What Is Glycolic Acid?

Other Alpha-Hydroxy Acids

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid, which are acids made up of a group of synthetic and natural ingredients formulated to exfoliate the top layers of the skin. Lactic acid performs the same actions glycolic acid does, but it is a larger molecule and works a bit slower than glycolic acid. Malic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid with a molecule size larger than both lactic and glycolic acid that does provide multi-level exfoliation, but it may not be as effective independently as other alpha-hydroxy acids. Citric acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that functions as an antioxidant and helps adjust the pH of the products that contain it. Tartaric acid is a hydroxy-acid that is twice the molecule size as glycolic acid and is used more for maintaining the skin's pH, which allows other skin products to work better. Mandelic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that is less popular than the others in the skincare industry but may be a helpful exfoliation method for individuals with sensitive skin. This distinction is because mandelic acid molecules are the largest of all the alpha-hydroxy acids and can promote the production of oil.