Glycolic acid is the hero ingredient you may not know you needed. Brilliant at brightening skin tone and texture, as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, breakouts and blemishes, it really is a routine must-have. But you can just throw it in anywhere; given that it’s an active ingredient, a little bit of homework is required before you introduce it into your beauty routine. Here’s what you need to know.

What is glycolic acid?

Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that belongs to a family of acids known as alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs —a term you’ve probably heard being bandied about in skincare circles. Widely used and derived from sugar cane, other AHAs include lactic, citric, and mandelic acids. “It is found in many skincare products like face washes and serums,

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