Glycolic acid (inci)

Glycolic acid (hydroxy acetic acid) is the simplest naturally occurring alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid (fruit acid). Glycolic acid is found in unripe grapes, in sugar cane juice, in sugar beets, in the leaves of wild wine and in rosemary. Glycolic acid can be produced synthetically. In most cases, however, the fruit acid is extracted from the sugar cane juice.

The fruit acid is widely used in the leather industry (in chrome tanning and in the dyeing of leather products). Due to its molecular size, glycolic acid is able to penetrate deep into the epidermis. It has a keratolytic effect and can smooth the skin in suitable (peeling) processes. Thus, glycolic acid is usually used in 20-70% concentration for the chemical peeling.