Every skin type can benefit from a glycolic acid cleanser in their routine.
There are plenty of skincare acids out there, but none quite as beloved—or universally effective—as glycolic acid. The alpha-hydroxy acid, or AHA, is derived from sugarcane and offers a litany of different benefits, working on multiple layers of the skin. “It’s one of the most potent alpha-hydroxy acids that help to exfoliate superficially while also stimulating deeper collagen production,” explains Dr. Shereene Idriss, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. In short, it’s great for fading spots and evening out skin tone, while also helping to smooth fine lines in the long-term.
You can find the ingredient in everything from masks to moisturizers, but glycolic acid-based cleansers offer some unique benefits, says Idris. “Glycolic acid cleansers usually contain the lowest strength of the ingredient. In addition to being ideal for sensitive skin due to the short contact time, they’re also a good option for those who have dry skin, as the ingredient is even hydrating in of itself,” she explains. They’re also great if you’re starting to use a retinoid in your routine and want to minimize the risk of irritation, she adds. And, top tip, if you don’t have sensitive skin and want to really capitalize on the ingredient’s effects, you can even let the cleanser sit on your skin for five to 10 minutes before rinsing.
Bottom line: A glycolic acid cleanser is well-worth adding to your skincare routine. Check out our favorites, below.
Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser With Glycolic Acid.
The glycolic acid in the formula helps gently exfoliate, while glycerin in the mix delivers intense hydration, leaving your skin perfectly balanced.1 Bonus points for the lightly foaming lather that effectively removes dirt and oil without stripping your skin.
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 3.5% Glycolic Acid Cleansing Gel
It’s kind of tricky to find a glycolic acid cleanser at the drugstore, making this steal of a deal even more noteworthy. The formula gives you plenty of bang for your buck, combining glycolic acid with salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that is great at dissolving and keeping pores clear.2 Aloe extract ensures it’s never too drying, and it’s also fragrance-free and allergy-tested, something those with sensitive skin will appreciate.
Best Exfoliating: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Glycolic acid is just one of four alpha hydroxy acids at work in this face wash; there are also citric acid, malic acid, and lactic acid in the mix. That means it does a truly stellar job at exfoliating, dissolving dead skin cells. As if that weren’t enough, jojoba beads offer some extra (gentle) physical exfoliation, while salicylic acid in the formula helps combat excess oil.
Best Foaming: Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser
Affordable and effective, this gel formula foams up beautifully. The namesake ingredients help retexturize and smooth the skin. Plus, it also boasts a litany of plant-based actives like marshmallow extract, chamomile, and sage and can help balance and smooth the skin while fighting inflammation.
Best Cream: Glytone Mild Cream Cleanser
This brand focuses pretty much all of their products around glycolic acid, so you know this is going to be good. We like this pick both for the creamy texture and the fact that it relies on a fairly mild concentration, 3.4% of glycolic acid, making it great for dry and sensitive skin types alike. In related news, it’s also sulfate- and fragrance-free.
Best for Oily Skin: Boscia Detoxifying Black Charcoal Cleanser Detoxifying Black Charcoal Cleanser
Glycolic acid is a great choice for oily skin types, thanks to its pore unclogging prowess. Here it’s paired charcoal, an ingredient thought to aid in purifying the pores (though more research is needed to back up this claim).3 It’s also worth noting it contains anti-aging and brightening powerhouse artichoke leaf extract. The fact that this gently warms up as you massage it onto the skin makes the cleansing experience feel extra-luxurious.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Replenix Acne Solutions Gly/Sal Exfoliating Acne Cleanser
Battling blemishes? Meet your new BFF. Think of glycolic acid and salicylic acid as the peanut butter & jelly of the skincare world, a dynamic duo that works perfectly together. Here, they’re all it takes to unclog pores, minimize oil, and even fade dark marks left over from pimples past.
Best Multi-Tasking: Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser
Unlike many of the other options on this list, where glycolic acid is the superstar, here it’s just one of a more varied cast of ingredients that make this formula perfect for addressing any and every complexion concern. Yes, there’s glycolic acid for exfoliating and brightening purposes, but there’s also hyaluronic acid for hydration, plus antioxidant-rich blueberry extract to protect your skin from environmental stressors.4 It smells subtly and pleasantly fruity, and rinses off completely cleanly, too.
Best on Amazon: InstaNatural Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser
There’s a good reason(s) why this Amazon fan-favorite has somewhat of a cult-like following. The oil-free formula combines glycolic acid with a long list of natural ingredients—cucumber extract, organic chamomile, green tea extract, willow bark, and many, many more—and can help to exfoliate, cleanse, brighten, and even minimize the look of lines and wrinkles. Not convinced? Just take a look at any of the glowing (pun intended) rave reviews that refer to the product as ‘miraculous,’ ‘life-changing,’ ‘best’…you get the picture.
