The Best Daily Glycolic Peel is a powerful chemical exfoliator that removes dead skin cells and hydrates the skin for a brighter and more even complexion. It is designed to be used every day and contains ingredients that effectively target acne, blackheads, and fine lines.
If you’re looking to get rid of acne, fine lines, and dull skin tone, a daily glycolic acid peel could be the perfect solution. Glycolic acid peels stimulate collagen production and remove dead skin cells so that you can have healthier, more vibrant-looking skin. In this guide, we review the aspects of Best Daily Glycolic Peel, best chemical peel for wrinkles, best chemical peel for sagging skin, and benefits of glycolic acid on the face.
Not sure how to choose the best one for your needs? We’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve reviewed some of the best daily glycolic acid peels on the market and answered some frequently asked questions about daily glycolic peels to help you pick the one that’s right for you.
List of Best Daily Glycolic Peel
BEST OVERALL:Dr. Dennis Gross Universal Daily Peel at Amazon
BEST BUDGET:Versed The Shortcut at Versedskin.com
BEST SOOTHING:Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial at Amazon
BEST NATURAL:Tata Harper BHA Glow Mask at Amazon
BEST FOR ACNE:Savor Beauty Yuzu Lemonade Peel at Savorbeauty.com
BEST FOR WRINKLES:Lancer Skincare Caviar Lime Acid Peel at Nordstrom
BEST FOR OILY SKIN:First Aid Beauty AHA Intensive Peel at Amazon
BEST BODY:StackedSkincare Multi-Acid Body Peel at Stackedskincare.com
BEST TANNING:M-61 Gradual Tan at Bluemercury.com
BEST OVERNIGHT:goop Beauty Overnight Peel at Goop.com
Best Daily Glycolic Peel Review
The best daily glycolic peel is an important part of any skincare routine, and it has many benefits. Glycolic acid is a popular skincare ingredient, and this type of chemical peel can be used at home without the need for a doctor or other professional.
Glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs are derived from plants and fruits, including citrus fruit peels. Glycolic acid comes from sugar cane. It helps to remove dead skin cells on the surface of your skin and reveal new, healthy skin underneath. It also promotes collagen growth and can help to improve the appearance of fine lines.
There are many different types of peels on the market for consumers to choose from, but not all of them contain glycolic acid as an active ingredient. In fact, many peels don’t contain any AHAs at all! And while there are some products that include both AHAs and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), those products aren’t always considered to be “peels” because they’re not designed specifically for exfoliation purposes – they’re usually meant more as acne treatments than anything else.
best chemical peel for wrinkles
best chemical peel for sagging skin
How would you like to get your skin back to ‘amazing’? You may want to look into a facial peels knows as chemical peels. Solutions are applied to the skin to remove damaged skin cells and bring out the beautiful skin you have waiting underneath.
What is the best chemical peel for hyperpigmentation?
What is the best chemical peel for sagging skin?
Which peel is the strongest chemical peel?
Is an at home chemical peel safe?
You’ve got quite a few answers and options for face peeols, depending on what your needs are and how sensitive your skin is. For the best effects, it’s important that you research the different types of chemical peels before you make your appointment. Or better yet, consult with an experienced esthetician like Beauty Made Simply. Skin care should not be taken lightly, so made sure you know as much as you can, especially when looking at a chemical solution. To help jumpstart your research, check out this quick guide on the different types of chemical peels and how they help.
1. Glycolic Chemical Peel
Out of all the peels available, the glycolic peel penetrates your skin the deepest, so it’s the best one for exfoliation. This is due to glycolic acid’s small molecular structure, which allows it to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin. It’s also good for bringing a healthy glow back to aging skin. Glycolic acid is used to dissolve and allow dead skin cells to slough off. The result is a smoother skin surface with clear pores. A.k.a., beautiful skin. Glycolic peels come in different intensities and can affect your skin differently depending on how strong it is.
2. Lactic Peel
If your skin is sensitive, some of the peels on this list may irritate it. You may want to look into a light chemical peel, such as a lactic peel. As the name suggests, lactic peels come from milk. It’s not only gentle on easily irritated skin but also moisturizes dry skin.
