Best Glycolic Acid Face Wash: 6 Picks for Smoother, Brighter-Looking Skin

The best glycolic acid face wash for most people is L'Oréal Paris Revitalift 3.5% Pure Glycolic Acid Cleanser: a low-strength, fragrance-free gel you can use daily, recommended by a dermatologist in Women's Health and Marie Claire's best drugstore pick. If your skin is dry, start with Glytone Mild Cream Cleanser, which tells you exactly how much active glycolic acid it has.

Below are six picks from gentle to strong, plus how often to use a glycolic cleanser without overdoing it.

Quick picks

What does a glycolic cleanser do?

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), a type of chemical exfoliant. Dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner told Women's Health that it "helps dissolve connections between skin cells, so they more easily can be shed," which lets skin reflect light better and look more radiant. Its small molecule is why he calls it "the most potent of the exfoliating acids."

The FDA explains that how much an AHA product exfoliates "depends on the type and concentration of the AHA, its pH, and other ingredients in the product." So two glycolic washes can feel very different.

Why a wash instead of a toner or serum?

A cleanser rinses off after a minute. Zeichner says that short contact makes a glycolic acid cleanser "a great way to introduce exfoliating acids to sensitive skin." That makes a wash an easy first step into chemical exfoliation.

Glycolic cleanser vs other exfoliating face wash

Most exfoliating face washes use acids, beads, or both. Dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose told Women's Health that AHAs like glycolic work on the skin's surface, so they suit dull, rough-feeling skin. Marie Claire notes that salicylic acid cleansers suit blackheads and whiteheads better. Several picks below combine the two.

L'Oréal Paris Revitalift 3.5% Pure Glycolic Acid Cleanser

Best for: a daily glycolic acid face wash for most skin types, including dry and sensitive-leaning skin.

What we love

• Zeichner told Women's Health it "combines glycolic and salicylic acid to remove dead cells and oils from the skin." Women's Health says the 3.5% strength is "on the lower end, so it's suitable for sensitive or dry skin."
• It was Marie Claire's best drugstore glycolic acid cleanser.
• L'Oréal says it's "designed for daily use," non-drying, and free of fragrance, parabens and dyes. It's a 6.7 fl oz bottle.

Keep in mind

• Marie Claire flags that it contains menthol, "which may be irritating to some."
• L'Oréal says morning and evening. We'd start with evenings only, for the sun-sensitivity reason below.

Key ingredients: 3.5% glycolic acid, salicylic acid, aloe.

How to use: lather a small amount in wet hands, massage in light circles, rinse with warm water and pat dry. Follow with moisturizer.

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Glytone Mild Cream Cleanser

Best for: normal to dry skin that wants a creamy glycolic wash.

What we love

• Glytone states a "3.4 PFAV" (free acid value), meaning the amount of glycolic acid that's actually active. Marie Claire praises this: "Not all brands are this transparent."
• The brand recommends it for normal to dry skin and pairs the acid with glycerin "to exfoliate while maintaining skin's water balance."
• Marie Claire named it best for sensitive skin, with a mild cleanser and glycerin to balance the acid, and says it's oil-free.

Keep in mind

• It's fragrance-free, but Marie Claire notes some shoppers don't like its natural scent.
• Marie Claire still says to patch test and start slow.

Key ingredients: glycolic acid (3.4 free acid value), glycerin.

How to use: mix a small amount with a little water, massage over wet face and neck in circles, rinse with warm water. Glytone says twice daily; we'd begin once a day at night.

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Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser

Best for: a gentle exfoliating face wash for combination skin, or a first glycolic product.

What we love

• Glow Recipe says its pH is consistently 5.5 to 6.0. That's much less acidic than the low-pH washes here, so it's a softer start.
• Zeichner recommended it to Women's Health, saying the hyaluronic acid "can also minimize potential irritation and offer hydration benefits for people who have aging skin."
• It's three products in one: a cleanser, a makeup remover, and a five-minute mask, the brand says. Marie Claire made it best for combination skin.

Keep in mind

• It has a little fragrance: Glow Recipe says under 0.5% of the formula.
• It's mild, so if you want a stronger weekly exfoliation, look at Mario Badescu or SkinMedica.

Key ingredients: glycolic and lactic acids, hyaluronic acid, blueberry extract.

How to use: one pump in wet palms, massage onto wet skin for one minute and rinse. As a mask, apply to clean, dry skin and rinse after 5 minutes.

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Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser

Best for: a budget-friendly exfoliating wash you swap in a few times a week.

What we love

• Aesthetician Evelyn Ramirez told Women's Health it's "effective and reasonably priced for regular exfoliation."
• Women's Health reports a pH of 3.8. Ramirez says "a pH between three and four ensures effectiveness without causing excessive irritation."
• Mario Badescu says it's for all skin types and breaks down "makeup, oil, and impurities."

Keep in mind

• It's not a daily cleanser. The brand says to use it in place of your regular wash 1 to 2 times a week for dry to combination skin, or 2 to 3 times for combination to oily skin.
• It contains parabens, if you avoid them.

Key ingredients: glycolic acid, aloe.

How to use: massage onto wet skin in upward circles, then rinse well with warm water.

