Glycolic Acid

INCI Name
Glycolic Acid

Common Name
Glycolic Acid

Phonetic Spelling
gly-KOL-ik ASS-id

Glycolic Acid Benefits for the Skin
Exfoliator / Age Support Active / Skin Brightening Active

What Glycolic Acid Does for the Skin

Glycolic Acid is used to support skin exfoliation, helping achieve a brighter, more even tone and texture. It has the smallest molecular size of all of the direct acids offered within The Ordinary, allowing for rapid delivery of the ingredient to the skin.

Glycolic Acid Under The Microscope

Glycolic Acid is a type of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that works by gently exfoliating the surface of the skin. This helps to smooth out the appearance of texture, brighten dull skin, fade dark spots, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Because it has a very small molecule size, it quickly penetrates the skin, making it one of the fastest-acting ingredients in The Ordinary’s product line. With regular use, glycolic acid can give your skin a more radiant and even-toned look.