“What are the best glycolic acid exfoliants at the drugstore, Gio?”
I get this question all the time. My answer’s always the same: turn to Alpha Skincare. Their glycolic acid exfoliants are cheap, but pack a powerful punch.
They’re not called Alpha Skincare for nothing, you know – glycolic acid belongs to the Alpha Hydroxy Acids family, 😉 .
But there’s more to Alpha Skincare than glycolic acid exfoliants. Some of their products don’t contain a drop of glycolic, yet they’re still as good and effective. Who said you need to pay a small fortune to have good skin?
Not me. So here goes, the Alpha Skincare products:
About The Brand: Alpha Skincare
Founded roughly 30 years ago, Alpha Skincare is on a mission to deliver the effectiveness of professional/medical anti-aging skincare at a mass market value – and it does just that. They’ve pioneered the use of Glycolic Acid in skincare at a time when most brands shun away from this active and became a staple in the skincare routine of women who want to look their best at any age. Their products are simply solutions that work.
What Are The Best Alpha Skincare Products?
Alpha Skincare Enhanced Renewal Cream 12% Glycolic AHA ($19.99)
The AHA in the name is glycolic acid, a multitasking exfoliant that gets rid of dead skin cells, hydrates skin and boosts the production of collagen. Put another way, it makes your skin softer, your complexion brighter, and your wrinkles smaller. It’s here in a whooping 12% dose (quite big for a drugstore product!). Plus, Alpha Skincare Enhanced Renewal Cream 12% Glycolic AHA has a sprinkle of antioxidants to prevent new wrinkles from forming, too. Its lightweight texture makes it suitable for all skin types (bar sensitive – your skin can’t tolerate glycolic acid, sorry!).
Available at: Alpha Skincare and Amazon
Active ingredients: 12% Glycolic Acid + antioxidants.
Benefits: Exfoliates, brightens and helps prevent wrinkles.
Cons: 12% Glycolic Acid can dry out and irritate skin, especially if you use it too much.
Skin type: Mature and dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: The Complete Guide To Glycolic Acid: What It Is, What It Does, And Side Effects
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Alpha Skincare Intensive Renewal Serum 14% Glycolic AHA ($18.99)
If you’re a Glycolic Acid pro who wants to up her antiaging game and get rid of sun damage, the Alpha Skincare Intensive Renewal Serum 14% Glycolic AHA is the way to go. It has 14% glycolic acid, more than enough to get the job done. Plus, it’s packed with soothing agents to reduce the risk of irritations. Even so, if your skin is on the dry side, daily use may be too much for you. If that’s the case, use it on alternate nights or cut back to a couple of times a week.
Available at: Walmart
Active ingredients: 14% Glycolic Acid + antioxidants.
Benefits: Exfoliates, brightens, fades away sun damage, and helps prevent wrinkles.
Cons: 14% Glycolic Acid can dry out and irritate skin, especially if you use it too much.
Skin type: Mature and dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: The Best Skincare Products To Treat Sun Damage
Alpha Skincare Renewal Body Lotion 12% Glycolic AHA ($30.69)
We’re all used to exfoliating our faces, but if you’re anything like, body exfoliation is an after thought. Something you do when you remember to. And that’s why your body needs exfoliation possibly even more than your face. Alpha Skincare Renewal Body Lotion 12% Glycolic AHA does the job. It smoothens out rough patches, fades away sun spots, and gives your legs a soft, velvety feel. Plus, it’s super moisturising and can treat even the driest of skin types.
Available at: Walmart
Active ingredients: 12% Glycolic Acid + Petrolatum.
Benefits: Exfoliates, moisturises, and fades away dark spots.
Cons: 12% Glycolic Acid can dry out and irritate skin, especially if you use it too much.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Alpha Skincare Enhanced Wrinkle Repair Cream .15% Retinol ($34.95)
I usually don’t recommend eye creams. They’re just facial moisturisers in smaller bottles – and carry a higher price tag. But if your retinol facial serum is too strong for your eye area, then Alpha Skincare Enhanced Wrinkle Repair Cream .15% Retinol is a great option to consider. It has a small amount of retinol and antioxidants to fight wrinkles in a moisturising base that makes skin softer and smoother. Together, this dual action helps reduce the appearance of crow’s feet.