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SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

Best for: oily or textured skin, and an exfoliating cleanser for blackheads.

What we love

• Triple board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano told Marie Claire, "I love this for those with oily or textured skin looking for a refreshing cleanser." It's Marie Claire's best for oily skin.
• It combines four AHAs (glycolic, lactic, citric and malic) with salicylic acid and jojoba. Murphy-Rose told Women's Health the salicylic acid "works below the surface to unclog pores with consistent use."
• A Marie Claire writer with sensitive skin uses it once a week when her skin looks dull or flaky.

Keep in mind

• Marie Claire says it "may be too drying for those with dry or sensitive skin," and it feels a bit grainy.
• SkinMedica's own sunburn alert says to use sunscreen while using it and for a week after you stop.

Key ingredients: glycolic, lactic, citric and malic acids, salicylic acid, jojoba.

How to use: massage onto wet skin and rinse. Start with two or three evenings a week.

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Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser

Best for: anyone who dislikes foaming cleansers but wants a daily glycolic wash.

What we love

• Marie Claire calls it a "soap-free, non-foaming, glycolic acid formula" that's "well tolerated by most skin types," and named it best for all skin types.
• Ramirez recommended it to Women's Health for its calming ingredients, including sorbitol, "an effective humectant."
• Jan Marini says it's free of fragrance, dyes, parabens and ethanol, and vegan.

Keep in mind

• Marie Claire says it "can sting a little."
• Check who the amazon.com seller is before you buy.

Key ingredients: glycolic acid, sorbitol.

How to use: Jan Marini says to massage it onto dry skin, then rinse with a washcloth and lukewarm water. Skip the eye area.

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How to choose a glycolic acid face wash

Strength and pH

Strength is only half the story; pH matters too. The FDA says the industry's safety panel considers glycolic acid products safe when the AHA is "10 percent or less" and the pH is "3.5 or greater," with directions to use sun protection. Turegano told Marie Claire she recommends "less than five percent" for daily use, and for strengths "closer to 10 percent, only use the cleanser one to two times a week."

For a sense of scale, SkinCeuticals' Glycolic Renewal Cleanser lists an 8% free acid value and says it's not recommended for sensitive skin. (We left it out because we couldn't find it on amazon.com.)

Glycolic face wash for sensitive skin

If you're looking for gentle chemical exfoliants for sensitive skin, start low. Ramirez suggests "one to four percent" if you're new, and the AAD says dry or sensitive skin may do best with "a mild chemical exfoliator." Glow Recipe, L'Oréal and Glytone are the gentlest starting points here.

Gentle exfoliating cleanser vs a stronger one

Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser (L'Oréal, Glytone, Glow Recipe, Jan Marini) as your everyday or nightly wash. Use a stronger one (Mario Badescu, SkinMedica) as a swap-in a few nights a week, not on top of other exfoliants.

Check what else you use

The AAD warns that retinoids, retinol and benzoyl peroxide can already make skin more sensitive, and "exfoliating while using these products may worsen dry skin." Zeichner says to "be careful when combining glycolic acid with other active ingredients, like retinol." Use them on different nights.

Comparison table

Sun sensitivity and irritation

AHAs can make skin more sensitive to the sun. In studies the FDA describes, four weeks of AHA use raised skin's sensitivity to UV reddening by 18 percent; a week after stopping, the difference was gone. The FDA's suggested label reads: "Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards." That's why we suggest using glycolic washes at night and wearing sunscreen every morning; the AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher. Our guide to moisturizer or sunscreen first covers the morning order.

The AAD also says not to exfoliate skin that's cut or sunburned, and to go easy if you have a darker skin tone or get dark marks after bug bites or breakouts, since aggressive exfoliation can leave dark spots. Our rule: if a wash stings for more than a moment, or your skin turns red and uncomfortable, stop and go back to a plain cleanser.

FAQs

Can you use a glycolic acid face wash every day?

A low-strength one, usually yes. L'Oréal (3.5%), Glytone and Jan Marini are made for daily use. Turegano says "using it twice a day may be excessive," so once a day, at night, is a good place to start. Zeichner suggests starting every few days and building up.

How often should you exfoliate your face?

It depends on your skin and the product. The AAD says "the more aggressive the exfoliation, the less often it needs to be done," and warns that over-exfoliating leaves skin "red and irritated." For stronger washes like Mario Badescu, follow the brand's 1 to 3 times a week.

Should I use a glycolic acid wash in the morning or at night?

At night. Turegano told Marie Claire it "can potentially make your skin more sensitive to the sun if you use it in the morning." Use a plain cleanser and sunscreen in the morning.

What's a good glycolic acid facial cleanser for beginners?

Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce or L'Oréal Revitalift 3.5%. Both are low-strength, and Zeichner recommended both to Women's Health. Following his advice, use it every few days at first, then more often if your skin feels fine.

Do I need to moisturize after a glycolic cleanser?

Yes. The AAD says exfoliating "can be drying" and recommends applying moisturizer right after. A plain, fragrance-free moisturizer is best on nights you use an acid.

Start low, wash at night, and wear sunscreen every morning: that's how a glycolic cleanser stays gentle.