Glycolic Acid is a popular ingredient in many different types of skincare. With its exfoliating and anti-aging properties, it is undeniably a good-for-you ingredient (with most Glycolic Acid products containing 10% to 20%) to look for and add to your skincare regime.
Not sure where to start? Allow us to help you with this compiled list of suggested creams and moisturizers. It’s a fantastic place to start. Whether you’re looking for an affordable or a luxury option, we’ve got you covered.
The 15 Best Glycolic Acid Creams
1. Glycolix Elite Glycolic Acid Facial Cream
Glycolix Elite Facial Cream by Topix Pharm uses the rich pairing of ultra-pure crystalline glycolic acid and antioxidants to exfoliate and smooth the skin. This product contains 20% glycolic acid, liposomal vitamins A, C, and E, green tea, and Co-Q10. It is non-comedogenic and won’t clog pores. This formula is paraben, gluten, oil, and fragrance-free.
The cream is a cosmetically elegant anti-aging formula designed to stimulate cellular turnover rate and reveal healthier younger-looking skin. This product also provides superior antioxidant protection against further free radical-induced skin damage. Your skin will be rejuvenated skin with fewer fine lines, less discoloration, and improved texture and tone.
2. Peter Thomas Roth 10% Glycolic Solutions Moisturizer
This product contains a gentle, time-released form of Glycolic Acid in a rich moisturizing formula that helps produce a beautiful, fresh, and more youthful-looking complexion. The advanced chemical exfoliation will help to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, brightness, clarity, uneven skin tone, pores, and smoothness.
In addition to the 10% Glycolic Acid that chemically exfoliates the skin, the Glycolic Solutions Moisturizer contains Arginine and Aloe Vera. Arginine works to help condition and soothe the skin’s appearance while the Alone Vera hydrates and helps calm the look of the skin.
SUNBURN ALERT! Be sure to use sunscreen. This product contains an AHA. This may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. In addition to using sunscreen, it is suggested that you wear protective clothing and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterward.
3. Mario Badescu Glycolic Skin Renewal Complex
Mario Badescu’s Glycolic Skin Renewal Complex contains a blend of papaya extract, vitamin A and glycolic acid make this cream effective for brightening dull, rough skin while providing intense moisture for day or night. Its formula provides rich and intense moisture reviving dull and rough skin texture.
Glycolic Acid works to exfoliate, resurface and reduce the look of fine lines and discoloration while papaya extract (packed with natural enzymes) breaks down dull, dead skin cells. The formula also contains honey to soften and smooth skin, providing it with a healthy glow and Vitamin A to defend against skin-aging free radicals and promote smoother, younger-looking skin.
4. CANE + AUSTIN Facial Moisture Cream with Glycolic Acid
This dual-action, hydrating, and regenerative treatment cream contains 10% pharmaceutical grade glycolic acid that has been derived from cane sugar. This luxurious, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic moisturizer also contains Green tea to soothe and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation to restore skin’s moisture balance for a healthy, radiant complexion.
It minimizes fine lines, brightens skin without irritation, protects against free radical damage, and is ideal for all skin types. Cane + Austin’s Facial Moisture Cream also reduces pore size, wrinkles, and scarring while effectively reversing sun damage and correcting hyperpigmentation. It will also reduce the appearance of wrinkles and age spots.
5. CONTROL CORRECTIVE SKIN CARE SYSTEMS Gly Lotion
Suitable for all skin types, this super-smoothing and exfoliating Gly Lotion 10% gently sweeps the surface of the skin and instantly softens all traces of dryness or dehydration. This product helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark spots, and dry or rough skin. Powered by glycolic acid, this cream eases off dead cell sludge that blocks the pores and dulls the complexion. Panthenol-based, nourishing moisturizers quickly absorb to get down to their soothing work.
Control Corrective Skin Care Systems’ Gly Lotion also contains aloe vera and lipids. This formula is free of parabens, synthetic dyes, phthalates, triclosan. Users are said to begin seeing results within the first 2 weeks of use. Skin is said to feel softer, breakouts are minimized, dry flakes disappear and sun damage begins to break up.
6. Jan Marini Skin Research Bioglycolic Bioclear Face Cream
Jan Marini Skin Research’s Bioglycolic Bioclear Face Cream contains a powerful combination of glycolic, salicylic, and azelaic acid that provides a broad-range of benefits for dramatically smoother, clearer, and more luminous looking skin. This product will polish skin, reduce the visibility of pores, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It is suitable for dry, normal, acne-prone, and sensitive skin.
7. Touch 10% Glycolic Acid Cream
Suitable for all skin types and skin tones, this 10% glycolic acid face cream exfoliates and moisturizes to give you a radiant glow, youthful complexion, and silky-smooth skin. Touch’s Glycolic Acid Cream is effective, but gentle enough for daily use. The product’s fast absorption means it’s perfect to wear under makeup during the day or at night.
Loaded with powerful non-comedogenic ingredients like Squalane, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, and Coconut Derived Emollients, this anti-aging moisturizer provides all-day hydration to protect and strengthen your skin while also providing an instant glow like appearance. Touch only use clean ingredients that work and none of the bad stuff like parabens, dyes, phthalates, sulfates, or drying alcohols.
Expert Tip: Did you know that glycolic acid loses its effectiveness by more than 60% when its pH level is over 4? That’s why this glycolic acid cream is formulated with a pH of 3.5 allowing more of its “free acids” to work on reducing wrinkles, blemishes, acne, hyperpigmentation, and bumpy skin.
