Top Glycolic Acid Brands for Glowing Skin

Glycolic acid, a powerhouse ingredient in the skincare world, has garnered attention for its effective exfoliating properties and ability to rejuvenate the skin. As consumers increasingly seek out products with this potent alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), various brands have emerged as leaders in providing high-quality glycolic acid formulations. Whether you're dealing with uneven skin texture, hyperpigmentation, or simply wish to enhance your skin’s radiance, selecting the right brand is crucial. To discover the top brands that stand out for their glycolic acid products, explore the curated list below.

Illustration of glycolic acid

Best brands of glycolic acid in 2025

The Ordinary

The Ordinary is a well-regarded brand, known for its effective skincare products, particularly their Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner, which is a water-based formula designed for nightly use; this toner contains 7% glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates the skin to improve texture and radiance. It also includes Tasmanian pepperberry to reduce irritation, along with ginseng root and aloe vera for added benefits; this product is favored for its ability to smooth the skin and improve its overall appearance with consistent use and is often praised for its affordability and effectiveness in promoting a glowing complexion.

Paula's Choice

Paula's Choice, founded in 1995 by Paula Begoun, is a skincare brand renowned for its effective formulations, particularly in glycolic acid products, which typically range from 5% to 10% in leave-on exfoliants for optimal skin renewal, often formulated at a pH between 3 and 4. Their 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant is a popular choice, known for its ability to diminish wrinkles and improve skin tone, while their 25% AHA + 2% BHA peel includes an 8.4% glycolic acid blend for more intensive resurfacing; additionally, they have a 10% AHA body lotion. The brand emphasizes using scientifically-backed ingredients and offers products suitable for various skin types, promoting smoother, more radiant skin.

Mario Badescu

Mario Badescu is a well-known brand, offering a popular Glycolic Acid Toner, formulated with 2% glycolic acid and grapefruit extract to exfoliate, brighten, and balance skin, effectively reducing the appearance of discoloration and fine lines, suitable for dry and congested skin types. This product helps in removing dead skin cells, revealing a smoother and more radiant complexion, while the addition of aloe vera soothes and hydrates the skin; this toner is best used after cleansing, with a cotton pad, in the morning and evening.

Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant is a highly regarded skincare brand, known for its effective use of glycolic acid, particularly in their T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, which contains a blend of AHAs including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids, along with salicylic acid, to exfoliate and resurface the skin; the T.L.C. Framboos serum has a pH of 3.5 and a 10% concentration of AHA/BHA to improve texture and clarity, while their T.L.C. Glycolic Body Lotion utilizes a 10% AHA blend to smooth and refine the skin and both formulas incorporate soothing plant oils and extracts. These products are formulated without fragrances, silicones, essential oils, drying alcohols, and other potential irritants, and they are also cruelty-free.

Pixi Beauty

Pixi Beauty, established in London in 1999, is a renowned international brand celebrated for its skin-loving products, particularly the award-winning Glow Tonic, which features a 5% glycolic acid concentration to gently exfoliate, brighten, and smooth the skin, along with soothing aloe vera and ginseng; this product, designed for all skin types, is alcohol-free and paraben-free, helping to reveal a healthier complexion with an instant glow.

Sunday Riley

Sunday Riley, a brand launched in 2009, is renowned for its effective skincare, particularly the Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment, which uses purified, formaldehyde-free glycolic acid at a 7% concentration, combined with soothing prickly pear extract and hydrating potassium lactate, to deeply exfoliate, brighten, and improve skin texture. It effectively targets concerns like dullness, sun damage, and fine lines and is suitable even for sensitive skin.

Murad

Murad is a leading skincare brand known for its effective use of glycolic acid, particularly in their Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum, which combines glycolic acid, typically at a concentration between 3% and 3.7%, with stabilized Vitamin C to brighten skin, exfoliate dead cells, and improve overall texture, and 91% of users reported brighter, smoother skin with more glow. Murad has been recognized as a skincare visionary for using acids in skincare, and the combination of glycolic acid and vitamin C allows for better penetration of the vitamin C, showing clinically measured 28% brighter skin at 4 weeks. This serum helps to neutralize dark spots and uneven tones, while being gentle enough for daily use, and provides a dual-chamber package that delivers a fresh dose of both components.

SkinCeuticals

SkinCeuticals is a leading brand known for its effective glycolic acid formulations, offering products like the Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight cream with a 10% free acid value, and the Glycolic Renewal Cleanser with an 8% free acid value, both designed to exfoliate and improve skin texture and radiance; their glycolic acid products also often incorporate phytic acid for enhanced clarity, and are formulated to be tolerable for regular use. The brand launched its Glycolic Renewal Cleanser in 2020, emphasizing its ability to promote cell turnover; furthermore, SkinCeuticals' Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight is clinically proven to improve skin's glow by 36%.

L'Oréal Paris

L'Oréal Paris is a leading producer of glycolic acid products, offering a range of formulations, including serums with concentrations up to 10%, like the Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Glycolic Acid serum, and other products like toners and cleansers, with some products using a 1% or 5% concentration to gently exfoliate and improve skin texture; their glycolic acid products are designed for daily use, even for sensitive skin, with some products incorporating soothing ingredients like aloe, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Their Glycolic Bright range is clinically proven to reduce dark spots and improve skin radiance, demonstrating L'Oréal's commitment to effective and safe skincare solutions. For more information, visit their official website.

Neutrogena

Neutrogena, a well-known skincare brand founded in 1930, offers a range of products, including the Hydro Boost+ Glycolic Acid Overnight Peel, formulated with 10% glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid, designed to gently exfoliate, smooth skin texture, and improve hydration overnight; this fragrance-free, paraben-free, and alcohol-free peel is dermatologist-recommended, and is not tested on animals, and is intended for daily use as part of your skin care routine for best results; additionally, the brand provides other glycolic acid products, including cleansers and toners, some of which may contain both alpha and beta hydroxy acids.