You know we heart a good old-fashioned skincare hack here at Poosh, and we’ve discovered several of them that can be done with an ingredient that’s probably already on your skincare shelf—glycolic acid.
Quick refresher: Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), a type of chemical exfoliant that helps cell turnover.
Where did we find these hacks, you ask? TikTok (ofc). Aesthetician @mattrandon did a duet with a video from @belallure in which she’s showing glycolic acid hacks, and he concurs. In the video, they use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, but these hacks should work with just about any glycolic acid.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Grab a squeeze bottle, apply the glycolic acid on your part 10 minutes before showering, then shampoo. It’ll help remove dead skin cells from your scalp and increase circulation. It’s recommended to use only once or twice a week at night to avoid irritating your scalp (this is strong—especially if you’re using The Ordinary.)
2. Later, underarm hyperpigmentation.
Again, don’t be doing this every day. Start with once a week. Either apply the acid to a cotton pad and swipe your pits, or use a spray bottle to spritz it on.
3. Ciao, back and butt acne.
Our backs and butts have skin and pores, so they can get clogged just like the skin on our faces. Add some glycolic acid to a spray bottle, and lightly mist it over your back and ass. Build up your tolerance to it just like you would on your face, starting with once a week and gradually increasing the number of days.
4. Au revoir, strawberry legs.
Apply glycolic acid to a cotton round and gently swipe over affected areas. It’s thought to be one of the better alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) for exfoliating the skin, and it accelerates cell turnover and helps prevent buildup in pores.
5. Toodles, cracked feet.
Sandal season is nigh! Give your dry, winter-cracked heels some love by swiping on some glycolic acid to help exfoliate dead skin cells, and follow up with a nourishing lotion to keep things hydrated. Exfoliating before applying moisturizer helps the moisturizer penetrate better because it doesn’t have to work its way through a bunch of dead skin.
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