My mentor told me to stop using glycolic acid on oily skin, and she was right

When I first started my own little studio in Austin, I was using a 10% glycolic acid toner on almost every client with oily or acne-prone skin. My old boss from the spa I used to work at told me flat out, 'You're going to dry them out and make it worse.' I didn't listen for months, thinking the exfoliation was key. After about six weeks, I had three regulars come back with angry, tight, flaky patches right in their oily zones. I switched them to a mandelic acid serum instead, and within two treatments, their skin calmed down and the oil production actually balanced. It was a humbling lesson in not using a one-size-fits-all approach. Has anyone else had a similar wake-up call with acid choices?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenniferh471mo ago

Disagree completely with that advice. Glycolic acid works fine if you use it right and don't overdo it. The problem was probably the strength or how often it was used, not the acid itself.

rileycooper1mo ago

Read somewhere it can mess with your skin's natural barrier.

angela_king3924d ago

Oh wow, I actually read the same thing! Some dermatologist said it can strip your skin if you use it too much. You really have to be careful with the stronger stuff.