How To Use Glycolic Acid In Your Skincare Routine?

Glycolic acid offers excellent benefits to your skin. It acts as an anti-aging chemical that will bring freshness and glow to your skin. There are countless benefits of using glycolic acid on your skin. But at the same time, it can cause damage if not used in the right amount at the right time.

You can use glycolic acid in your skincare routine in different forms. You can use it as a face wash or toner for your daily skincare routine. It is also used as a face mask, but if you want to apply it as a face mask, apply it once a week only because glycolic acid is in more significant quantities in the face mask than in the face wash or tone.

Do you want a detailed guideline about the best time and quantity you should use glycolic acid in your skincare routine? We have formulated a short procedure that could help you in this regard. Read all the recommendations carefully and follow them accordingly to get great results.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is one of the smallest alpha hydroxy acids used in skincare for exfoliation. It offers great skincare benefits. It will give you a fresh and radiant complexion by speeding up cell turnover.

The glycolic acid molecule is so small that it can easily penetrate the pores and unclog them by sweeping away the dead skin cells.

You can use this glycolic acid in your daily skincare routine. It offers excellent benefits to your skin and will give you great results.

Benefits of Glycolic Acid

There are multiple benefits that glycolic acid will give to your skin. The topmost effect you will experience immediately after applying is clear fresh skin. It will provide you with a natural glow.

There are several other benefits that glycolic acid will give to your skin:

• It clears pores in your skin
• Stimulate collagen production
• Reduce acne and breakouts
• It gives you a fair complexion and smoothes your skin
• It also fights against dark spots, discoloration, or hyperpigmentation 

Using glycolic acid in your skincare routine is highly recommended if you want clear, bright, fresh skin.

How to use glycolic acid?

You can use glycolic acid in different forms. It is available in various products. You can use it regularly as part of your skincare routine.

You can use glycolic acid in your skincare routine in three different forms:

• Face wash
• Toner
• Mask

The face wash and the toner both have the same concentration of glycolic acid. For daily use, you need to pick one of the two options. As far as the mask is concerned, you can apply the glycolic acid face mask once a week. Using it carefully, in the right amount, and at the right time will greatly benefit your skin.

Face Wash

Glycolic acid-based face washes are great to include in your skincare routine. They are safe to use as they contain only 8–10% or less proportion of glycolic acid. Some face washes also contain salicylic acid, which is excellent for treating acne.

Be careful while using it regularly. Do not use it in the daytime during your exposure to sunlight. Also, be cautious about how frequently you are using it. Once a day is enough for safety and will also give excellent results.

Toner

Another option to consider for incorporating glycolic acid into your daily skincare routine is its toner. You can use the toner after applying your skin cleanser at night. The amount of glycolic acid is relatively low in the toner, which is 8–10% or less. And it is entirely safe to use daily.

What to use after a glycolic acid toner?

Glycolic acid is sensitive to sunlight. Using it in day time could be harmful to the skin. You can use it in the evening. The best time to use the glycolic acid toner is at night. You can use it at night after using your nighttime cleanser.

How to use a glycolic acid toner?

You can use it daily at night time. Once a day, applying glycolic acid toner is excellent for a fresh skin look. At night, clear your face first with your nighttime cleanser. After that, you can use your glycolic acid toner to get great results.

Daily use of the toner will give you clear and fresh skin. It will also work as an anti-aging remedy for you. You must use it regularly at the proper time and in the right amount to get maximum results.

Mask

The third way through which you can use glycolic acid as part of your skincare routine is in the form of a face mask. In a face mask, the glycolic acid concentration is up to 30% or sometimes even more.

It is better to use it only once a week, and on the day you apply the face mask, avoid using glycolic acid face wash or toner. The best time to apply the mask is at night. It will give you effective results as compared to daytime.

Best time to use glycolic acid for skincare

Glycolic acid could harm you if your skin is exposed to sunlight. You need to be careful about the timing when using glycolic acid in any form. For toner or face wash, you can use any one of them regularly. You can apply your toner or face wash anytime in the evening or at night.

The best time is at night. If you use glycolic acid toner, apply your night cleanser first. The toner and face wash contain little glycolic acid and are safe for daily use. But, in the case of a glycolic acid face mask, you should only use it once a week as it contains a large amount of glycolic acid, which could be harmful to use daily.

What To Use After Glycolic Acid?

If you are applying the glycolic acid toner or the face wash at night, it is recommended to use the SPF moisturiser in the morning. It will protect your skin from sunlight. It will also keep your skin fresh and hydrated.

Final Thoughts

We hope you are now all clear about the daily usage of glycolic acid for your skincare routine. You can use it in different forms to get maximum results. Face wash or toner is the best option for daily use. As far as the mask is concerned, it is better to use it once a week only.

Remember that glycolic acid can cause severe sunburn. You should not use it in the daytime. The preferred time to use it is in the evening, and the best one is to apply it before bed. For more care, always apply sunscreen in the morning to get great results.

FAQs

What step should I use glycolic acid?

Glycolic acid stimulates skin cell turnover, which dramatically happens at night. You should use the glycolic acid at night before going to bed. It will offer significant benefits to your skin. In the morning, do not forget to apply sunscreen.

Applying sunscreen in the morning is mandatory because glycolic acid increases the risk of sunburn to a greater extent. Hence, you need to be more cautious to avoid any inconvenience.

What should I use along with glycolic acid?

To get the maximum benefits from glycolic acid on your skin, you should use it with vitamin C. Both combined will give you great results. You can apply your glycolic acid product first to clear the skin. After then, apply your vitamin C product. In this way, both products can be as effective as possible.

What should I put on my face after glycolic acid?

After using glycolic acid, do not forget to apply a hydrating serum or gel. You have to do so to hydrate your newly exfoliated skin. Afterward, it is recommended to apply a more occlusive moisturiser which will seal in all the moisture. Only use glycolic acid in your nighttime routine, and always apply sunscreen in the morning after glycolic acid treatment.

Is it OK to use glycolic acid every day?

It depends upon the amount of glycolic you are consuming daily. Yes, depending on the concentration, you can use Glycolic Acid daily. If you are new to chemical exfoliants, you should work up to using them every day slowly rather than overdoing them at the beginning. Be careful, as it is a matter of your skin. Your slight negligence can result in significant complexities.