How do you use 8% glycolic acid?

You can use 8% glycolic acid in one of the following three types of products: in an exfoliating serum, a toner or a wash.

I have listed below how each of these product types should be used:

If using glycolic acid exfoliating serum:

Glycolic acid serums exfoliate skin better than toners and washes.

Use it in the nighttime.

Cleanse your face with a cleanser. Ensure that your cleanser does not contain exfoliating acids.
If you have makeup or sunscreen on your face, ensure it’s completely gone before the next step.

Take some in the palm of your hand and rub it gently on your face. Some prefer to take it on a cotton pad and then rub it on their face. Either method is okay.

Wait for 3 to 4 minutes.

If you have a humectant serum, like a hyaluronic acid serum, pat a few drops on your skin and wait 30 seconds to a minute. Alternatively, you can also use a niacinamide serum if you have one.

Apply a moisturiser to your face. A moisturiser with anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, oat extract, centella asiatica, and/or calendula is helpful. Glycolic acid, since it can penetrate the deeper levels of the skin, can irritate some people. Hence, using a moisturiser with anti-inflammatory ingredients will calm the skin and eliminate any irritation from glycolic acid.

You always have to use sunscreen in the morning. This becomes doubly important when you have exfoliated your skin the previous night. This becomes triply more important when exfoliating using an ingredient like glycolic acid. Since it gets to the deeper layers of the skin, glycolic acid can leave the skin a bit sensitive afterwards. Protecting it from the sun’s harmful UV rays is very important.

If using glycolic acid toner:

Use it in the nighttime.

Cleanse your face with a cleanser. If you have makeup or sunscreen on your face, ensure it’s completely gone before the next step. Ensure that your cleanser does not contain exfoliating acids.

Pat some glycolic acid toner onto your face. Gently pat it all across your face. Wait for 30 seconds to a minute before the next step.

If you have a humectant serum, like a hyaluronic acid serum, pat a few drops on your skin and wait 30 seconds to a minute. Alternatively, you can also use a niacinamide serum if you have one.

Make sure you use a sunscreen the next day.

If using glycolic acid wash:

Nighttime use is preferred.

If you have makeup or sunscreen on your face, use a gentle cleanser and remove it.

Use the glycolic acid wash to cleanse your face properly. Rub it across your face, and let the wash sit on your face for a minute.
Splash water to remove the wash.
Gently dry your face by patting a towel. Don’t rub it on your face. Gently pat it.

If you have a humectant serum, like a hyaluronic acid serum, pat a few drops on your skin and wait 30 seconds to a minute.