10 Best Glycolic Acid Lotions – 2023
Get spotless, clean skin by removing excess sebum and dirt from your face.
Olunife OfomataLicensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Expertise: Holistic Beauty And Inner & Outer Beauty Systems
Experience: 14 years
Olunife Ofomata, founder and CEO of Sweeter Juice Skin, is an expert in the fields of esthetics, medical esthetics, and makeup artistry with over 14 years of experience. She is a licensed esthetician and certified makeup artist and obtained... more
Oyendrila Kanjilal Certified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 2 years
Oyendrila holds a master's degree in English Literature from the University Of Calcutta, West Bengal, and is a certified skin care coach. As a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience,... more
Shiboli ChakrabortiCertified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 4 years
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce edito... more
Anjali SayeeCertified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Hairstyles, Hair Care, & Skin Care
Experience: 7 years
Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy ... more
The best glycolic acid lotion can keep your skin smooth, soft, shiny, and young. Glycolic acid lotion deeply penetrates the layers of your skin, removing excess sebum, and dirt, and helping to unclog your pores. It also promotes the production of collagen, which keeps your skin firm and slows down the process of aging. If you haven’t bought one, take a look at our list of the top glycolic acid lotions you should purchase. Scroll down for more information!
In This Article
10 Best Glycolic Acid Lotions – 2023
1. Best Moisturizing Formula:Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion With 12% Glycolic Acid AHA
Image: Alpha Skin Care Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion is a moisturizing lotion with amazing acne scar-fading properties that is meant for all skin types. This AHA skincare product has a pH of 4.0 and claims to promote a healthy, radiant, and even skin tone. It is an excellent option for skin issues like wrinkles and fine lines. This anti-aging lotion contains 12% glycolic acid that relieves dry skin, leaving your skin soft and smooth. The natural ingredients like sugar cane, vitamins, and minerals in this lotion boost collagen production to moisturize and soothe your skin. Reviewers on Amazon suggest that if you wish to treat skin conditions like Keratosis Pilaris, then this product is the one for you.
Pros
- Suitable for all skin types
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Natural ingredients
- Moisturizes theskin
- Cruelty-free
- Fragrance-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
- Sticky formula
Pro Tip2. Best For Dry Skin:Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion
Image: Glytone GLYTONE Exfoliating Body Lotion is the best lotion for keratosis pilaris and dry skin. This rich moisturizing lotion is packed with 17.5% glycolic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells and treat rough bumps and dry patches. The high concentration of glycolic acid in this lotion helps rejuvenate and retexturize the skin. It improves your skin texture to reveal youthfuland radiant skin. This alpha hydroxy acid-infused lotion is great for treating skin conditions like scaly plaques, red bumps, cracked heels, rough, elbows, and bumpy skin on the knees.
Pros
- Treatskin conditions like keratosis pilaris
- Reduces dryness
- Fragrance-free
- Smoothens rough bumps and dry patches
- Non-comedogenic
- Spreads easily
- Suitable for dry skin
- Dermatologist-recommended
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
- The pump might not work properly
3. Best For Oily Skin:Glytone Rejuvenating Lotion 20
Image: Glytone Glytone Rejuvenating Lotion is specially formulated for oily skin. It is the most powerful lotion in this range with its 20 free acid value of glycolic acid. This rejuvenating lotion increases cell turnover and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It is a lightweight and oil-free lotion with a mattifying formula that hydrates, exfoliates, and smoothens the skin. The microcapsules in this chemical exfoliant keep your skin fresh and shine-free.
Pros
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Even out the skin tone
- Treats acne and reduces acne scars
- Lightweight
- Oil-free formula
- Great for photodamaged skin
- Suitable for oily skin
- Dermatologist-recommended
Cons
None
4. Best Skin Brightening:Planet Eden Gly-Lactic Exfoliating Lotion
Image: My Planet Eden Planet Eden Gly-Lactic Exfoliating Lotion is an excellent product for mature and sensitive skin. It contains a blend of 10% glycolic acid and 10% lactic acid for the rapid exfoliation of dead skin. This lotion delivers visible results such as brightening dull skin, lightening skin damage caused by sun exposure, tightening pores, and increasing collagen production for wrinkle reduction. It is infused with natural ingredients like papaya, sugar cane, and pineapple extracts for more exfoliation and hyaluronic acid for superior moisturization.
