Glycolic Acid Statistics: 45 Products by the Numbers (2026)
This page is a compiled, sourced reference for glycolic acid numbers: what concentrations real products actually contain, what regulators allow, and the chemistry constants behind the percentages. The product data comes from our own database of 45 verified glycolic acid products — every ingredient list checked by hand. Writers and researchers are welcome to cite any figure here; a ready-to-copy citation is at the bottom of the page.
Key Numbers at a Glance
- 1% to 70% — the concentration spread across consumer glycolic acid products: the same ingredient is sold at a 70-fold strength difference depending on format. (GAC database, n=42 disclosed, June 2026)
- 93% of glycolic acid products disclose their concentration (42 of 45) — but only a handful of brands disclose pH, which determines how much of that concentration actually works. (GAC database, June 2026)
- 10% — the median labeled concentration across all formats; by format, medians run from 4.7% (cleansers) to 30% (at-home peels). (GAC database, June 2026)
- 10% at pH 3.5+ — the CIR Expert Panel's safety ceiling for consumer products; the EU's SCCS is stricter at 4% at pH 3.8+ for leave-on products.
- 76.05 g/mol, CAS 79-14-1, pKa 3.83 — glycolic acid's chemical identity; it is the smallest alpha hydroxy acid (lactic acid: 90.08 g/mol).
- ~1.8% vs ~6.1% — the free acid actually delivered by a 10% product at pH 4.5 versus a 7% product at pH 3.0. The lower-percentage product is over three times stronger. (Henderson–Hasselbalch, pKa 3.83 — try the calculator)
- 5% ≈ 20% — in a randomized controlled trial on mild-to-moderate acne, a well-formulated 5% glycolic acid complex performed comparably to a 20% formula.
- ~40% of adults have keratosis pilaris, one of the most common conditions glycolic acid is used for.
- ~28 days — the skin's natural surface-renewal cycle, which is why visible glycolic acid results take 3–8 weeks, not days.
- 173,651 combined Amazon ratings across the products in our database with verified rating data (n=30), averaging 4.53 stars.
Concentration by Product Format: The Ladder
The single most useful pattern in the data: format determines concentration. Choosing a cleanser versus a peel pad is effectively choosing a 4× difference in strength. Compiled from the 42 products in our database that disclose concentration:
| Format | Products (n) | Disclosed range | Median | Contact type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleansers | 6 | 1.5% – 10% | 4.7% | Rinse-off |
| Body washes | 5 | 2% – 15% | 5% | Rinse-off |
| Toners | 6 | 2% – 10% | 7% | Leave-on |
| Serums | 5 | 5% – 15% | 10% | Leave-on |
| Creams & lotions | 7 | 10% – 20% | 12% | Leave-on |
| Peel pads | 5 | 5% – 35% | 20% | Timed leave-on |
| At-home peels | 7 | 1% – 70% | 30% | Timed, rinse-off |
Source: GAC product database, June 2026 (n=42 of 45 products disclosing concentration). Blends counted at their stated glycolic/AHA figure.
Two patterns worth noting. First, rinse-off formats run gentle (cleanser median 4.7%) because contact time is seconds — which is also why they're the safest entry point. Second, the counterintuitive one: creams run stronger than serums (median 12% vs 10%) — driven by body creams formulated for keratosis pilaris and rough skin, where thicker skin tolerates more acid. For what each tier actually does to your skin, see the percentage guide.
Concentration by Body Area
Skin thickness varies several-fold across the body, and tolerable concentrations vary with it. Compiled from our body & underarm guide and the product data above:
| Area | Typical range | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Face (daily use) | 2–10% | Standard consumer range; CIR ceiling is 10% at pH 3.5+ |
| Underarms | 5–7% | Thin, folded (intertriginous) skin — more reactive than the face |
| Bikini line | 5–7% | Same sensitivity class as underarms; outer area only |
| Arms & legs (KP) | 7–10% | Thicker skin; the standard KP treatment range |
| Elbows & knees | 10%+ | Thick, friction-hardened skin tolerates more |
| Feet & heels | 10–15% | Thickest skin on the body |
| Scalp | No established standard | Dedicated glycolic scalp products are rare; most scalp exfoliants use salicylic acid instead. Users who repurpose a glycolic toner typically stay at 5–7%, used cautiously |
The Disclosure Gap: Percentage Is Public, pH Is Not
Concentration disclosure is now near-universal — 42 of the 45 products we track (93%) state their percentage, because a number on the label sells. But the percentage only tells you half the story: the formula's pH determines how much of that acid is in its active, skin-penetrating "free acid" form.
