In recent years, glycolic acid (hydroxyacetic acid) has become one of the most sought-after ingredients in the skincare and cosmetic industry. This powerful alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) is celebrated for its small molecular size, excellent skin penetration, and stable performance. Glycolic acid effectively improves skin texture, boosts radiance, and enhances clarity, making it a top choice in formulations targeting anti-aging, skin brightening, and acne treatment.
As the simplest and most effective AHA, glycolic acid deeply exfoliates the skin by promoting cell turnover and increasing moisture retention. These unique chemical properties contribute to its extensive use in both personal care products and industrial applications. Outside of cosmetics, glycolic acid is also vital in industrial sectors such as metal cleaning, electroplating, and surface treatment. Its strong chelating and cleaning abilities make it an indispensable compound for industrial processes.
What is Glycolic Acid (Hydroxyacetic Acid)?
Glycolic acid, also known as hydroxyacetic acid, is a small molecule organic acid with the chemical formula HOCH₂COOH. Its CAS number is 79-14-1. As the simplest alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), glycolic acid appears as a colorless, transparent crystalline substance with excellent water solubility due to its small molecular weight.
Glycolic acid is naturally derived from sources such as sugar cane, sugar beets, and grapes. Its small molecular structure allows it to penetrate deeply into the skin, making it highly effective in skincare formulations.
In skincare, glycolic acid primarily works by exfoliating dead skin cells, promoting cell renewal, and enhancing moisture retention. These effects improve skin texture, brightness, and overall clarity, making glycolic acid a popular ingredient in anti-aging, brightening, and acne care products.
This combination of physical, chemical, and natural attributes makes glycolic acid a versatile and valuable compound in both cosmetic and industrial applications.
Key Chemical Properties of Glycolic Acid
- CAS: 79-14-1
- Chemical formula: C2H4O3
- Structural formula: HOCH2COOH
- Molecular weight: 76.05 g/mol
Solubility: One of the key properties of glycolic acid is its excellent solubility. It is highly soluble in water and alcohols, making it easy to formulate into various skincare and industrial products. The molecule’s small size results in a low molecular weight, which enhances its ability to penetrate deeply into the skin.
pKa value： Glycolic acid has a pKa value of approximately 3.8, indicating its acidic strength on the lower end compared to other alpha hydroxy acids. This moderate acidity allows glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin effectively while maintaining stability and minimizing irritation when used in appropriate concentrations.
Glycolic Acid(Hydroxyacetic Acid)Benefits for Skin
Deep Moisturization
As a small-molecule AHA, glycolic acid not only exfoliates but also moisturizes. It promotes the synthesis of key natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) and hyaluronic acid, while also helping to strengthen the skin barrier and reduce water loss. This boosts hydration and plumpness, leaving skin looking more hydrated and healthy.
Brightening and Whitening
It achieves whitening through a dual mechanism: removing old pigment and inhibiting new pigmentation. On the one hand, it accelerates the exfoliation of keratinocytes containing excess melanin, rapidly improving dull skin tone. On the other hand, research has shown that glycolic acid inhibits tyrosinase activity, reducing melanin production at the source, effectively brightening the skin tone for a more even and radiant appearance.
Anti-Aging and Firming
It has a stimulating effect on the dermis. It penetrates deep into the skin, activating fibroblasts and promoting the synthesis and remodeling of collagen and elastin. Long-term use helps increase skin thickness and elasticity, effectively reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improving skin laxity, achieving anti-aging and firming effects.
Spot Reduction and Skin Tone Improvement
It is an effective treatment for various pigmentation issues, such as melasma, sun spots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Its powerful cell renewal ability accelerates the metabolism and excretion of melanin particles from the epidermis, reducing localized pigment accumulation. This reduces dark spots, age spots, and acne scars, resulting in a more even, clearer complexion.
Exfoliation and Keratin Softening
It dissolves the connections between keratinocytes, achieving gentle yet effective chemical exfoliation. This action helps remove dead skin cells, softens keratin, and improves rough skin, clogged pores, and keratosis pilaris, leaving the skin smoother and more refined, creating favorable conditions for the absorption of subsequent skincare products.
Acne and Blemish Control
Glycolic acid, as a keratinizer, effectively removes dead skin cells and excess oil that clog pores. For the treatment of acne and blackheads, it’s generally recommended to use a low concentration (2%-5%, with a maximum of 10%) in daily at-home skincare products to gently unclog pores and reduce inflammation. Higher concentrations (20%-70%) are used in cosmetic clinics and professional settings for chemical peels to deeper target lesions and can be combined with other acne treatments.
Applications of Glycolic Acid(Hydroxyacetic Acid)in Personal Care
Exfoliating and Skin Renewal Products
Glycolic acid is one of the most commonly used fruit acids in exfoliating products such as toners, chemical peels, and masks. Its small molecular weight allows it to penetrate the skin deeply and gently dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells in the stratum corneum, promoting skin cell turnover. This exfoliation helps improve rough and dull skin texture by accelerating the shedding of dead cells and encouraging new skin growth.
Moisturizing and Hydrating Formulas
When used in lower concentrations or at higher pH values, glycolic acid primarily serves as a moisturizer. It stimulates the production of natural moisturizing factors (NMF) in the skin, enhancing the skin barrier and improving its ability to retain moisture. As a result, glycolic acid is often included in hydrating lotions and repair serums to provide enhanced skin hydration and softness.
