FYI, the Secret to Baby-Soft Skin Just Might Be This $6 Bodywash
Glycolic acid is an essential skincare ingredient. It’s one of the best things you can do to reveal your most glowing, radiant skin. The powerhouse ingredient works to "gently exfoliate dead skin cells, de-clog pores, and speed up the skin's natural renewal process,” according to Mila Moursi, celebrity aesthetician.
Glycolic acid is a form of alpha hydroxy acid made from sugar cane. Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, work to build collagen and shed dead skin cells, unlike their counterpart, BHAs, which go deeper into pores to help decrease oil production. Glycolic acid is the smallest AHA, so it’s well-absorbed by the skin and used most widely in skincare products—in fact, you probably already have a glycolic acid serum to help polish your face.
Here’s the thing: Glycolic acid doesn’t need to be reserved for the skin on your face. In fact, this skincare superstar absolutely needs to find a home in your bodycare routine. By adding glycolic acid, you can have smooth, supple skin all over your body.
One of the easiest ways to start incorporating this exfoliant is through a product you’re already using every day: bodywash. Below, I’ve rounded up the best bodywashes that include glycolic acid so that you can start having touchably soft skin as soon as possible. Bonus: My favorite pick is on sale for $6 at Ulta right now, so you really can’t go wrong by trying it out for yourself.
1. Best Overall: Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap
This AHA body soap uses grapefruit and glycolic acid to help slough off dead skin cells. It also smells dreamy and can be used to help clear stubborn body acne.
Pros: Softens skin, helps acne
Cons: Some find it to be drying
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, oatmeal, grapefruit extract
Customer review: "I’ve been struggling with some body acne and decided to try this body wash. It works well, I do feel like I’m seeing a difference in my arms as well as the smoothness of my skin."
2. Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash
With 8.8% glycolic acid, this bodywash is a true heavy hitter. Once you scrub yourself with this, you'll feel like you have a brand-new layer of skin.
Pros: Helps acne, sloughs off dead skin, gentle
Cons: Some don't like the bottle
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, urea, glycerin
Customer review: "I typically have breakouts on my chest and back. Once I started using this twice a week no more breakouts! It pumps out thick but it lathers well and a couple pumps is good for the whole body. No irritation, no red skin. My skin was so smooth after using it. Love this."
3. Pixi by Petra Body Treats Glycolic Body Wash
This is one of my personal favorite options for glowing skin all over. With 5% glycolic acid, lemon extract, and sugar maple extract, this bodywash really does feel like a body treat.
Pros: Helps acne, sloughs off dead skin
Cons: Some find the consistency too thin
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lemon extract, aloe vera
Customer review: "It smells heavenly, and within a couple days I noticed a huge improvement in skin texture. Brighter, smoother and hyperpigmentation is almost gone."
4. Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash
Kosas does it again with this bodywash that smooths, evens skin, clears breakouts, and even calms sensitive skin down thanks to allantoin, a skin-soothing ingredient.
Pros: Helps acne and KP, sloughs off dead skin
Cons: Doesn't have a rich lather
Key ingredients: AHAs, fruit enzymes, allantoin
Customer review: "I’m glad that I took a chance on this because I absolutely love it. The scent is light, fresh and clean smelling. It’s not overbearing and works great with my sensitive skin. I bought it to see if it would help with the KP on my upper arms and it’s working wonders. It doesn’t lather the best but my sensitive skin is loving this formula. My late night itchy skin is gone. I couldn’t be happier and that totally justifies the cost for me."
5. Alpha Skin Care Moisturizing Body Wash
Not only does this rich-lathering body lotion have glycolic acid, but it's also infused with aloe vera and vitamin E to help soften skin.
Pros: Helps acne, softens skin
Cons: Iridescence might irritate sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, vitamin E, aloe vera
Customer review: "I love the scent and it really makes my skin feel soft, without feeling greasy. I have a tendency to be a little oily in some areas and dry in others. This works great for both! I like the way it looks. It’s a pretty color and has a beautiful iridescence to it. It lathers enough that you feel clean but not so much that you think you might have to do an extra rinse. It’s probably my favorite body wash."
