Glycolic acid in skincare
An exfoliating acid that can sting or over-exfoliate if layered aggressively.
What to do about it
Avoid stacking with multiple strong actives at first.
This one matters more in leave-on products — a serum or moisturiser that stays on your skin — than in a cleanser you rinse off within a minute. Skinvio weighs it less heavily for rinse-off formulas for that reason.
Why it's flagged
- Potent active
- Irritation potential
How common is it?
Listed on 73 of the 4,195 product labels in Skinvio's catalogue.
Counted by matching label text, so it reflects how often the name is printed on a label rather than a verified chemical analysis.
Also written as
glycolic acid
Labels rarely agree on naming. Skinvio matches all of these to the same ingredient.
Where this comes from
Alpha hydroxy acid active-use precaution category.
This is cosmetic guidance, not medical advice
Skinvio does not diagnose, treat, or cure any skin condition. Ingredient scores describe general formulation patterns, not how your skin will respond. Always patch test, and speak to a licensed clinician about reactions, persistent irritation, or any changing spot or growth.
Related ingredients
Check a whole label at once
Skinvio scans a product's full ingredient list and scores it for your skin type, flagging everything on this list in one pass.
Get Skinvio for iPhone →