Available at: Walmart
Active ingredients: 0.15% retinol + Vitamins C and E.
Benefits: Moisturises skin and fights wrinkles.
Cons: Can irritate skin if you use it too much too often.
Skin type: All skin types bar sensitive.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Alpha Skincare Essential Renewal Lotion 10% Glycolic AHA ($35.98)
If all the other exfoliants are too much for your skin yet, opt for Alpha Skincare Essential Renewal Lotion 10% Glycolic AHA. It has a smaller concentration of Glycolic Acid, but it’s more than enough to boost collagen, smoothen the complexion and fade away dark spots. Sure, it’ll do the job more slowly. But fast isn’t always the goal in skincare. You want to get there with minimal irritation, so if this is the most your skin can take, you’re not missing out on faster results. After all, irritating means stopping exfoliation for a while – that’s the slowest route.
Available at: Walmart
Active ingredients: 10% Glycolic Acid.
Benefits: Exfoliates skin and fades away dark spots.
Cons: 10% Glycolic Acid can dry out and irritate skin, especially if you use it too much.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
What Are The Best Alpha Skincare Products For Wrinkles?
- Alpha Skincare Enhanced Renewal Cream 12% Glycolic AHA ($19.99): This moisturiser exfoliates skin, fights wrinkles, and brightens the complexion. Available at Alpha Skincare and Amazon
- Alpha Skincare Intensive Renewal Serum 14% Glycolic AHA ($18.99): This serum has the highest concentration of Glycolic Acid for those who are serious about fighting wrinkles and dark spots faster (as long as your skin can tolerate the high %). Available at Walmart
- Alpha Skincare Enhanced Wrinkle Repair Cream .15% Retinol ($34.95): A super moisturising eye cream with 0.15% retinol to reduce the look of crow’s feet. Available at Walmart
What Are The Best Alpha Skincare Products For Acne?
Alpha Skincare doesn’t make any products to treat acne. I know the internet will tell you Glycolic Acid can treat acne, but it doesn’t do the job as well as Salicylic Acid – and Alpha Skincare doesn’t have any exfoliants with it. Check out this article for my fave Salicylic Acid exfoliants.
What Are The Best Alpha Skincare Products For Dark Spots?
- Alpha Skincare Enhanced Renewal Cream 12% Glycolic AHA ($19.99): This moisturiser exfoliates skin, fights wrinkles, and brightens the complexion. Available at Alpha Skincare and Amazon
- Alpha Skincare Intensive Renewal Serum 14% Glycolic AHA ($18.99): This serum has the highest concentration of Glycolic Acid for those who are serious about fighting wrinkles and dark spots faster (as long as your skin can tolerate the high %). Available at Walmart
What Are The Best Alpha Skincare Products For Sensitive Skin?
None. All Alpha Skincare products contain either Glycolic Acid or retinol, and they’re not suitable for sensitive skin.
What Are The Pros Of Alpha Skincare?
Glycolic Acid! Most of their products contain enough of this exfoliant to fade away dark spots and boost collagen – and that’s a lot more than you can say for most Glycolic Acid exfoliants on the market. Plus, they also contain soothing and moisturising ingredients to counteract the potential drying and irritating effects of this much Glycolic Acid. If you’re looking for some great Glycolic Acid exfoliants, this is definitely a brand to consider.
What Are The Cons Of Alpha Skincare?
I have two issues with Alpha Skincare. First off, Glycolic Acid is a fantastic exfoliant – for dry and sun damaged skin. If you have blackheads or acne, you’re much better off with Salicylic Acid. So, there are millions of people who just won’t be able to use any of the brand’s exfoliants. Two: the brand’s become very hard to get in a lot of countries. Even online, so few retailers carry it. And that makes the price go up. *sighs*
Is Alpha Skincare Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Alpha Skincare is cruelty-free. They don’t test their products on animals, not even through third parties.
The Verdict
There you have it, the best Alpha Skincare products for wrinkles and dark spots. As long as your skin can tolerate high concentrations of Glycolic Acid, you’ll love the results: brighter, smoother skin that makes you look your best self at any age.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