3. Beta Peel
Acne can be embarrassing and annoying to deal with. If you have a bunch of problem breakouts, a beta peel will be able to help you. It contains salicylic acid which is great for exfoliation and oil control. Salicylic acid also takes care of the bacteria that cause acne breakouts to give you the relief that you’ve been searching for.
4. Vitalize Peel
If you’ve never had a chemical peel before, the vitalize peel is a good place to start because there is little peeling involved with it. It uses citric acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and retinol to lighten your skin’s pigmentation and improve its overall quality.
5. Pigment Balancing Peel
Like the vitalize peel, the pigment balancing peel also works with a series of acids to lighten the pigmentation of the skin. It can also get rid of brown spots, but this will take a little more time. You can’t expect them to go away with your first session. You’ll need to go a few times for this to take effect. On top of semi-regular peels, you’ll also need to use sunscreen when you go out or your results will be limited.
6. Retinol Peel
Retinol is a form of vitamin A, which is used in skincare products as it encourages the growth of skin cells once it is applied. Due to its small molecular size, retinol is able to penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin. As this is where your live skin cells are, the retinol that reaches this level encourages your skin cells to grow and renew. A retinol peel can also help unclog your pores and reduce acne outbreaks by allowing the cleansed skin to heal. A retinol peel is ideal if you want to rejuvenate, hydrate and refresh your complexion. If you have more specific skin concerns including acne or aging signs such as fine lines and wrinkles, then a retinol peel could be the perfect solution for you to reduce symptoms.
7. Mandelic Peel
Mandelic acid is a go-to anti-aging ingredient in the world of skin care. It works to accelerate cell turnover by dissolving the tiny bonds that hold skin cells together, helping to remove dead skin on the surface of the skin that can lead to dull complexions as well as fine lines. It also strengthens collagen, one of the building blocks of the skin’s support network that gives it a youthful firmness.This increased rate of sloughing thins the outermost layer of the skin called the stratum corneum. A thinner stratum corneum reflects light better and makes skin look smoother and more youthful. Mandelic acid and other alpha hydroxy acids generally soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin texture.
8. Jessners Peel
Like all other chemical peels, the Jessner peel is done by brushing an acidic liquid onto the skin to remove the top layers and encourage new, younger looking skin to grow. The Jessner peel was first formulated over a hundred years ago, and it’s still in use today thanks to its ability to:
- reduce dark patches and age spots
- even out skin tone
- reduce the appearance of scars
- smooth fine lines and wrinkles
- treat melasma (skin discoloration), hyper-pigmentation, and acne scars
While many chemical peels can cause lasting discoloration on darker skin, a recent small study found that a modified Jessner’s solution safely and effectively reduces melasma and pigment imperfections in darker skin. It has also been shown to be an effective treatment of acne scars even when used as a superficial peel according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology.
9. Vitamin C Peel
Vitamin C is one of the best-known defenses against free radicals (such as pollution, sun rays, and cigarette smoke) that can cause your skin to lose elasticity and sag. As a result, your skin loses its ability to shed dead skin cells, causing a dull and uneven appearance. Vitamin C works as an antioxidant to neutralize these free radicals, by preventing them from oxidizing on your skin.This peel can also help anyone suffering from acne, as it deeply cleanses pores and provides an anti-bacterial action to prevent them from reappearing. The acid found in Vitamin C also works as a bleaching agent that can help restore imbalanced skin tone and help fade blemishes.
10. Alpha Jewel Peel
This is a summer safe peel with minimal downtime. Perfect for those “on the go” that do not want a lot of downtime. Alpha Jewel Peel Professional System is intended to remove the outermost layers of dead skin with the added bonus of precious gems. This unique element leaves trace amounts of essential minerals that create large levels of antioxidants to help neutralize stressed skin.
benefits of glycolic acid on the face
How Glycolic Acid Works
Glycolic acid has the smallest-sized molecules of all the AHAs.1 This allows glycolic acid to absorb into the skin and exfoliate it even better than other AHAs.
Glycolic acid works by speeding up cell turnover.1 In other words, it dissolves the bonds that hold skin cells together. In effect, your skin is able to shed dead skin cells more quickly than it would on its own.
Glycolic acid triggers your skin to make more collagen as well.2 Collagen is the protein that makes skin firm, plump, and elastic. It also gives your bones and connective tissues their strength.
