Glycolic acid is an essential skincare ingredient. It’s one of the best things you can do to reveal your most glowing, radiant skin. The powerhouse ingredient works to “gently exfoliate dead
skin cells, de-clog pores, and speed up the skin's natural renewal process,” according to Mila Moursi, celebrity aesthetician.
Glycolic acid is a form of alpha hydroxy acid made from sugar cane. Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, work to build collagen and shed dead skin cells, unlike their counterpart, BHAs, which go deeper into pores to help decrease oil production. Glycolic acid is the smallest AHA, so it’s well-absorbed by the skin and used most widely in skincare products—in fact, you probably already have a glycolic acid serum to help polish your face.