What is glycolic acid in skincare?
Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid derived from sugar cane. It has the smallest molecular size of the AHA family, which lets it penetrate the stratum corneum more readily than lactic or mandelic acid – and makes it both the most effective and the most likely to sting.
It works by dissolving the bonds holding dead cells to the surface, so they shed evenly instead of accumulating. Cosmetic strengths run from around 5% to 10%, with professional peels going considerably higher.
What skin concerns does glycolic acid treat?
It is one of the best-evidenced ingredients for dullness, rough texture and uneven tone, and it visibly brightens within a few uses. Over longer periods it fades sun spots and post-acne marks, softens fine lines and helps clear congestion.
Regular use also stimulates collagen production and thickens the deeper epidermis, so the benefit is structural as well as surface-level.
What ingredients are best paired with glycolic acid?
Follow it with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin and panthenol to replace what exfoliation costs the barrier. Niacinamide is a good companion for tone, and vitamin C works well on alternate days.
Do not stack it with retinoids, BHAs or benzoyl peroxide in the same step unless your skin is well conditioned, and start at twice a week. Glycolic acid increases sun sensitivity, so daily SPF is essential. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is bumpy skin?
Bumpy skin is a texture problem rather than a single condition. It covers the rough, uneven surface you can feel more than see – most often keratosis pilaris (small hard bumps on the upper arms, thighs and cheeks), closed comedones, milia, or simple build-up of dead cells on the surface.
Keratosis pilaris in particular affects a large share of the population and is harmless, but it makes skin feel like sandpaper and can be stubborn to smooth out.
What causes bumpy skin?
Most bumpy texture comes from keratin plugging the follicle. When dead cells fail to shed cleanly, they collect at the pore opening and form a firm bump – a process closely linked to a weakened permeability barrier and low skin hydration.
Genetics, dry skin, cold weather, eczema and a history of over-scrubbing all make it worse. Aggressive physical exfoliation tends to backfire, inflaming the follicle and thickening the plug.
What ingredients are best for bumpy skin?
Chemical exfoliation works far better than scrubbing. Salicylic acid clears inside the follicle, lactic and glycolic acid loosen surface build-up, and urea both exfoliates and hydrates.
Retinoids normalise how skin sheds over time, while ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid keep the barrier strong so the plugs stop reforming. Consistency matters more than strength here. Take our Skin Quiz to work out which exfoliant your skin can tolerate.
