{"id":4324,"date":"2026-01-14T15:00:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T16:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=4324"},"modified":"2026-01-15T14:59:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T14:59:32","slug":"the-lesser-known-acid-skincare-experts-love-for-a-year-round-glow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/14\/the-lesser-known-acid-skincare-experts-love-for-a-year-round-glow\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lesser-Known Acid Skincare Experts Love For A Year-Round Glow"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If I were to rifle through your current\u00a0skincare lineup<\/a>,\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0bet\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0find at least one of the following:\u00a0salicylic acid<\/a>,\u00a0glycolic acid<\/a>, or\u00a0lactic acid<\/a>. Thanks to brands like\u00a0The Ordinary<\/a>, Paula\u2019s Choice,\u00a0and\u00a0Drunk Elephant<\/a>,\u00a0exfoliating acids have become staples in many routines.\u00a0(Don\u2019t\u00a0ask me to pick a favorite \u2014\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0loyal to all three.)\u00a0From unclogging pores to fading hyperpigmentation and brightening dull skin, their benefits are well documented, but\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0another\u00a0acid\u00a0quietly\u00a0vying for\u00a0your attention,\u00a0and if you have sensitive skin,\u00a0might just replace what\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0using now.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Enter:\u00a0citric\u00a0acid.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is citric acid,\u00a0and how does it work in skincare?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Mariam Abbas<\/a>, an advanced facialist,\u00a0says citric acid is\u00a0basically an\u00a0acid \u2014 specifically an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) \u2014 and it comes from citrus fruits, which is where it gets its name.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn high enough concentrations, citric acid can have an exfoliating effect on the skin,\u201d says Abbas. It encourages old or dead skin cells to shed, revealing fresh, new cells and improving the appearance of dull skin, Abbas explains. It can also help unclog pores and prevent new breakouts, but it does all of this with far less irritation: \u201cCitric acid is gentler than other alpha hydroxy acids,\u201d she says. This is because its larger molecules\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0absorbed into the skin as easily as glycolic acid\u2019s much smaller ones. \u201cAs such, it is better tolerated as an exfoliating agent by sensitive skin,\u201d says Abbas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is citric acid good for the skin?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Besides gentle exfoliation, Abbas says citric acid also has an\u00a0antioxidant effect<\/a>\u00a0on the skin, helping protect it from things like smoke and pollution that can cause dullness or congestion. Not only that, but it can also boost the effectiveness of other antioxidants like trusty\u00a0vitamin C<\/a>: \u201cIn this way, it can indirectly have a brightening effect on the skin when used in combination with actives like vitamin C,\u201d explains Abbas.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0you\u00a0might\u00a0spot it on the ingredient list of your favorite\u00a0vitamin C\u00a0moisturizer or serum<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

How do you use citric acid in a skincare routine?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Because citric acid is such a beneficial addition, it appears in a wide range of skincare products, but mostly exfoliators.\u00a0More often than not, citric acid is combined with other exfoliating acids, like glycolic or lactic acid \u2014 both of which also brighten the skin, unclog pores, and minimize hyperpigmentation. Think of citric acid as the supporting actor in your\u00a0exfoliating\u00a0cleansers, toners, leave-on exfoliators, or serums.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of our favorite\u00a0products\u00a0\u2014 and a staple in many\u00a0beauty\u00a0editors\u2019 skin, hair, and body routines \u2014 is\u00a0The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner<\/a>. While glycolic acid is the star ingredient, citric acid also smooths\u00a0rough texture, boosts\u00a0radiance, and exfoliates\u00a0skin. Top tip: It works just as well on a\u00a0flaky scalp<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0rough feet<\/a>\u00a0as it does on your face.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If leave-on toners tend to irritate your skin, consider a\u00a0wash-off\u00a0cleanser instead. Abbas recommends\u00a0Skin Better Science Refining Foam Cleanser<\/a>, which combines citric acid with gentle AHA lactic acid and BHA salicylic acid. The salicylic acid penetrates a little deeper into the pores to break up the glue-like mixture of oil and dead skin cells that can lead to breakouts. If you have less to spend, try\u00a0The\u00a0Inkey\u00a0List\u2019s Salicylic Acid Cleanser<\/a>, also with salicylic\u00a0and citric acids.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because citric acid has antioxidant benefits,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0also\u00a0spot it inside plenty of brightening serums\u00a0alongside vitamin C.\u00a0Try\u00a0Skinfix\u00a0Barrier+ Serum with 15% vitamin C<\/a>\u00a0and antioxidant ferulic acid, or\u00a0The Ordinary\u2019s Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum<\/a>, with\u00a0ascorbyl\u00a0glucoside \u2014 a version of vitamin C\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0kinder on reactive skin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Are there any downsides to using citric acid in a skincare routine?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Lastly,\u00a0Abbas notes that, like any exfoliant, citric acid can cause dryness, irritation, or sensitivity if overused or used in\u00a0very high\u00a0concentrations. She adds that\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0also sometimes added as a fragrance in skincare, which could trigger allergic reactions or irritation in those with perfume-sensitive skin. If this sounds familiar,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0always worth\u00a0patch-testing\u00a0any new skincare product before applying it to your face. Try the inner elbow, neck, or the area behind your ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Explore our top citric acid skincare picks below.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I Tried $173 Worth Of Hand Creams To Find The Best<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If I were to rifle through your current\u00a0skincare lineup,\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0bet\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0find at least one of the following:\u00a0salicylic acid,\u00a0glycolic acid, or\u00a0lactic acid. Thanks to brands like\u00a0The Ordinary, Paula\u2019s Choice,\u00a0and\u00a0Drunk Elephant,\u00a0exfoliating acids have become staples in many routines.\u00a0(Don\u2019t\u00a0ask me to pick a favorite \u2014\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0loyal to all three.)\u00a0From unclogging pores to fading hyperpigmentation and brightening dull skin, their benefits are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4324"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4324"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4327,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4324\/revisions\/4327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}