In recent years, glycolic acid has become very popular in the skincare and beauty industry, mainly due to its small molecular weight, intense penetration, and stable absorption, which makes its effect very good.
Currently, it is most commonly used in skincare products to achieve the effects of moisturizing, nourishing the skin, and promoting epidermal renewal. It can effectively penetrate the pores of the skin and solve problems such as skin aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and acne quickly.
Whiat is glycolic acid?
Glycolic acid is a small molecule of hydroxy acid containing one hydroxyl group and one carboxyl group. Cas79-14-1， The chemical formula is HOCH2COOH. At room temperature, the ordinary glycolic acid is a colorless, odorless, translucent crystalline solid. And 70% of it is a light yellow liquid. Easy to dissolve in organic solvents such as water, methanol, ethanol, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate, slightly soluble in ether, and insoluble in hydrocarbon solvents.
What does glycolic acid do? What is glycolic acid used？
Glycolic Acid in Skin Care Products
- Moisturize
The mechanism of action of glycolic acid is to reduce the adhesion of keratinocytes by interfering with the binding force on the cell surface, accelerate the shedding and renewal of epidermal cells, and stimulate collagen synthesis in the dermis, enhancing moisturizing function. The hydroxyl groups in glycolic acid have strong water absorption ability, and the substance can promote the generation of natural moisturizing factors after penetrating the dermis, thus being able to moisturize.
- skin whitening
Glycolic acid can reduce the adhesion between skin cells, accelerate the shedding of the epidermal stratum corneum, promote the metabolic degradation of melanin in the epidermis, and increase the rate of epidermal cell metabolism. Therefore, it can improve rough and dull skin, excessive pigmentation, and make the skin white.
Studies have shown that in vitro experiments found that glycolic acid inhibits melanin formation by directly suppressing tyrosinase activity in mouse melanoma cells. Therefore, hydroxyacetic acid can not only accelerate epidermal metabolism but also directly inhibit melanin formation in melanocytes, reducing skin pigmentation.
- Skin firming:
Glycolic acid has a relatively small molecular weight and penetrates the skin to a high extent. After entering the skin, it can stimulate cell vitality, promote the synthesis of elastic fibers and collagen in the dermis, help improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and make the skin more firm and elastic.
- Spot lightening:
Glycolic acid is a raw material for synthesizing anti-aging and whitening cosmetics, with high skin affinity. After penetrating the pores of the skin, it can accelerate the metabolism of pigment cells, inhibit the formation of melanocytes, and have the effect of lightening spots, giving the skin a healthy glow.
- Softening keratin:
Glycolic acid acts on the surface of the skin, reducing adhesion between keratinocytes and reducing keratin accumulation through steroid sulfate esterase and serine protease, promoting the shedding of excessive keratinized cells, softening keratin plugs in pores, and correcting abnormal keratinization of hair follicle epithelium.
- Promote skin metabolism
Glycolic acid reduces the adhesion between keratinocytes, promotes the shedding of dead epidermal cells, and accelerates the process of skin renewal. This not only improves skin texture and color but also helps to fade fine lines and acne scars.
- Acne treatment
The lowest concentration of 2% glycolic acid can reduce the adhesion of hair follicle opening keratinocytes and improve mild acne, such as acne, closed mouth, and blackheads. When the concentration is 5-20%, glycolic acid can act on the entire stratum corneum, relax the epidermis, stimulate nuclear mitosis of keratinocytes, and accelerate the metabolism of the epidermis; Meanwhile, due to the difficulty of survival of Propionibacterium acnes in acidic environments, this can be applied to moderate to mild acne and combined with other treatments for severe acne.
Industrial cleaning agents
70% glycolic acid solution is commonly used for industrial cleaning, which is currently the main application scenario of ethanol acid. A mixture of 2% ethanol acid and 1% formic acid is an efficient and low-cost cleaning agent, which can be used as a cleaning agent for air conditioners, boilers, heat exchangers, etc.
Electroplating surface treatment solution
Glycolic acid can also be used as a green chemical raw material for electroplating grinding, metal pickling, leather dyeing, and tanning agents. When used as a complexing agent for electroless nickel plating, it has the advantages of corrosion resistance, fast reaction, and good smoothness, making it the best raw material for improving the quality of electroless nickel plating.
Bactericide
Glycolic acid has both hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, which can form hydrophilic chelates with metal cations through coordination bonds. Therefore, it has a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of iron oxidizing bacteria and can be used as a fungicide. It can also be used as an inhibitor in various ore flotation processes.
Conclusion
As an important chemical raw material and additive, it has broad application prospects and market demand. Its unique physical and chemical properties make it outstanding in multiple fields. During production and use, attention should be paid to safety and environmental protection to ensure its sustainable development.
Note
The pH range in which glycolic acid is effective is mainly influenced by its chemical properties and applications. The pKa of hydroxyacetic acid is 3.8.
When the pH of the product system is less than or equal to its pKa, glycolic acid has the effect of promoting exfoliation and cell renewal. Hydroxyacetic acid can act on epidermal cells, disrupting the aggregation force between keratinocytes and promoting skin metabolism.
However, when the pH is high, hydroxyacetic acid will be neutralized to form a salt, which mainly functions as a moisturizing agent, and the exfoliating effect will be weakened. The effectiveness of hydroxyacetic acid in skincare products is influenced by concentration and pH value.
For safety reasons, the concentration of hydroxyacetic acid in skincare products is generally below 5% and the pH value is above 3. If the concentration of glycolic acid is too high or the pH value is too low, it may irritate the skin and cause allergies, which are related to the individual’s skin tolerance.
Therefore, the effectiveness of hydroxyacetic acid products that can still be effective after increasing the pH may be limited. When the pH value exceeds the pKa value of glycolic acid, its effect on promoting exfoliation will weaken, and instead, moisturizing will be the main focus.
Where can you get Glycolic acid in bulk?
Runtai Chemical is a professional and reliable China manufacturer of glycolic acid with higher purity and lower price for 15 years. If you are interested in our glycolic acid, feel free to contact us for free samples!