8. Toulon Glycolic Acid Cream 10% Face Moisturizer
Toulon’s Glycolic Acid Cream is suitable for all skin types. Their proven formula uses 100% pure rosehip oil, grapeseed oil, licorice root, antioxidants like Vitamins C and E, and green tea. This formula is also paraben-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free. It is made in the USA to maximize anti-oxidant protection while fighting free radical damage which can cause premature aging.
This product penetrates the skin to hydrate and delivers potent nutrients. By removing the barrier of dead cells, it allows other treatments to penetrate deeper into the skin.
9. Tutta LaPelle Glycolic Acid Cream 20% AHA Facial Cream
Made with the purest form of Glycolic Acid with a pH level of 4, this product contains 20% glycolic acid with a vitamin complex. This product also contains liposomal Vitamins A, C, and E, Co-Q10, and green tea extract and is enriched with Squalane.
It is a moisturizing AHA face cream formulated in a light, elegant, non-greasy base. Excellent as a day and a night cream, this elegant, light formula dries to a matte finish. It is free of parabens, gluten, oil, and fragrance.
Expert Tip: Glycolic Acid helps to gently slough, or exfoliate, the dead cell layer. This layer manifests fine lines and uneven skin tones. When the dead cells of the skin’s most outer layer are removed, newer, fresher skin is revealed.
10. Alpha Skin Care Essential Renewal Cream
Alpha Skin Care’s unique anti-aging cream is specially formulated with the optimal balance of 10% Glycolic Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and a pH level of 4. It is paraben and fragrance-free.
Derived from natural sugar cane, Glycolic Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is an ingredient that encourages collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a younger-looking you.
This product works naturally to gently lift away dead skin cells paving the way for new healthy skin to emerge and encourage the production of collagen. Immediately, your skin will feel smooth, fresh, and healthy. Over time, you will see a more even, radiant skin tone.
Their specially selected vitamins and nutrients are combined with their anti-aging ingredients to enhance the benefits you’ll see and feel from their products. The specially selected vitamins and nutrients moisturize and soothe your skin while the anti-aging ingredients work to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
11. Insta Natural Glycolic Acid Cream
Insta Natural’s Glycolic Acid Cream is a powerful skin tightening and firming formula. It targets wrinkles and fine lines, giving your aging skin a lifted look. This cream is the best way to get smoother skin on your face, décolleté, and neck that will help you reclaim skin’s youthful appearance.
This Glycolic Acid Cream is professional-grade and made of a natural and organic medley of botanical oils as well as anti-aging ingredients including Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, and Glycolic Acid. The combination of these ingredients will give your skin a smooth and soothed look and feel.
Insta Natural’s powerful moisturizing cream is specially designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, creases, and sagging skin. With the addition of Coconut Oil, this skin-firming lotion helps to smooth out these blemishes and marks while providing the nutrients your skin needs to promote healthy new cell production. Vitamin C is used to encourage collagen production throughout the face, neck, hands, and any other area to fight dryness and signs of aging.
It also provides premium antioxidant support against UV and free radical damage, while also evening your skin tone by reducing age spots and discoloration.
12. ACURE Resurfacing Overnight Glycolic Treatment
With its inter-gly-lactic solution (Glycolic and Lactic Acid intermixed) for gentle exfoliation, and true unicorn root, hemp seed oil, and moonstone extract to refine and hydrate, Acure Resurfacing Overnight Treatment is a lightweight cream system. It resurfaces and refines skin while visibly improving tone and texture for a dewy and mirror-like finish.
This product is certified vegan and cruelty-free. It is also paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, and formaldehyde-free.
13. Luxe Joie AHA Moisturizer Facial Cream
Luxe Joie’s AHA Moisturizer is a total game-changer for blackheads and acne. With BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) and AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), this cream will help to clear pores and reduce their size. Plus, it will exfoliate surface skin, and it will smooth, illuminate, and promote even skin tone. It also helps reduce redness, fine lines, age spots, and blackheads.
This product promotes natural exfoliation by helping your skin shed extra layers while clearing and unclogging pores revealing a younger more toned complexion.
The natural and organic, clinical-grade AHA formula is non-abrasive. The liquid exfoliant is gentle enough for daily use and is suitable for all skin types. This AHA Cream works deep within the layers of the skin removing dirt and oil to reduce breakouts.
14. NEOSTRATA RESURFACE Glycolic Acid Renewal Smoothing Face Moisturizer
Neostrata Resurface’s Glycolic Acid Renewal Smoothing Face Moisturizer is a powerful anti-aging face and neck moisturizing cream. It contains 10% Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), Glycolic Acid, and Citric Acid. This cream renews texture by targeting the skin’s natural filler, plumping, and volumizing the skin while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
With the added benefits of Shea Butter and Glycerin, this anti-aging moisturizer delivers deep hydration, making wrinkles appear smoother and preventing signs of premature aging. It enhances surface texture and skin clarity with gentle exfoliation, providing skin toner benefits while moisturizing and boosting skin brightness.
The cream is formulated with strengthening AHA to enhance skin’s moisturize barrier, providing healthier-looking skin. This product is recommended for oily or normal skin and absorbs quickly.
15. Mederma AG Moisturizing Face Cream
Mederma AG Moisturizing Face Cream gently removes the dead skin cells from rough, dry, sun-damaged skin while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and imperfections. It also helps maintain proper moisture balance.
This product contains hyaluronic acid which is known to help skin retain moisture and plump the appearance of aging skin. It also provides the exfoliating benefits of glycolic acid in a gentle, pH-balanced moisturizing system. This product is hypoallergenic, free of added perfumes and fragrances, soap-free (resulting in minimum irritation), non-comedogenic, and dermatologist recommended.
Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!