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Glow Recipe
Our favorite alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) products – plus, how to properly use them
Dermatologists explain the ingredients that don’t (and do) play nice with these exfoliants.
This serum comes highly recommended by Garshick and combines an AHA (mandelic acid) with salicylic acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). “BHAs are oil soluble and can penetrate deep into pores to unclog pores and get rid of blemishes,” she says. “Together, these ingredients help to improve skin texture and tone.” Use it at night after washing your face, says the brand.
This cleanser simultaneously washes and gently exfoliates your skin. It has salicylic, glycolic, lactic and phytic acids to support cellular turnover, according to the brand. “Of all the cleansers I tried in 2025, this one is my favorite,” says NBC Select senior editor Nikki Brown. “The ingredient list scared me a little — I was worried it would be too harsh on my skin, even if I used a rich moisturizer after. Thankfully, less than a dime-size amount sufficiently cleans my skin without causing any burning or stinging. After about a month of use, I noticed that my skin looked so much smoother and brighter.”
This serum has both glycolic and lactic acid to remove dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines, says Garshick. “I find that skin looks radiant and refreshed after use.” Some people experience slight tingling when they first start using this product — though it should dissipate after a few uses, according to the brand. Try using it every other night until your skin acclimates.
This cleansing gel combines mandelic, lactic and salicylic acids to gently exfoliate your skin, and glycerin to replenish moisture, according to Garshick. This cleanser starts out as a gel, but changes into a creamy consistency as you massage it over your face, according to the brand. Garshick recommends using it a few times a week to keep skin looking bright and smooth — if you use it more than that, you may notice irritation or redness.
These pads are intended for nighttime use after washing your face and they come in sets of two that you apply back to back. The first pad is soaked in a trifecta of AHAs — glycolic, lactic and mandelic acids — to exfoliate the skin. Massage the pad gently over your face and neck until the pad feels dry. Wait two minutes and then repeat with the second pad, which has retinol to reduce fine lines, and resveratrol and green tea extract to protect skin from free radicals, according to the brand. “I find that they improve skin’s radiance and tone and can also improve the appearance of fine lines,” says Dr. Brendan Camp, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. Each box comes with five sets of pads and you should use them every other night for the best results, according to the brand.
“I have very sensitive skin, so most exfoliating cleansers tend to irritate it or cause intense redness,” says NBC Select editor Mili Godio. “I love this SkinMedica one because it’s a gentler option and makes my skin feel super soft and smooth after I use it. I only use it once a week to avoid irritation, but haven’t seen any since I started using it months ago.” The cleanser has four different acids in it — glycolic, lactic, mandelic and citric. It also has jojoba oil to minimize irritation, according to the brand.
If your skin is on the sensitive side, consider this serum from Naturium, says Garshick. It has a blend of mandelic acid, natural fruit acids and niacinamide, which work together to exfoliate your skin without leaving skin dry, according to the brand. To use: Wash your face at night, apply the serum evenly over your entire face and then follow with a moisturizer.
When I want to experiment with a skin care ingredient for the first time, I always look to The Ordinary — they offer affordable serums and moisturizers so I can test out how an ingredient works for me without wasting a ton of money if it isn’t effective. I recently incorporated this lactic acid serum into my routine and have really liked how glowy it makes my skin. It also has hyaluronic acid to help soothe any irritation from the AHA, according to the brand. The consistency is very liquidy, so a little goes a long way.
This is another product I recently started using — and I am loving it. It contains mandelic acid to gently exfoliate and centella asiatica to smooth and hydrate, according to the brand. About three weeks after using this regularly at night, I’ve found that my skin appears a bit more plump and the texture is noticeably smoother. In addition to using it on your face, you can use it on your neck, where the skin tends to thin as you age, according to the brand.
AHAs provide benefits for various skin types. For example, because they exfoliate, AHAs can be good for those with rough texture or who have clogged pores, according to Garshik. Mature skin types may also benefit, as they can brighten a duller complexion.
As for who should proceed with caution when it comes to AHAs, those with sensitive skin should be careful, according to Cheung. Mandelic acid is one of the more gentle AHAs, so it is a good one to start with if you are more sensitive, says Camp, who also recommends checking with your dermatologist about what may work for your particular skin needs.
Before you incorporate AHA products into your beauty routine, consider your current lineup of products. Pay close attention to your ingredient list — AHAs might not play nice with retinols or physical exfoliators (like grainy scrubs), says Cheung. Here’s why: Retinol and physical exfoliators also exfoliate, so when combined with AHAs, they can be too aggressive on your complexion and cause irritation.
On the other hand, there are certain ingredients that pair really well with AHAs. Because AHAs remove dead skin cells, it’s helpful to also look for products with hydrating ingredients (like hyaluronic acid or glycerin) to add moisture back into your skin.
Finally, if you are going to use a product that contains an AHA during the day, you should know that they can lead to sun sensitivity and irritation (which is why they are often recommended for nighttime use), says Cheung. So, when using an AHA during the day, be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen no matter the season.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a contributing editor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. I have written about several skin care ingredients — including squalane and retinol. For this story, I interviewed board-certified dermatologists for their guidance on what to look for when shopping for products with AHAs.
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