The pursuit of beautiful skin has been deeply rooted in human culture. And while skincare acids have been used for decades, they’ve surged in popularity in recent years.
You see them advertised on products in stores and across the internet. Glycolic acid. Lactic acid. Hyaluronic acid. Salicylic acid. Even though they all have one word in common, they all serve different purposes in skincare regimens. Acids like glycolic and lactic acid are used for exfoliation, azelaic acid is known for fighting inflammation, and salicylic acid for treating acne-prone skin.
With so many acids to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decipher what should be included in a skincare routine — no one wants to end up in a Samantha Jones situation.
Check out the video above to learn more about the acids used in skincare, and what they can or cannot do for you.
You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on YouTube. Subscribe for the latest.
Will you support Vox’s explanatory journalism?
Most news outlets make their money through advertising or subscriptions. But when it comes to what we’re trying to do at Vox, there are a couple of big issues with relying on ads and subscriptions to keep the lights on:
First, advertising dollars go up and down with the economy. We often only know a few months out what our advertising revenue will be, which makes it hard to plan ahead.
Second, we’re not in the subscriptions business. Vox is here to help everyone understand the complex issues shaping the world — not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. We believe that’s an important part of building a more equal society. And we can’t do that if we have a paywall.
So even though advertising is still our biggest source of revenue, we also seek grants and reader support. (And no matter how our work is funded, we have strict guidelines on editorial independence.)
If you also believe that everyone deserves access to trusted high-quality information, will you make a gift to Vox today? Any amount helps.
Yes, I'll give $5/month
Yes, I'll give $5/month
We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and
Google Pay. You can also contribute via
