Hello my darlings, in this post I tell you how to do a glycolic acid peel at home using specific products. I love learning new things about treatments and cosmetic ingredients! Glycolic acid is a very popular asset in the world of beauty and serves to treat skin problems of various kinds, such as acne, lack of luminosity and wrinkles.
- What is glycolic acid and what is it for?
- Properties of glycolic acid
- What is 10% glycolic acid for?
- How to use 10% glycolic acid?
- Benefits on the skin
- Glycolic acid, how long does it take to see results?
- Contraindications of glycolic acid
- Which product is best for a glycolic acid peel at home?
- Where to buy glycolic acid?
First of all, explain that a glycolic acid peel as such, should only be performed by a qualified professional. Each patient must be evaluated and treated in a personalized way. Products sold for home use have a lower concentration of the product.
On the other hand, I would also like to give my personal opinion on this, in addition to providing the information. My impression regarding glycolic acid, like any other acid, is that it is true that they give very visible and short-term results, but nothing in excess is good. It is important to assess whether we want a more instantaneous result or more long-term and sustainable.
That said, I tell you everything there is to know about this popular cosmetic acid.
What is glycolic acid and what is it for?
Glycolic acid is a type of AHA (alpha-hydroacids). AHAs serve to stimulate collagen production and cell renewal. When we do a peel with some type of AHA, either glycolic acid or another, we notice the skin more luminous and more revitalized. The taco feels softer and helps reduce enlarged pores.
AHAs or alpha-hydroacids are also known as alpha hydroic acids and several are often used together. For example, glycolic acid is often combined with lactic acid.
Some of the most famous glycolic acid serums and creams are those of Sesderma and ISDIN. Any of them perfect options to use at home.
Properties of glycolic acid
When it has a lower ratio, glycolic acid is used to perform surface treatments. That is, to exfoliate the skin. And when used in a higher concentration, it comes in handy to treat more pronounced problems, such as wrinkles or acne. In both cases the effect it has on the skin is exfoliating. That is, it performs a peeling on the superficial layers that has different benefits.
This chemical compound is used in cosmetic products in concentrations ranging from 4% to 20%. These are the ones that are marketed for glycolic acid peeling at home.
If you do not have much problem of wrinkles or acne, it is best to choose low concentration formulas, that is, closer to 4% than 20%. Concentrations at 10% are quite common, so in this post we will focus on them.
In beauty centers they can use concentrations of up to 60%.
What is 10% glycolic acid for?
10% glycolic acid means that the main active ingredient has a concentration of 10% (an intermediate range).
It can be used for specific treatments such as fighting acne, wrinkles or even lack of pigmentation. If we want a more intense treatment, we must look for concentrations of up to 60%. As we said before, this type of products would be used only in professional beauty centers.
How to use 10% glycolic acid?
This concentration is intermediate and can be found in different cosmetic products, such as moisturisers or serums.
It is recommended that you use whatever product, do not exceed 2 or 3 applications maximum per week. Surely in the product you are using you will come with more precise instructions on how you should use it.
Benefits on the skin
What glycolic acid does, in short, is to perform a peeling on the most superficial layers of the skin, resulting in different benefits.
We could summarize the benefits of glycolic acid in 4:
- Attenuates acne and blackheads. If you suffer from acne or blackheads you will get them to be eliminated more easily
- Prevents the appearance of wrinkles. If your main problem is wrinkles, through exfoliation you will be able to attenuate them, also providing elasticity and turgor to the skin.
- Provides luminosity. Result that you notice immediately, by removing the layer of dead skin cells.
- Maintains skin hydration. The treatments you apply will be more effective because the skin will absorb them better.
In any case, we can not expect miraculous results, but it is true that a frequent exfoliation of the skin helps treat both acne and wrinkle problems.
Glycolic acid, how long does it take to see results?
The results of a treatment with glycolic acid are observed from the first day, since it performs a direct exfoliation of the skin, eliminating impurities. You will notice a softer and brighter skin.
However, the effects of the peel are not permanent, but last about 6 months (depends on each patient).
If you use glycolic acid within your usual beauty routine you will see long-term results. And you will help prevent the early formation of wrinkles, among other benefits.
Contraindications of glycolic acid
We cannot forget that glycolic acid is a fairly strong product. And just as it has a very positive action you also have its contraindications. Among others, it reduces the protective layer of the skin.
For this reason, since our face will be more sensitive, we should always use sunscreen when we go out while we are under the effects of the treatment. Nor should we exceed the dose recommended by each manufacturer. As a general rule, 2 or 3 times a week would be the maximum for creams or serums with glycolic acid concentrations of 10%.
Which product is best for a glycolic acid peel at home?
If we want to do our glycolic acid peeling at home, we have many options, since we can find it in different formats of creams and serums. As I said before, if we want to do it at home it will always be a product with a low concentration of glycolic acid.
One of the most popular glycolic acid products is The Ordinary’s Serum that used to be sold at Asos (which now also sells cosmetics), but now it seems to be out of stock everywhere. A highly recommended option instead is the Nezeni glycolic acid serum, which I talk about below.
If we perform a treatment in the cabin, they will use professional products with greater concentration, but also more aggressive.
Glycolic acid The ordinary
I discovered The Ordinary serum thanks to a co-worker who assured me that her skin was super luminous and smooth after using The Ordinary’s glycolic acid serum. The truth is that this particular one I have not used, but I know that this brand is gaining many followers lately.
The Ordinary is sold through Asos, which is very good, because it means that shipping is free and that if you have any problems with your order you will be able to ask their customer service team without problem. The Ordinary is a moderately priced brand that has a serum that is especially famous.
If it is not available, another similar option is that of the INKEY brand. Then in ampoule format are the Revitalift Laser 10% Glycolic Acid Ampoules from L’Oréal Paris. They are more expensive because only 7 units come and cost about € 34.
Glycolic acid peeling from Nezeni Cosmetics
As I said, an alternative option to glycolic acid peeling is Nezeni. This homemade peel is composed of 4 acids, not just glycolic acid: glycolic, azelaic, lactic and tartaric acid. On the other hand, I like that it has glycerin, which counteracts that irritating effect that peels can cause.
As you know, glycerin is a component present in many moisturizing cosmetics whose function is to keep the skin hydrated.
This serum is recommended for normal and oily skin.
Where to buy glycolic acid?
In perfumeries and retail stores you can buy glycolic acid, but only in low concentrations. Formulations with a higher percentage are reserved for dermatologists and qualified personnel.
In stores such as Sephora, Asos (as I said for the serum of The Ordinary), Arenal, Perfumes Club or Promofarma it is easy to find glycolic acid products with greater or lesser concentration.
I hope you found this post useful on how to perform a glycolic acid peel at home. I personally love learning things about new cosmetic ingredients and how I can apply them to my skin.
You know that my goal is to try to keep it healthy and beautiful for many years to come. Today’s cosmetic treatments and the variety of products on the market allow us to choose totally tailor-made treatments, and I love it. I’m a bit of a geek on this topic, I know!
If you want to know some similar cosmetic ingredients, do not miss the article on hyaluronic acid: what it is and how to use it, and if you like powerful ingredients such as glycolic acid, take a look at the article on vitamin C. Everything you need to know explained in a clear and simple way.
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Glycolic acid must be used within a complete skin care routine, which goes from hydration of the skin to the correct nutrition of our body. In this video I tell you how. And if you like it, don’t forget to subscribe to the channel for more beauty tips!
see you soon!
Deliria Rose
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