skin) followed by a more occlusive moisturizer (to seal in all the moisture). Only use glycolic acid in your nighttime routine, and always apply sunscreen in the morning after glycolic acid treatment.
Just take care to avoid applying any products containing active ingredients, like vitamin C, directly after using glycolic acid. You'll also want to avoid using other AHAs with glycolic acid, since mixing them can cause a reaction.
Glycolic acid should always be applied in the evening, as it makes your skin sensitive to sunlight. Applying it at night gives ample time for it to do its magic without a higher risk or damaging your skin in the sun.
Glycolic acid makes your skin susceptible to sunburn and tan, so you need to follow it up with sunscreen. Using high concentrations of glycolic acid without guidance can cause burns and damage your skin. Since it a strong exfoliant, it can dry out your skin. Therefore, moisturize your skin after using it.
The beauty of glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid is the fact you can use both together! Quite often you'll find when there is a build-up of dead skin cells the complexion can begin to look dull, dry, and lacklustre with fine lines and wrinkles appearing to look worse than they are.
Even though niacinamide and glycolic acid are both natural and have similar benefits, it is not advisable to use them together because of their pH levels. While niacinamide has a much higher pH level than glycolic acid, it won't get completely absorbed into the skin.
You can actually layer your glycolic acid and niacinamide together, at the same time of day—just 30 minutes apart. When layering products, start with the one that has the lowest pH first.
Niacinamide and glycolic acid are both common ingredients in exfoliating products. Glycolic acid helps to break down the top layer of dead skin cells to encourage a smoother complexion. Niacinamide increases the skin's elasticity to help improve the appearance of fine wrinkles and lines.
Don't use it daily otherwise you risk damaging your skin barrier by over-exfoliating. Do not apply it on damp skin! Glycolic Acid increases sensitivity towards the sun so a good sunscreen is mandatory.
According to a 2013 review , glycolic acid peels of between 30 and 70 percent can improve the appearance of acne and acne scarring. Some skin types and even skin shades may be inappropriate for glycolic acid peels due to risks for irritation and hyperpigmentation.
Don't use glycolic acid and retinol at the same time in your routine. Start by introducing one of them and use it consistently for a week, then switch to the other for a week. You may want to take additional time if you know you have sensitive skin.
Apply re-texturizing products that exfoliate the complexion and leave you sun-sensitive, such as peels and pads with glycolic acid or retinol, to cleansed skin in the evening. In most cases, it's fine—even preferable—to top with a hydrating facial oil, emulsion, or essence to limit irritation.
AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, mandelic acid) and BHAs (salicylic acid): You can start seeing results within minutes of the first application, but peak results — such as anti-aging effects — don't appear until 12 weeks.
One ingredient that can be layered with glycolic acid with no worry of irritation is hyaluronic acid as this humectant can instantly hydrate the skin and aid replenishment, this is an ideal teammate for glycolic acid as it avoids any chances of the skin feeling tight, dry or irritated.
Having two different cleansers for morning and night sounds unnecessary, but Jaliman says it's good to mix it up. “You can use a salicylic acid–based cleanser in the morning to unclog pores and avoid acne and a glycolic acid–based cleanser at night to exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin cells,” notes Jailman.
Start using glycolic acid in lower concentrations like 7% in the beginning and opt for a lightweight solution such as a toner or a serum for best results. Active ingredients such as glycolic acid should be used in your evening routine and you can start by incorporating glycolic acid up to three times a week.
Working in that order is essential. Exfoliate with glycolic acid first, rinse off your face with water, then apply hyaluronic acid to your still-damp complexion. As Dr Michel explains, “It's super important to moisturize after applying glycolic acid to help retain moisture and not over-strip your skin.”
Yes and no, just like all skincare ingredients, glycolic acid and niacinamide contain formulations that have different pH levels. This can be a problem when using them together in your daily routine as the imbalance can cause the skin to become flushed, red and irritated.
The Ordinary does not recommend using Buffet with glycolic acid, as they are formulated at different pHs, which, when combined, will compromise the effectiveness of the formulas.