{"id":37480,"date":"2026-10-21T11:18:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T15:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/?p=37480"},"modified":"2026-10-21T11:23:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T15:23:40","slug":"glycolic-acid-nighttime-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/glycolic-acid-nighttime-routine\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Add Glycolic Acid to Your Nighttime Routine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As someone with skin that\u2019s both dry and sensitive, I tend to stay away from harsh skincare ingredients or treatments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have friends who love getting face peels or slathering tons of exfoliators and more intense ingredients on their faces, but I typically steer clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I pride myself on typically smooth, clear skin, I’ve noticed more dullness and fine lines recently. Since I\u2019m in the process of revamping my nighttime skincare routine<\/a>, I want to make sure I\u2019m incorporating every single product I possibly can for the ultimate beauty sleep (pun most definitely intended)\u2014and I\u2019m currently extremely intrigued by glycolic acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why I turned to Hadley King<\/a>, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, for the 411 on what glycolic acid is, its benefits for the skin, and how to safely include it in an evening skincare routine.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading for everything you need to know about glycolic acid and how to safely use it while you get your Z\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is glycolic acid?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (aka an AHA) derived from sugarcane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is the smallest AHA, which allows it to penetrate the skin effectively,\u201d says King. \u201cIt works primarily by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells at the surface, helping them shed more evenly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why nighttime is the best time to use glycolic acid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While King notes that it\u2019s not imperative for someone to use glycolic acid solely at night, it’s also often the way to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt minimizes exposure to environmental factors while it\u2019s on the skin, and makes it easier to keep the morning routine focused on antioxidant protection, moisturizer, and sunscreen,\u201d she explains. \u201cFor most people, nighttime is simply the easiest and most practical time to incorporate it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, whether you use glycolic acid during your daytime or evening skincare routines, you still need to be diligent about applying sunscreen. (And, let\u2019s be honest, you should be applying that every day as it is.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because glycolic acid can make your skin \u201cmore vulnerable to damage from UV exposure,\u201d says King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top benefits of glycolic acid for your skin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, what are the exact skincare benefits of glycolic acid, anyway? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause it exfoliates and can penetrate relatively well, glycolic acid can improve both the appearance and feel of the skin,\u201d says King. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the most important benefits of glycolic acid for your skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smooths rough texture and uneven tone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGlycolic acid helps remove accumulated dead skin cells, resulting in smoother, softer skin,\u201d says King. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also advises using it consistently, which can help fade the appearance of discoloration and help skin look more even over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here\u2019s the best part: King says you don\u2019t have to restrict glycolic acid to your face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGlycolic acid is also excellent for areas like the arms, legs, and d\u00e9colletage, where there may be roughness, keratosis pilaris, or uneven texture,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unclogs pores and prevents breakouts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it (again, pun most definitely intended)\u2014clogged pores and breakouts are a nuisance and a half. Thankfully, glycolic acid helps keep both of those pesky skincare issues at bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy promoting exfoliation, glycolic acid can help prevent dead skin cells from accumulating around pores,\u201d explains King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, she also cautions against using glycolic acid as the one-and-done skincare ingredient when it comes to unclogging pores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, she points to salicylic acid, since it\u2019s oil-soluble and penetrates more deeply into the pores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But she still recommends glycolic acid for acne-prone skin, \u201cparticularly when rough texture and post-inflammatory discoloration are concerns,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boosts natural skin glow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Searching for the ingredient to give your skin a more luminous, lit-from-within glow<\/a>? Glycolic acid may just be the answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it works to remove excess surface cells, it helps light reflect more evenly, so \u201cit can give the complexion a brighter, more luminous appearance,\u201d King explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to safely add glycolic acid to your nighttime routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know a little more about what glycolic acid is, it\u2019s time to put it to work. Follow this step-by-step evening skincare routine recommended by Dr. King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: <\/strong>Cleanse with a gentle cleanser, being careful not to scrub the skin. \u201cPat the skin dry and allow it to become completely dry if you\u2019re prone to irritation,\u201d King advises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: <\/strong>Apply a thin layer of your preferred glycolic acid product. \u201cApply the glycolic toner, serum, or treatment according to the product\u2019s directions,\u201d says King. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to layer multiple glycolic products.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: <\/strong>Follow with a bland, barrier-supportive moisturizer. King suggests looking for ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, squalane, or hyaluronic acid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: <\/strong>In the morning, use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher (\u201cand every morning,\u201d King says emphatically).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hot tip:<\/strong> \u201cI generally recommend beginning with a relatively low-strength product, often around five to seven percent for a leave-on product,\u201d says King. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, begin by incorporating it into your nighttime routine<\/a> only once or twice a week, so you can be sure it doesn\u2019t irritate your skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the skin is tolerating it well after several weeks, frequency can gradually be increased,\u201d King says, though she cautions that \u201cmore is not necessarily better with exfoliating acids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common mistakes to avoid with glycolic acid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to the pitfalls of using glycolic acid, King says there\u2019s one common mistake that rises above the rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe biggest mistake is over-exfoliating,\u201d she says. \u201cPeople sometimes assume that if a little glycolic acid makes their skin smoother, using it every night or combining it with several other exfoliating products will produce even better results.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, doing this can actually produce the opposite effect, causing rougher and more irritated skin. Less is most definitely more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, King has a few other common mistakes to look out for when using glycolic acid in your evening skincare routine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Starting with too high a concentration of the product<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Using glycolic acid too frequently<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Applying glycolic acid to already irritated, sunburned, or compromised skin<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Combining it immediately with multiple potentially irritating actives\u2014think retinoids, other AHAs and BHAs, or strong acne treatments<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Neglecting moisturizer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Assuming that a tingling or burning sensation means the product is \u201cworking better\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Skipping sunscreen, which King says is \u201cespecially important when using an exfoliating acid\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • And, finally, using glycolic acid if it\u2019s not right for your skin. \u201cUsing glycolic acid simply because it\u2019s trendy when another ingredient may be better suited to the concern\u201d is something King says you should avoid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Can you use glycolic acid every night?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In short? You can<\/em>, although it\u2019s actually not necessary\u2014or, in most cases, even preferred. King cautions against using glycolic acid too often as it can actually be too harsh for your skin and cause roughness, dryness, and irritation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Instead, start by applying it only once or twice a week to see how it works with your skin type, and then you can subtly increase from there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cInitially, give the skin non-acid nights between applications,\u201d she says. \u201cOnce someone knows their skin tolerates glycolic acid well, they can determine whether they actually need to increase frequency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Should you put moisturizer on after glycolic acid?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Absolutely. Since glycolic acid works to exfoliate the skin and sweep away dead skin cells, it can also strip the skin barrier of its nutritive oils. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Be sure to apply a barrier-supporting moisturizer after your glycolic acid product, and look for ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or squalane to help nourish and hydrate the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Does glycolic acid help with dark spots?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The good news is, glycolic acid may be able to help fade dark spots, otherwise known as hyperpigmentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cGlycolic acid can accelerate the turnover of pigmented surface cells,\u201d King says. \u201cOver time, it can improve the appearance of sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    As someone with skin that\u2019s both dry and sensitive, I tend to stay away from harsh skincare ingredients or treatments. I have friends who love getting face peels or slathering tons of exfoliators and more intense ingredients on their faces, but I typically steer clear.\u00a0 While I pride myself on typically smooth, clear skin, I’ve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":37481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,390],"tags":[],"coauthors":[423],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-37480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37480"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37485,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37480\/revisions\/37485"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37480"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=37480"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=37480"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=37480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}