Finding a good moisturizer can be tough. You want to find one that won’t clog your pores (if you have oily skin) or will provide enough moisture to keep your very dry skin properly moisturized.
But there can be an overwhelming section of moisturizers as people clamor more and more these days for the perfect anti aging product.
The good news is that glycolic acid moisturizers are good for all types of skin and can provide the various types of care you require. Learning how to select and use one is all you need to worry about.
What is a glycolic acid moisturizer?
A glycolic acid moisturizer is a moisturizer that contains the beneficial compound glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is a naturally derived substance from the sugar cane plant. It naturally exfoliates the skin and removes dead skin cells so new ones can take their place. Glycolic acid is added to a wide variety of products, from cleansers and toners to acid peels.
A glycolic acid moisturizer will contain some concentration of glycolic acid. That is, glycolic acid can be found in small concentrations of only 3% or as much as 30% in some products. Most moisturizers will provide a concentration somewhere between 10 and 20 percent.
Some glycolic acid moisturizers are time-release products, so your skin gets a regular dose of glycolic acid throughout the day or night.
What to look for in a glycolic acid moisturizer
Consider first why you want to use a glycolic acid moisturizer. If it’s because you have dry skin, make sure that the moisturizer you choose has a medium dose of glycolic acid, right around 10%. If you are worried about wrinkles, a concentration of about 10 to 12 percent is also ideal. If you have oily skin and you are looking for a moisturizer that will provide you some basic moisturizing benefits, but also acne control, look for a moisturizer that has a lightly higher concentration of glycolic acid.
When you read the list of ingredients on the bottle of glycolic acid moisturizer, pay attention to where on the list of ingredients glycolic acid is listed. If it’s after several other ingredients, the concentration might not be as high as you want. Often, in a moisturizer that contains a good dose of glycolic acid, glycolic acid will be listed right after the first ingredient – water.
Use and precautions
When you first begin using any glycolic acid product, you want to start out slowly. Some people will find that they just can’t use any glycolic products because their skin is just too sensitive. However, most people will find that they have at least a mild reaction the first time they use glycolic acid. Eventually, those reactions will go away completely.
So when you first start using your glycolic acid moisturizer, use it only at night and if you have purchased one with a higher concentration of glycolic acid, use it only every other night. If your skin is doing well, use the moisturizer every night and do that for up to a month. Once your skin has adjusted and you know that you will have no negative reactions to the glycolic acid, switch to using the moisturizer at night and during the day under your makeup.
If the glycolic acid moisturizer you have chosen does not contain sunscreen, be sure to wear some during the day (even if it’s found in your face makeup). Glycolic acid makes the skin much more sensitive to the sun and your skin can be damaged by the sun if you don’t take precautions.