Pros
- Effective wrinkle treatment
- Reduces dark spots and dullness
- Intensely moisturizing
- Treats damaged skin
- Silicone-free
- Cruelty-free
- Natural vanilla fragrance
- Natural ingredients
Cons
- Waxy consistency
5. Best Lightweight Solution:Perfect Image Gly + Sal Exfoliating Body Lotion
Image: Perfect Image Perfect Image Gly + Sal Exfoliating Body Lotion is an ultra-light lotion that softens sun-damaged and dry skin. This body lotion is a combination of 10% glycolic acid and 2% salicylic acid to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin texture. It also contains natural ingredients like green tea, papaya, bearberry, and licorice. It exfoliates dead skin cells, minimizes pores, and improves skin texture. It gets absorbed quickly for maximum hydration. It improves cell rejuvenation and protects your skin from free radical damage. Multiple reviewers commend the product’s ability to soothe and heal dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Reduces dark spots and hyperpigmentation
- Reduces breakouts
- Treats keratosis pilaris
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Phthalate-free
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- The pump might not work properly
- Sticky formula
Pro Tip6. Best Winter Lotion:Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion With 10% AHA
Image: Paulaschoice Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion is the best exfoliant and moisturizer for skin that is prone to keratosis pilaris (KP). The 10% glycolic acid in this lotion exfoliates dull skin, provides moisturization, unclogs pores, and gives you a radiant complexion. The lotion is scientifically formulated and has a pH range of 3.5-3.9 and contains glycerin and shea butter that provide rich moisture to dehydrated skin. This antioxidant-rich formula provides anti-aging benefits and is best for skin rejuvenation.
Pros
- Reduces fine line and wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation treatment
- Moisturizing formula
- Pore minimization
- Cruelty-free
- Suitable for all skin types
- Perfect for use in winter
Cons
None
7. Best For Skin-Refining:Glytone Daily Body Lotion With Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
Image: Glytone Glytone Daily Body Lotion is a skin-refining and protective body lotion. This retexturizing moisturizer is specially formulated with Novasome Technology to time-release glycolic acid. It helps exfoliate and eliminate dead skin cells and dry patches. This nourishing lotion contains shea butter to hydrate your skin. It also has SPF 15 to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. This exfoliating body lotion contains 17.5% glycolic acid that softens, rejuvenates, and re-texturizes your skin.
Pros
- Provides skin texture improvement
- Reduces dark spots
- SPF 15
- Hydrates the skin
- Fights free radical damage
- Fragrance-free
- Spreads easily
- Dermatologist-recommended
Cons
- Greasy formula
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
8. Best Exfoliator:Touch Keratosis Pilaris Exfoliating Skin Body Lotion- With 12% Glycolic Acid And AHA & BHA
Image: Touch The Touch KP Exfoliating Lotion is a combination of glycolic acid and salicylic acid. It reduces rough bumps and redness from keratosis pilaris. With regular use, it can make the symptoms of keratosis pilaris unnoticeable and give your skin a smooth look. The alpha-hydroxy acid helps to break down the old and rough skin, while salicylic acid improves the skin tone by deeply penetrating and cleansing the skin. The lotion also helps with acne-causing inflammation and pores. The natural ingredients in the formula, like aloe vera, caprylic, and glycine soja oil, have antioxidants, Vitamin E, and anti-inflammatory properties that promote new cell growth. Test this lotion to experience the best exfoliating properties for visible results.
Pros
- Effective exfoliator
- Skin smoothing formula
- Reduces acne breakouts
- Reverses sun damage
- Low pH formula
- Suitable for all skin types
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Non-sticky
- Easy to apply
- Gets absorbed fast
Cons
- Contains artificial fragrance
9. Best Fast-Absorbing Formula:NEOSTRATA Lotion Plus
Image: Neostrata The NEOSTRATA Lotion Plus is a unique and powerful skincare product designed to help those suffering from dry, rough skin patches, fine lines associated with photodamage, and uneven skin tone. This lotion contains glycolic acid which helps exfoliate the top layer of the skin in order for new cells to emerge. With regular use of this lotion twice daily, you can begin seeing results such as smoother texture and improved clarity. You can trust customer reviews, as well as the brand claims, as this product is supported by clinical data.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Oil-free formula
- Evens out the skin tone
- Reduces photodamage
- Clinically-proven formula
Cons
None
10. Best Fragrance-Free Lotion:Melaleuca Renew Intensive Skin Therapy Lotion
Image: Melaleuca The Melaleuca Renew Intensive Skin Therapy Lotion is a great choice for those with dry skin, especially the ones prone to eczema. It contains active ingredients like glycolic acid that help soothe and moisturize your skin while relieving any redness, itching, flaking, or scaling. Its non-scented formula would not irritate sensitive noses or cause any embarrassing odors when you apply it. Since it comes in a convenient tube form, you can easily take it on the go and keep your dry skin issues at bay all day long without having to worry about lugging around bulky containers. Give this lotion a try as it has proven to deliver visible results and is highly recommended by multiple reviewers.
