glycolic acid

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Glycolic acid works as an exfoliating agent because of its high acidity but easy solubility. When placed on the skin as part of an exfoliating cream or gel, glycolic acid goes under the damaged upper layers of skin and destroys the 'glue' which holds dead skin to the surface. As this dead skin is chemically burned off, the other ingredients carry the individual flakes away and a water rinse neutralizes the remaining acid. The result is a much-smoother skin surface and a more youthful appearance. A secondary benefit is glycolic acid's ability to draw moisturizers into the newly-exfoliated skin surface. Glycoli acid has numerous benefits for the skin:

• Skin texture is restored to healthy, smooth, soft and lustrous. Removes dead cell build up causing dull lifeless skin, keeps living cells tightly packed like tiles on a roof or fish scales while removing splinter cells with jagged edges causing a rough dry feeling allowing evaporation of precious moisture. Stimulates new cells especially for mature skin after the age of 28.
• It cleanes your pores (follicles); loosens the glue-like substance holding dead cells together, pore walls now fold together for a smaller, refined appearance, it’s medically impossible to reduce pore size but you can make them look smaller. Glycolic prevents dead cells from clumping to form a plug, blackhead or pimple, your natural oil should be able to flow freely from your pores carrying dead cells to the surface to be sloughed off.
• Skin tone evens in the top layer of your skin called the epidermis by sloughing old dark brown pigment. Glycolic acid will not stop your melanocytes cells responsible for your skin color from making new darker pigment but will exfoliate the old dark pigment.
• Collagen and elastin is increased in the second major layer called the dermis, production and repair slow around the age of 28, areas dip below the top of the skin from loss and thinning especially due to sun damage or facial expressions to name few forming wrinkles. Collagen gives you plump, firm skin and defect-free in our youth the surface layer is smooth and taut, with age thickness decreases and flattens, now sagging occurs. Elastin allows your skin to change shape and expand.
• Glycosaminoglycans moisture-binding ground substances are increased in the second major layer called the dermis. Their water binding action expands the dermis, plumps and smoothes away wrinkles. One of these compounds is "hyaluronic acid" binding water so tightly its appearance is gel-like. Visual aid, imagine a dry sponge, add water, the sponge will grow in volume, holding water inside and plumping the sponge.
• Scarring from acne or trauma is reduced by lowering the scar’s top ridge and raising the depth for a smooth appearance, raised hypertrophic scars flatten, and helps regenerate lost skin tissue from pimples or cysts.
• Anti-oxidant properties: glycolic acid attaches itself to free radicals in your skin rendering them harmless before then can damage good skin cells.
• Helps prevent ingrown hair in the beard. Glycolic prevents skin from growing over the follicle allowing hair to reach the surface.

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