Best Extra-Strength: Sobel Skin Rx 27% Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser 27% Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser
Fair warning, this option, another favorite of Xue’s, is best reserved for glycolic acid veterans who really want to up the ante. True to its name, it touts a whopping 27% concentration of glycolic acid for some mega-exfoliating, brightening, and skin-tone evening effects. That being said, there’s also a trio of soothing ingredients—allantoin, aloe extract, and chamomile—to help minimize the likelihood of any irritation.
Best Clean: Alpyn Beauty Plant Genuis Creamy Bubbling Cleanser
Product purists will appreciate that this formula is free from over 2,700 questionable chemicals and ingredients. Instead, it relies on all kinds of natural ingredients; glycolic and lactic acids are paired with papaya enzymes and pomegranate extract to achieve the ideal level of gentle hydration that makes this great for everyday use. As the name suggests, it goes on creamy, but bubbles up nicely, and (not that appearance really matters) but we’re also obsessed with how pretty it looks.
Best Splurge: Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Pricier than the others on the list, this derm-developed choice is well-worth every penny. Credit not only a litany of different exfoliants (both chemical and physical, and glycolic acid included, of course) but also hydrating ingredients to keep skin plump and elastic, and the skin barrier functioning properly.
Final Verdict
Glycolic acid cleansers are a good choice for pretty much any and every skin type, offering all kinds of benefits. The SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser is our all-around fave, a gel formula where glycolic acid is the star of the show. If your skin is acne-prone, consider the Replenix Acne Solutions Gly/Sal Exfoliating Acne Cleanser, which relies on several different acids to help keep skin clear. And while glycolic acid cleansers can be tough to find at the drugstore, the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 3.5% Glycolic Acid Cleanser is a great wallet-friendly pick that’s also fragrance-free.
How We Selected
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
What to Look For In a Glycolic Acid Cleanser
Concentration
While not all formulas disclose this on the packaging, Idriss says it’s best to look for a concentration of anywhere from 4% to 10%. Top tip: If it’s not listed, pay attention to where glycolic acid falls on the ingredient label. The higher up on the list, the more of it is in the product.
pH
Again, this may require some research into the product to determine, but Idriss says you ideally want a glycolic acid with a pH of 4 or less.
Extra Ingredients
Glycolic acid increases cell turnover in the skin so it’s often combined with soothing and hydrating ingredients to help it be best tolerated by the skin. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are both known for their water-binding properties, so the HA pairs well with glycolic acid, as does urea and aloe.
Texture
Glycolic acid cleansers come in three main textures: cream, gel or foaming. Foaming cleansers are generally better suited to oily skin types and are great at cleaning deep into the pores. They often contain an ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate, however, which can be irritating to more sensitive skin types.
If you are more on the sensitive side, opt for a cream cleanser containing soothing natural oils and emulsifiers. Gel cleansers on the other hand create more of a coating across the skin. This makes them a lighter option for normal, combination, and oily skin types.
Other Acids
If your skin isn’t super sensitive, consider choosing a face wash that contains other acids. Glycolic plays nicely with other AHAs such as lactic and citric acid, as well as BHAs like salicylic acid.
FAQ
Are glycolic acid cleansers effective?
Glycolic acid is anti-inflammatory with antioxidant effects, so is well known for its ability to increase exfoliation of the outermost layer of skin and increase skin cell turnover. This means that you can see a noticeable difference with regular use.
Will a glycolic acid cleanser help to unclog pores?
“The exfoliative properties of this active acid can help to reduce a build-up of dead skin cells which can help to improve clogged pores,” says Jonquille Chantrey, M.D., a surgeon, international lecturer and beauty scientist. This makes glycolic acid especially good for oily and blemish-prone skin that has congestion.
Can I use glycolic acid cleanser every day?
“The frequency of use depends upon your individual skin type,” advises Dr. Chantrey. “The active strength of the acid is another key variable which will influence tolerability”. (Most glycolic acid concentrates start from 5 percent and go up to 20 percent).
“A glycolic acid cleanser can be used every day as long as it doesn’t contain a very high percentage of acid and it’s not active in its state—so you don’t put an acid directly onto the skin,” advises Dr Unnati DessaI, an aesthetic doctor, dermatologist and Medical Director at London’s Skinfluencer clinic. “Products that have an acid microencapsulated into them are much more skin friendly and less likely to cause irritation. A daily use of glycolic acid is actually recommended, if you can tolerate it. It’s actually very good for most skin types”.
But what if you have a more sensitive, reactive skin type? “If you have very sensitive skin and you find that you react to glycolic acid every day, then you should stop,” Dr Unnati says. “Likewise, you wouldn’t use glycolic acid on very red and angry-looking skin. Most people, however, can tolerate a glycolic acid in their routine every day. If you have other skin concerns, such as acne, you might want to add in other products safely such as a vitamin A or salicylic acid.”