Whitening and Brightening Creams
Glycolic acid contributes to skin brightening by accelerating the removal of dead skin cells and promoting the metabolism of melanin. It inhibits tyrosinase activity, an enzyme critical for melanin production, thus reducing pigmentation and dark spots. This makes glycolic acid a valuable ingredient in whitening serums, spot-correcting creams, and brightening masks aimed at achieving a more even and luminous skin tone.
Anti-Aging and Firming Products
By stimulating the synthesis of collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis, glycolic acid helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This action improves skin firmness and elasticity. Therefore, it is widely formulated in anti-aging serums, firming creams, and rejuvenating skincare treatments.
Acne and Pore-Clearing Solutions
Low-concentration glycolic acid products (2–5%) are effective in treating mild acne by exfoliating pores, removing sebum plugs, and reducing inflammation. This helps clear blackheads and whiteheads and prevents new acne formation. In dermatology clinics, glycolic acid may be combined with other active ingredients to treat moderate acne.
Professional Chemical Peeling Treatments
In medical and professional beauty clinics, glycolic acid concentrations can range from 20% to 70% for chemical peeling treatments. These high-strength formulations are used to treat severe skin conditions such as aging signs, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. Such treatments should only be performed by trained professionals due to the potency and potential risks involved.
Industrial Applications of Glycolic Acid(Hydroxyacetic Acid)
Industrial Cleaning Agents
Glycolic acid is commonly used as a powerful cleaning agent for industrial equipment like air conditioners, boilers, heat exchangers, and pipelines. Typically utilized in approximately 70% solutions or combined with formic acid, it effectively removes oxide scales, rust, calcium, magnesium, and other mineral deposits. Its mild corrosiveness makes it safe for sensitive metals like stainless steel, avoiding damage common with stronger acids. The biodegradability of glycolic acid also provides an environmentally friendly advantage in industrial wastewater treatment.
Electroplating and Metal Treatment
In electroplating, it functions as a chemical complexing agent, particularly in electroless nickel plating. It helps enhance the smoothness and corrosion resistance of metal surfaces. Glycolic acid’s acid-alcohol dual functionality makes it beneficial in cleaning, polishing, and finishing metals such as copper, aluminum, and stainless steel in industrial processes.
Bactericide and Flotation Inhibitor
It inhibits the growth of iron-oxidizing bacteria that cause corrosion and fouling in water systems. It is also used as a mineral flotation inhibitor in mining industries, helping to separate ores by preventing unwanted mineral attachment during the flotation process.
Textiles and Leather Tanning
In textile processing, glycolic acid assists in dyeing and finishing by improving dye penetration and fabric texture. In leather production, it acts as a tanning accelerator and softener, improving leather quality, suppleness, and durability.
Market Outlook and Future Trends
Growing Demand in Cosmetics and Skincare
The skincare and cosmetics industry remains the primary driver for glycolic acid demand. Its effectiveness in anti-aging, exfoliation, skin brightening, and acne treatment has positioned glycolic acid as a key ingredient in a wide range of products, including chemical peels, creams, serums, and masks. Increasing consumer awareness of scientifically proven skin benefits, combined with trends favoring natural and sustainable ingredients, further bolsters market growth.
Industrial Sector Applications
Beyond cosmetics, glycolic acid’s versatility in industrial cleaning, electroplating, textile processing, and leather tanning continues to expand its demand in non-cosmetic applications. Its biodegradability and relatively low toxicity compared to other acids make it attractive for environmentally sensitive industrial uses.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Production
Sustainable production methods are emerging as a critical trend influencing the glycolic acid market. There is a growing shift toward bio-based glycolic acid derived from renewable feedstocks such as sugarcane and corn. Advances in biotechnology and fermentation processes are improving yields and cost-efficiency, enabling manufacturers to meet increasing regulatory and consumer pressure for environmentally responsible products. This bio-based glycolic acid segment is expected to gain substantial market share alongside traditional petrochemical-based production.
Future Prospects
The combination of rising global demand, especially in emerging markets, technological innovations in sustainable manufacturing, and expanding applications across personal care and industry positions glycolic acid for long-term market expansion. Continued investment in green chemistry and product diversification will further strengthen its market presence.
Where to Buy Glycolic Acid（CAS 79-14-1） in Bulk
Runtai Chemical has over 15 years of experience in glycolic acid production and export, and has accumulated rich professional technology and market resources to ensure stable product quality and meet the diverse needs of customers.
The company strictly controls the production process, and the product has high purity and low impurity content, ensuring that the quality of glycolic acid meets or exceeds industrial and cosmetic grade standards, providing customers with reliable raw material guarantees.
Runtai Chemical supplies both industrial-grade and cosmetic-grade glycolic acid, covering a wide range of applications, meeting the needs of customers in multiple industries such as chemicals and personal care, and providing flexible product options.
To facilitate customer testing and trial, Runtai Chemical provides free sample services and supports customized packaging specifications according to customer needs to enhance customer purchasing experience and service satisfaction.
Conclusion
Glycolic acid(CAS 79-14-1) is a scientifically proven, multifunctional ingredient valued both in skincare and industrial fields. Its unique ability to deeply exfoliate, brighten, hydrate, and promote collagen production makes it a cornerstone in personal care products addressing aging, pigmentation, and acne. Industrially, its versatility extends to cleaning, metal treatment, and textile processing.
