13 Best Glycolic Acid Products of 2024, Tested by Experts
Brighten and smooth skin with one superstar ingredient.
Tested by Danusia WnekSenior ChemistMedically reviewed by Mona A. Gohara, M.D.Board-Certified Dermatologist
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
A top derm-recommended skincare ingredient, you've most likely seen glycolic acid listed on the label of all types of products including toners, serums and creams. "A chemical exfoliant and type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), glycolic acid is derived from sugarcane and typically used to improve skin texture and appearance," explains Ellen Marmur, M.D., board-certified dermatologist in New York City and founder of MMSkincare.
While trendy skincare ingredients come and go, this one has withstood the test of time in skincare for good reason: "It works by dissolving dead skin cells and oils without any excess scrubbing," says Dr. Marmur. Plus, "it's antibacterial and helps to reduce hyperpigmentation," adds Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., founder of La Jolla Laser Derm.
Keep scrolling for the best glycolic acid products, which include Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab-tested picks, along with dermatologist and other expert favorites. Plus, how to shop for this top-notch ingredient, the ideal percentages and more.
Pros
- Improves skin texture
- Doesn't cause irritation
Cons
- Some testers did not see major results
Mary Kay's peel, a Good Housekeeping Seal holder, was a stellar lab performer in our testing, with the highest scores for improving texture and diminishing pores. Our testers unanimously agreed that it didn't cause any redness or leave residual marks. "I liked that it did not irritate my skin," one tester shared. "It was easy to use and my skin looked brighter after one use." While they loved the simple application process and lack of irritation, some testers felt it didn't show significant results.
RELATED: 10 Best Pore Minimizers
L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Anti-Aging Peel Pads with Glycolic Acid
Pros
- Easy to use
- No intense fragrance
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Can leave excess product on the face
A Beauty Lab test winner, these affordable peel pads from L'Oréal Paris received high scores for ease of use, brightening skin and improving wrinkles. One tester shared that "it was super easy to use and I think it did improve the quality of my skin," while another raved about "how smooth it makes my skin feel." The only tester complaint: some pads were overly wet and left a little too much product lingering on skin.
philosophy Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel
Pros
- Visibly improves wrinkles
- Targets pores, fine lines and dullness
Cons
- Some testers didn't like the scent
Philosophy's brightening peel was a GH Beauty Award winner for good reason: it was the only product to show visible wrinkle improvement in Lab testing. Testers loved that it didn't irritate skin while it smoothed, brightened and minimized pores. "It's an amazing product; I was very happy with how it worked on my skin," one tester shared. "After each use, my skin looked brighter and glowing, for about two days. It also felt softer and smoother." Some users complained of an acidic scent, but others didn't mind it.
RELATED: Best Anti-Aging Serums
La Prairie Cellular 3-Minute Peel
Pros
- Instant results
- Gentle
- Brightens skin
Cons
- Pricey
- May be hard to rinse off
A gentle option, 100 percent of testers agreed that La Prairie's pricey peel left no peeling or flaking on skin after applying. The formula also received the best Lab score for improving skin tone and radiance and high scores for improving pore appearance and brightening skin. The peel is both speedy in application (just three minutes, as per the name) and performance. "I saw immediate results — my skin looked smoother and brighter as soon as I washed off the product; even my family noticed a difference," one tester said. "And the results lasted for days." A few testers did note that it was difficult to rinse off after using.
RELATED: How to Get Glowing Skin
Lancôme Clarifique Pro-Solution Face Serum
Pros
- No irritation
- Easy to apply and consistent with dosage
- Layers well with other products
Cons
- Some found the texture to be tacky or watery
Boasting a blend of glycolic, salicylic and phytic acids, this powerful serum received high scores for overall satisfaction and minimal redness and irritation in Lab testing. Reviewers loved the ease of use, with one sharing "I loved the applicator; I was able to dispense exactly the same amount every time." A few also commented on how nicely other products (moisturizer, foundation) applied over the serum with no pilling. The texture was the one factor that testers disagreed on: some loved it while others found it tacky and/or watery.
RELATED: Best Face Serums
fresh Lotus AHA Resurfacing Gentle Serum
Pros
- Smoothes skin
- Brightens
- Reduces the look of dark spots
Cons
- May be too harsh for sensitive skin
The ideal nighttime treatment, Fresh's Beauty Award-winning serum exfoliates while you sleep using glycolic and citric acids along with prickly pear flower. A clinical study with 31 people revealed both immediate and long-term effects: testers' skin texture was 23% smoother after just one application, while they also saw fewer dark spots and brighter skin over time. Proceed with caution if you have sensitive skin; a few online reviewers with this skin type noted negative reactions.
