What Does Glycolic Acid Toner Do?

You might have heard of glycolic acid if you’re a big fan of skincare. But do you know what it does? Many people have found themselves using a lot of glycolic acid toner in their skincare routine. No matter if you’re brand new to skincare or if you’re an old pro, you need to know how to work with glycolic acid and all it can do for your skin!

What Is Glycolic Acid?

Let’s start with the basics. AHA (Alpha hydroxy acid) is one of glycolic acid. AHA is a chemical exfoliant so it helps to exfoliate. It brings on fresh radiant skin hidden underneath.

One of the most popular AHAs is due to it’s small molecular size being glycolic acid. In that way, it can travel deeper into the skin, making it stronger for exfoliating and stimulating the skin’s surface.

What Is a Toner?

Moving on, before diving into the benefits of glycolic acid, we should first quickly discuss what is a toner. They are liquid-based products that should be applied after cleaning the face. Also, they help to balance the skin’s pH, get rid of pore torment, and eliminate any leftover makeup or dirt.

Toning is also something that many people think has been put in there as a prepping step for moisturisers or serums to help them sink into your skin better. Glycolic acid toner is about more than just what you’re doing to get your skin ready for next step.

Glycolic Acid Toner: The Magic Behind It

Glycolic acid is a great exfoliant and so it also works well as a toner, hence the name ‘glycolic acid toner’. The way it’s used on a daily basis is wonderful for many skin problems. Glycolic acid toner can help you with acne, hyperpigmentation and more. It can also be combined with Salicylic acid and Glycolic acid together for more benefits.

So, let’s go deeper into what it does for your skin.

1. Exfoliates Dead Skin Cells

Exfoliation is one of the most obvious benefits of using a glycolic acid toner. Your skin shed dead skin cells over time. But as we age, or as we have skin conditions, this process can slow down. It happens when dead skin cells build up on the surface, affecting dullness, clog pores and rough texture.

However, glycolic acid acts as an accelerator to this exfoliation process. It dissolves the dead skin cell bonds which make their removal easier. That’s why your skin looks smoother, brighter, and more even.

2. Unclogs Pores

Acne is often caused from clogged pores. Dead skin, oil and debris build up in your pores and cause blackheads, whiteheads, and breakouts.

Glycolic acid helps remove buildup in you pores and exfoliate your skin. Keeping your pores clear minimizes the risk of the thing called acne and other blemishes. Glycolic acid toner is perfect for clearing up your skin if you get the occasional breakout.

3. Brightens and Evens Skin Tone

Have you had trouble with spots or uneven skin tone after a breakout? It’s a common problem. This marks do appear, often, darker than the surrounding skin, after acne or another sort of injury to the skin, usually occur when skin heals. Hyperpigmentation is the name of the game here.

Dark spots these can fade over time with Glycolic acid toner. Glycolic acid exfoliates the skin and accelerates cell turnover, making recently revealed fresher, more even toned skin even more noticeable. Lighten dark spots and make your skin look brighter with regular use.

4. Removes Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Ageing is a fact, but it doesn’t have to happen as quickly as it would if you did nothing. Our skin loses collagen and becomes more elastic as we get older, creating lines and wrinkles. Glycolic acid can help treat these signs of aging.

Glycolic acid toner exfoliates and encourages new skin cell production and reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen production is also stimulated by it, making your skin look plumper, more youthful.

5. Improves Skin Texture

It’s rough and bumpy, extremely frustrating skin — especially if you’ve whipped a number of products to no result. Luckily enough glycolic acid toner can be used to make your skin smooth.

Glycolic acid is used since it exfoliates the skin and removes the dead skin cells that cause rough dryness and uneven texture. After regular use, the skin will feel softer, look smoother and the glow will be normal.

6. Balances Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, you tend to think you should never use acid based products. But in fact, glycolic acid toner can balance the production of your skin’s oil.

Glycolic acid is a powerful alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates and takes away excess oil from your surface thus reducing the oil production. It keeps the oils from piling up that could clog pores and maintain a good moisture balance. One of the main reasons this is helpful is if you have oily or combination skin.

7. Hydrates Your Skin

If glycolic acid is an exfoliant, will it also dry out my skin? Glycolic acid exfoliates, and a glycolic acid toner contains moisturizing ingredients to even out your skin. Consequently glycolic acid removes dead skin cells while your skin won’t feel dry or stripped.

Humectants such as glycerin or aloe vera also occur in some of the glycolic acid toners to draw moisture to the skin. This means you end up with exfoliation and hydration, and the best of both worlds.

8. Prevents Future Breakouts

Over time, regular use of glycolic acid toner can prevent break out in the future. It reduces the chances of clogged pores becoming pimples or cysts by exfoliating your skin and keeping pores clear.

Furthermore, glycolic acid is antiflammatory and can help calm and soothe the skin. This can really help those who have acne-prone skin who often experience redness and irritation.

9. It promotes healthier skin overall.

Glycolic acid toner improves skin texture, controls acne, promotes collagen production, and touts overall skin health. The regular exfoliation with glycolic acid helps your skin absorb the nutrients of your other skincare products like serums and moisturizers better. Time heals, and this leaves you with healthier, more radiant skin.

Glycolic Acid Toner: How to Use Them Safely?

Now that you know all the amazing things about glycolic acid toner, you may be curious about how to use it. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

• Cleanse Your Skin: For first, the use of a gentle cleanser to remove the dirt, oil and makeup from the face.
• Apply Glycolic Acid Toner: Working cotton pad and pour a small amount of the glycolic acid toner. Sweeping it gently across the face—away from the eye area if sensitive.
• Moisturize: You’ll then want to apply a moisturizer to seal in hydration and protect your skin once you use the toner.
• Use Sunscreen: If your skin is too sensitive, glycolic acid can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so you need to apply sunscreen every day to avoid sun damage.

Precautions and Tips

While glycolic acid toner is generally safe for most people, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Start Slowly: If you’re new to glycolic acid, begin with a few times a week with using it every other day, or wait for your products to instruct you otherwise — it will say. As your skin gets used to that, gradually increase usage.
• Patch Test: If you’re going to use glycolic acid toner all over your face, do a patch test in a small area first to see if you have any irritation or are allergic to it.
• Avoid Sensitive Areas: Be careful when applying glycolic acid around such areas as eyes, lips and neck.
• Sunscreen Is a Must: Since it exfoliates the skin, glycolic acid can sensitive your skin to burning in the sun. When heading outdoors always use sunscreen.

Conclusion

A glycolic acid toner is a powerful skincare addition. It has the ability to exfoliate, brighten and improve your skin’s texture—it helps with acne and signs of aging. If you’re after less breakouts, a more even complexion, or smoother skin, a glycolic acid tone can very well deliver your skincare goals.

When you have glycolic acid toner in your regimen everyday, you can have a smoother, brighter, healthier skin. But just remember to use it responsibly, and it’ll thank you for it!!