Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid is a cosmetic ingredient used as a buffering agent. It appears in about 3% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 1,086 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | GLYCOLIC ACID |
| Function | BUFFERING |
| CAS number | 79-14-1 |
| EC number | 201-180-5 |
| Prevalence | 2,498 products (2.69% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 1,086 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 110,000 |
Used in
Serums 16.5%Exfoliators 16.3%Toners 13.5%Face Cleansers 12.4%Facial Treatments 8.4%Wash Off Masks 5.1%
Frequently asked
- What does Glycolic Acid do in skincare?
- Glycolic Acid functions as a buffering agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Glycolic Acid allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Glycolic Acid?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (16.5% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Glycolic Acid
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.