RELATED: Best Dark Spot Correctors
Pros
- Exfoliates deeply and gently
- Nourishes skin
- Won't irritate
Cons
- Small bottle size
Another Beauty Award winner and GH Seal holder, Mary Kay's gentle serum users both glycolic and polyhydroxy acids to help slough off dead cells within different layers of the skin, leaving skin more radiant. Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed that while the formula exfoliates, it also helps condition and nourish skin with glycerin. Plus, a study with 104 people found that the product didn’t irritate. It is a small bottle so use sparingly.
Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream
Pros
- Brightens and tightens skin
- No irritation
- Reduces the look of fine lines
Cons
- Pricey
Beloved by multiple GH Beauty editors and Lab scientists, Skinbetter's cream combines three top anti-aging ingredients: a retinoid, glycolic acid and lactic acid. The GH Beauty Award winner does what many retinoid products cannot: it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines with minimal dryness, redness or flaking. "The cream improved my skin texture and added bounce back into my cheeks," says Sabina Wizemann, GH Institute's Beauty Lab Director. "My skin looks brighter and tighter, and I could apply this cream without additional moisturizers (or rich creams) and experience no irritation the next day or after continuous use." While it is a pricey pick, we feel that it's a worthy splurge especially for those that struggle with retinol usage.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Pros
- Exfoliates deeply
- Brightens skin
- Good for oily complexions
Cons
- Not ideal for dry or sensitive skin
The ultimate acid blend, Drunk Elephant's serum "uses glycolic, tartaric, citric and salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells, boost cell turnover, brighten discoloration and unclog pores without causing irritation," says Dr. Shirazi. She recommends it for oily skin "as it helps regulate sebum production," and recommends using it overnight one to two times weekly. You may want to skip if you have dry or sensitive skin as the formula could be too harsh.
RELATED: A Complete Guide to Oily Skin
Pros
- Non-irritating but effective
- Can be used on face and body
Cons
- Can be harsh with overuse
AZIMD Skincare's potent pads can be used on the face or body to reduce breakouts and help with discoloration and uneven texture. The pre-soaked pads contain a mix of glycolic and salicylic acids to exfoliate along with antioxidants and witch hazel to help soothe skin and reduce inflammation. "I definitely noticed an improvement with my skin," one reviewer from the brand's site shared. "No blackheads or acne and my skin is more even-toned since I’ve been using this product." Start slowly with usage (one to two times per week) and build up when your skin adjusts, as using too often too quickly could cause a negative skin reaction.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Pros
- Exfoliates and evens out skin tone
- Can help even out skin texture
- Good value
Cons
- Not great for sensitive skin
Dr. Shirazi recommends this alcohol-free toner with glycolic acid "to help exfoliate the skin and improve skin texture at an affordable price point." While it also contains soothing ingredients like aloe vera and ginseng root, she cautions usage for sensitive skin as the high percentage of acid (7%) may be too high for reactive skin.
RELATED: 15 Best Face Toners
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Pros
- Great for sensitive skin
- Gentle exfoliation
- Contains soothing ingredients
Cons
- Expensive for a cleanser
Combining glycolic acid with other AHAs and BHAs (salicylic acid), SkinMedica's gentle (albeit pricey) cleanser sweeps away dead skin cells, dirt and oil, leaving skin softer and smoother. "This is a great option for those with sensitive skin looking for gentle exfoliation in a cleanser," says Dr. Shirazi. It also contains soft jojoba spheres for additional gentle exfoliation and lavender extract to soothe inflammation.
Neutrogena Skin Perfecting Daily Liquid Exfoliant
Pros
- Evens out skin tone
- Smoothes skin
Cons
- Can leave a residue on the skin
Budget-friendly and effective, this liquid exfoliator — which was designed for oily skin types — from Neutrogena contains both glycolic and citric acids to smooth and clarify skin. Plus, according to Beauty Lab data evaluation, the GH Beauty Award winner helps even out skin tone over four weeks of daily use. "It's very effective at removing dead skin cells and leaving your face nice and smooth," one Walmart reviewer shared. Some others noticed a residue left on skin, so use the formula sparingly.
