5 Things You Didn’t Know Glycolic Acid Could Do

If you are a die-hard skincare person, there’s a high chance of coming across glycolic acid. It is a part of the holy grail of skincare ingredients that unlocks fresh-looking skin. Glycolic acid is the youngest sibling of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) family, which also includes lactic and malic acids. AHAs are synthetic or naturally occurring, and glycolic sits in the latter category, often derived from sugar cane, grapes, and pineapple. These acids dissolve the bonds between the surface of dead skin cells to uncover fresher cells underneath. Thus, encouraging new cells to move toward the surface of your skin for a plumper, fresher appearance. You’ll usually see this ingredient in the toner part of your skincare routine. However, overusing glycolic acid can make our skin look dull and dry.

Now that you know what it does for your face (and neck), let’s tap into all it can do. Glycolic acid is a magical ingredient that you’ll always want to have in your medicine cabinet.

5 Ways to Use Glycolic Acid (Besides for Your Face)

1. Strawberry Legs – Also known as Keratosis Pilaris, some of us experience ingrown hair and red bumps post-shave that never seem to stop coming. This exfoliating treatment, paired with religious moisturizing, will help shrink the look of your pores and give you smooth, glowing skin!
2. Soften Elbows and Feet – If you have rough elbows and feet, this acid can help soften your skin and allow for better penetration of your moisturizers. For example, if you’re using 7% glycolic acid on your face, consider using a more potent concentration for those areas.
3. Deodorant Alternative – Are you looking for an alternative to a deodorant? Applying glycolic acid to your underarm doesn’t naturally make your underarms smell pleasant, but it does help remove the bacteria that interact with your sweat to produce a smell. If you have susceptible skin, only apply the day after shaving. Otherwise, it might sting.
4. Lightening Inner Thighs – You know that little uncomfortable rub you get when you move your thighs around? Friction like these cause discoloration on your inner thighs. Since glycolic acid is excellent at sloughing dead skin cells away, it’ll help lighten and brighten the area.
5. Dandruff – To those with a dry, flaky scalp, this treatment will blow any dandruff shampoo out of the water! It’s a great way to decongest your scalp and make it feel brand new and fresh, keeping the flakiness at bay. But don’t overdo it. Only use it if your scalp feels extra itchy.

Pretty impressive, right? I was shocked when I learned of all its uses. Will you add glycolic acid to your beauty routine? Comment below!