Pros
- Fast absorption
- Long-lasting effects
- Reduces dark spots
- Reduces breakouts
Cons
None
Glycolic acid is excellent for people who have clogged pores or mature skin. But just any glycolic acid product you get from the drugstore won’t be perfect for your skin. Take a look at these guidelines before purchasing the right glycolic acid lotion.
Things To Know Before Buying A Glycolic Acid Lotion
- Skin Type
The most important thing you can do is to make sure the lotion works for your skin. If you have sensitive, oily, or overly dry skin, it is important to choose a lotion that will help with your specific problem while also helping combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Those with oily skin need to avoid lotions with sticky formulas or you will find your skin getting greasy and breaking out after a few uses. If you have dry skin, choose glycolic acid lotions with hydrating properties that offer proper nourishment to your skin.
- Ingredients
Go for lotions that are dermatologist-recommended and don’t contain compounds like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. They harm your skin in the long run. Choose ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and niacinamide that work well with glycolic acid.
- Usage
In general, you don’t need to use a glycolic acid lotion every single day. However, if you are looking for something you can use daily that gives you the effect of a chemical peel, opt for those with lesser concentrations of the acid and deemed safe.
If you have skin issues like keratosis pilaris, purchase a product especially formulated to treat this issue. If you are going to apply the lotion while being outdoors all day, make sure you get a product with sun protection. Choose a lotion that contains at least SPF 15. Olunife Ofomata, a licensed esthetician and makeup artist, says, “ Using sunscreen when applying glycolic acid lotions is important even if you don’t plan to go outside. This is because glycolic acid lotions are known to increase photosensitivity, which can leave the skin more vulnerable and exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The sunscreen will provide an extra layer of protection against UV damage on the skin, helping to reduce the risk of burns, premature aging, and other skin conditions. Additionally, it is important to remember that UV exposure occurs inside homes and other buildings as well as outdoors, so wearing sunscreen when using glycolic acid lotion should always be part of your skin care routine regardless of whether you plan to go outside or not.”
Those with body acne and clogged pores should go for non-comedogenic lotions. Choosing glycolic acid lotions that combat rough bumps and dry patches would be just perfect!
- Fragrance
If you have sensitive skin or body acne, stay away from products with artificial scents. This also holds true if you have aging skin and want to use a glycolic acid lotion to minimize your wrinkles. Chemicals and added scents can dehydrate the skin and accelerate the aging process.
- Price
The price of a product does not determine how well it works! It is fine to choose products in the middle price range if you think they will meet your needs better.
Infographic: What To Avoid With A Glycolic Acid Lotion & When To Use It
When adding glycolic acid lotion to your skin care routine, it is important to know which ingredients to avoid to protect your skin. Also, understanding the best way to use the lotion can enhance its effectiveness. Check out the infographic below for more details. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
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The Bottom Line
Lotions help you to keep your skin soft, silky, and youthful; so, lotions are of great help to minimize skin damage. Unlike regular lotions, the best glycolic acid lotions hydrate and smoothen your skin, eliminate dry patches and red bumps, and combat aging signs and age spots. The Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion With 12% Glycolic Acid AHA is effective in scar-fading and is suitable for all skin types, while the Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion With 10% AHA is great for treating bumpy skin and keratosis pilaris. The Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion is a good option for who want intense exfoliation. In addition, some lotions protect your skin from free radical damage, while others improve the skin texture and unclog the pores. Consider lotions that are loaded with a good amount of glycolic acid, and stay away from the lotions that turn your skin greasy.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Oyendrila Kanjilal, the author of this article, is a certified skin care coach. She provides researched-backed articles to her readers and understands that glycolic acid is a great exfoliant that also slows down the process of aging. She analyzed hundreds of reviews and user feedback on various forums to provide her readers with the best glycolic acid lotions. These lotions promote collagen production, keep your skin firm, and minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of glycolic acid is effective?
Glycolic acid is most effective at 8-10%.
Can I use 10% glycolic acids daily?
Yes. You can use 10% glycolic acid every day or 30% glycolic acid once or twice a week.
Does glycolic acid lighten skin?
Yes, glycolic acid can lighten your skin. Glycolic acid-based exfoliants remove dead skin cells and improve the complexion of the skin.
What happens if you use too much glycolic acid?
Too much glycolic acid may cause burning, stinging, and temporary redness. Glycolic acid also dries out your skin, which can result in flaking.
What should you not mix with glycolic acid?
You should not mix vitamin C with glycolic acid as it can destabilize the pH balance and cause skin irritation.
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- What Is Glycolic Acid And What Does It Do To Your Skin?