6. Lancer Skincare The Method: Body Cleanse
Glycolic and salicylic acid work together in this bodywash to deliver seriously smooth results. Luckily, thanks to watermelon-seed oil, it's also hydrating, so you won't feel stripped after using it.
Pros: Helps acne, softens skin
Cons: Expensive
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, watermelon seed oil
Customer review: "I love the scent, very fresh and clean. My skin feels soft, smooth and hydrated."
7. Some by Mi 30 Days Miracle Cleansing Bar
More of a bar-soap kind of person? Try this cleansing bar to brighten and soften skin. With three types of acid—AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs—this bar soap is a true triple threat.
Pros: Helps acne, brightenss skin
Cons:
Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, PHA
Customer review: "When I have cystic breakouts along my chin , neck and jawline which is typically all the time, it usually takes about two weeks to heal and a month to fully disappear. But after using this soap just for one day, I woke up the next day with super clear skin, blemishes completely flattened and all redness almost gone! My skin tone appears even more glowy and even-toned."
8. Typology Paris Anti-Blemish Shower Gel
Clear annoying body acne with this shower gel. Six percent glycolic acid is joined by tea tree oil to help your skin look its absolute best.
Pros: Helps acne, brightens skin
Cons: Some found it a bit drying
Key ingredients: AHA, BHA, PHA
Customer review: "I absolutely love this body wash! It smells so good. It’s light and refreshing and the scent is not overpowering. It feels like a really mild body wash and never irritated my skin whatsoever. It feels luxurious in the shower."
9. Mederma AG Body Cleanser
This body cleanser is formulated to specifically target dry skin, so it helps with flakiness. Use it in the winter when your skin needs exfoliation and a boost of hydration.
Pros: Helps acne, brightens skin
Cons: Some wish it lathered more
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid
Customer review: "Have used this product as a body cleanser for approx 5 years per my dermatologist's recommendation. It leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated even before applying lotion."
10. Touch Keratosis Pilaris & Acne Exfoliating Body Wash
Anyone who struggles with keratosis pilaris knows how irritating it can be to deal with. With 15% glycolic acid, this is one of the most potent formulas on this list, so it will help dissolve bumps and even texture. It also has salicylic acid, so it banishes oil, too.
Pros: Helps acne and KP, brightens skin
Cons: Some find it drying
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid
Customer review: "I continue to use the KP soap and lotion at least once weekly. The KP is not gone, but the redness has toned way down and I can't get over how soft my skin is now. I never expected my skin to be clear enough that I would enjoy wearing shorts and sleeveless tops again, but here we are."
Other glycolic acid products we love:
A spot treatment for any pesky body acne.
Smooth on this serum before bed once a week and reveal glowing skin.
If you want a dose of moisture with your glycolic body treatment.
People swear by this exfoliating solution for clearing their acne and imparting radiance.
A toner with glycolic acid is nothing short of genius.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
-
15 Beauty Products We Initially Snubbed (But Now Can't Live Without)
The tables have turned.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I'm Making 5 Strategic Fall Beauty Swaps—Every Single Item Is on Sale (Lucky Me)
Reset and refresh.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I Want Glowing "Golden Hour" Skin 24/7, so I'm Using the Body Bronzer Every Editor Is Obsessed With
It's giving vacation skin.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
Every Beauty Editor Has This $39-or-Less Bodycare Brand on Their Roster This Summer
We can see why it went viral on TikTok.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I'm Switching to All-Natural Beauty Products This Summer—Here's My Complete List
Only the best.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
TMI, But This Exfoliating Mitt Sheds Every Last Inch of Dead Skin, and I Love It
It's inspired by ancient Mediterranean bathhouse practices.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
Alix Earle, Victoria Monét, and Issa Rae Swear By This Red Carpet Body Gloss
We're stocking up on it for summer.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I Tried Laser Hair Removal, and It's the One Treatment I Wish I'd Done Sooner
It's life-changing.
By Eleanor Vousden