Your skin makes less collagen as you age. Collagen is also destroyed when you spend too much time in the sun. Using glycolic acid each day can help prevent the breakdown of collagen.
What It Does for Your Skin
Glycolic acid is a very popular treatment for many reasons, including:1
- Anti-aging: It smooths fine wrinkles and improves the skin’s tone and texture.
- Hydration: It plumps the skin and prevents it from getting dry.
- Sun damage: It fades dark patches caused by sun damage and protects collagen from the sun.
- Complexion: It brightens the skin when used regularly.
- Exfoliation: It prevents ingrown hairs and makes pores appear smaller by helping the skin shed dead skin cells.
- Acne: It cleans out pores to prevent comedones, blackheads, and inflamed breakouts.
Although many sources claim glycolic acid gets rid of scars, this is one thing it simply can’t do. Glycolic acid can lighten dark patches left by acne or other wounds. It may also soften the look of raised scars and pitted scars, but it will not make them go away.
A better treatment for scars is either a professional strength glycolic acid peel or a different scar treatment altogether.
Recap
Glycolic acid consists of tiny molecules that skin absorbs very well. It protects collagen and helps your skin shed dead skin cells. This process smooths and brightens your skin, keeps your pores clean, and prevents ingrown hairs and acne.
Where You Can Find It
If you’re looking for glycolic acid, you have lots of choices. This skincare darling can be found in many over-the-counter (OTC) products.
Try your local drug store, market, or skin spa. You will find plenty of cleansers, masks, toners, and moisturizers that contain glycolic acid. OTC glycolic acid products tend to come in strengths of up to 10%.3
For stronger treatments, glycolic acid is also found in chemical peels. Light duty glycolic acid peels up to 30% strength can be done by an esthetician at the salon or skin spa. Stronger peels of up to 70% can be had at the dermatology office.
Even though glycolic acid is made from sugar cane, the sugar you buy at the store is not quite the same. Rubbing your face with sugar can exfoliate the skin and leave it feeling smoother. But it’s not going to give you the same results as glycolic acid treatment.
Choosing the Right Skin Treatment
The glycolic acid treatment you choose depends a lot on your skin type and what your end goals are. OTC products with glycolic acid might be enough to give you brighter, more healthy-looking skin. They might also be enough to prevent breakouts and reduce fine lines without the need for stronger pro peels.
Professional skin peels are a good option if you want to treat a specific skin issue. For example, professional peels can help with sun damage, dark spots, acne, or deeper wrinkles. They will give you greater results more quickly. But because these peels contain higher percents of glycolic acid, they carry a greater risk of irritation.4
When choosing any glycolic acid treatment, the percent of glycolic acid it contains is just one factor to think about. The product’s pH is the other. The more acidic a product is, the stronger and more effective it will be on your skin despite how much glycolic acid it contains.
Granted, most skincare products only list the percent of glycolic acid used. They are not required to list the pH, which makes it a bit harder to compare products.
Recap
OTC skin care products contain up to 10% glycolic acid and are a good option for daily skincare. Pro peels contain up to 70% glycolic acid. They can quickly reduce stubborn acne, deep wrinkles, and sun damage but are more likely to bother your skin.
How to Use Glycolic Acid Safely
In general, glycolic acid is very safe for your skin and works well. To keep your skin safe, though, there are a few things to know before using glycolic acid.
First and foremost, you must wear sunscreen whenever you are using glycolic acid treatments.3 Like all AHAs, glycolic acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. You don’t want to undo all the good your glycolic acid is doing, nor do you want to end up sunburnt.
Allow your skin to get used to glycolic acid. If you are using an OTC product, start off by applying it just three times per week for a week or so. If your skin isn’t red or irritated, try using it four times a week for a week or two.
Keep slowly building up use this way until you’re able to use it every day. If at any point your skin becomes irritated, give your skin a rest before trying again.
For in-office or in-salon peels, you will likely start off with a lower amount of glycolic acid. If your skin tolerates that well, you will most likely be bumped up to higher strengths for your next peels.
Your skin may feel a bit rough after your first few treatments. This is normal and just means that the glycolic acid is working. Unless your skin is irritated, keep using your glycolic acid product. You should slowly start to see smoother, more healthy skin.