How we choose the best glycolic acid products
Over the years, the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has tested thousands of skincare products, including facial peels and exfoliators, both of which often contain glycolic acid. In these two tests, our scientists evaluated a combined total of over 11,000 data points to find the best on the market.
For these tests, the Beauty Lab recruited testers, who evaluated the products on attributes such as ease of use, irritation and perceived results, and used digital imaging to track their changes in skin before and after use. For this story, we chose top-performing products from those tests, as well as top picks from dermatologists and our own Beauty Lab experts and editors.
What to look for when shopping for the best glycolic acid products
There are a couple of factors you should keep in mind for when choosing a product with glycolic acid:
✔️ pH level: "The ideal level is between three and four," says Dr. Marmur. "The lower the level the more active the ingredients are in penetrating your skin."
✔️ Concentration of glycolic acid: "A lower concentration is better for beginners," advises Dr. Marmur.
✔️ Your skin type: "If you’re unsure of how your skin will tolerate glycolic acid, start with a cleanser formulated with it rather than a leave-on product that will be stronger," says Dr. Shirazi. "If you have very sensitive skin, glycolic acid toners or pads that have a blend of ingredients tend to have a lower concentration."
Don't forget to be sun safe when using glycolic acid. "This ingredient can increase skin’s sun sensitivity so limiting sun exposure and applying sunscreen when using glycolic acid is imperative," says GH Beauty Lab's Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek.
What is the best percentage of glycolic acid to use?
"Start low and go slow," says Dr. Shirazi. "Start by applying a lower concentration (5 to 7%) every other day, especially those with sensitive skin, and slowly increase it daily." A cream formulation may be better tolerated at first than a gel or liquid toner, and a cleanser is typically the safest starting point as it is a wash-off product. Dr. Marmur notes that those with more resilient skin may tolerate a concentration of 10% glycolic acid.
"Some also may tolerate twice daily applications at lower glycolic concentrations (2 to 5%)," Dr. Shirazi adds. "An alternative method for using glycolic acid is short contact therapy where the acid is applied to the skin like a mask." You would apply the formula, leave it on for three to five minutes and then rinse it off.
In terms of efficacy, "glycolic acid has been shown to be effective at improving discoloration and skin texture at a 5% concentration," says Danusia Wnek. "However, consumer products can typically contain up to 10% glycolic acid."
What does glycolic acid do?
"Glycolic acid essentially removes the top layers of dead skin cells," says Dr. Marmur. "It does so by breaking the bonds between the outer layer of skin cells (including the dead skin cells) and exfoliating them off, which boosts cell renewal," adds Dr. Shirazi.
"It has been shown to minimize the appearance of photo-aged skin at concentrations found in skincare," says Wnek. In a clinical study, an 8% glycolic acid formula showed significant improvement in overall photo-damaged skin, and tester feedback echoed those results: according to a questionnaire completed after the study, testers noted that the formula significantly improved fine lines, amongst other skin attributes, after 22 weeks. Another study showed that glycolic acid can significantly improve discoloration and skin texture at 5% when compared to a placebo.
How often should you use glycolic acid?
"Frequency of usage really depends on the concentration in the product you are using," says Dr. Marmur. "A higher concentration acid should typically be used once or twice a week, but a very low percentage exfoliant can be used daily. It really depends on your skin type and sensitivity."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Contributing Beauty Editor Dori Price interviewed multiple experts, including dermatologists and Lab scientists, for this article and compiled the comprehensive list of product picks. Dori has over 15 years of experience researching and writing skincare stories, and is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, from cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more.
Dori worked with Danusia Wnek, a Senior Chemist in the GH Beauty Lab, to gather top-tested products and get her expert advice on glycolic acid. Danusia has been testing skincare products including but not limited to eye creams, serums, night creams, neck creams, facial oils and moisturizing creams for over a decade at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She also regularly polls our consumer panel on their purchasing and product use habits as well as weighs in on the benefits of skincare ingredients like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.
Mona Gohara, M.D. is a Yale-trained, board-certified dermatologist, Oberlin College-bred feminist, medical media expert, and member of the ELLE Beauty Advisory Board. Mona enjoys educating on skin health, skin cancer, skin of color, and sun protection. She has done this through writing, lecturing on the local, national, and international levels, and by engaging popular media. Mona is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology, where she chaired the social media task force, The Women’s Dermatologic Society where she serves as president, and The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, where she chairs the DEI Work Group.
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