And pH is where disclosure collapses. Of the brands in our database, only a few publish it: The Ordinary discloses a pH range for its 7% toner (~3.5–3.7), and Glytone goes furthest, publishing free acid values directly (its exfoliating body wash is 8.8% free acid, its body lotion 17.5%). For nearly every other product, pH is unpublished — meaning two "10%" products can differ several-fold in real strength with no way to tell from the label. The math behind this is on our free acid calculator.
Chemical Identity
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| IUPAC / common name | 2-hydroxyacetic acid (glycolic acid, hydroxyacetic acid) |
| CAS number | 79-14-1 |
| Molecular weight | 76.05 g/mol — the smallest alpha hydroxy acid |
| pKa | 3.83 |
| Closest AHA by size | Lactic acid, 90.08 g/mol (~18% larger) |
| Natural source | Sugarcane (commercial production is synthetic) |
| Healthy skin surface pH (for context) | ~4.5–5.5; glycolic formulas typically work at pH 3.0–4.0 |
The molecular size point is the practical one: at 76 g/mol, glycolic acid penetrates the stratum corneum faster and deeper than any other AHA at equal concentration — which is why a 7% glycolic product can out-exfoliate a 10% lactic acid product, and why glycolic is also the most irritating AHA per percentage point.
Regulatory & Clinical Numbers
| Authority / study | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| CIR Expert Panel (US) | ≤10% at pH ≥3.5 | Safety ceiling for consumer glycolic acid products |
| EU SCCS | ≤4% at pH ≥3.8 | Stricter EU position for consumer leave-on products |
| US FDA | Sun-sensitivity guidance | AHA use measurably increases UV sensitivity; daily SPF advised. Cosmetics are not pre-market "approved" in the US |
| Randomized controlled trial (80 patients, 2019) | 5% ≈ 20% | A well-formulated 5% glycolic complex performed comparably to 20% glycolic acid for mild-to-moderate acne |
| Professional peel range | 20–70% | In-clinic only: timed application, monitored frosting, immediate neutralization. 2–4 week intervals |
| Keratosis pilaris prevalence | ~40% of adults | One of the most common concerns glycolic acid treats; see our KP guide |
| Skin surface renewal cycle | ~28 days | Why visible results take 3–8 weeks — see the before & after timeline |
Marketplace Snapshot
Across the products in our database with verified Amazon rating data (30 of 45, snapshot June 2026): 173,651 combined customer ratings, averaging 4.53 stars, with a median of 1,500 ratings per product. The most-reviewed single product is The Ordinary's 7% Toning Solution at 46,000+ ratings — the category's de-facto default. High averages across the category say less about individual products than about the ingredient: glycolic acid at sensible concentrations reliably does what it claims.
Methodology
Product statistics are compiled from our own database of 45 glycolic acid products across 7 formats (cleansers, toners, serums, creams, body washes, peel pads, peels). Every product's ingredient list was verified by hand before inclusion — marketing copy doesn't count. Concentration figures use the brand's disclosed value; blends are counted at their stated total AHA/glycolic figure; three products that don't disclose are excluded from concentration statistics. Rating data is an Amazon snapshot and changes daily. Chemistry constants are textbook values; regulatory figures link to their primary sources above. Read more about how we research.
Citing This Page
Any figure on this page may be cited freely with attribution. Suggested format:
glycolicacidcleanser.com, "Glycolic Acid Statistics: 45 Products by the Numbers," June 2026, https://glycolicacidcleanser.com/glycolic-acid-statistics/
Catalog-derived figures (concentration ranges, medians, disclosure rates, rating totals) are original compilations and may shift slightly as the database grows; this page's "last reviewed" date above reflects the snapshot date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the strongest glycolic acid you can buy over the counter?
In our 45-product database, the strongest over-the-counter formats are 35% peel pads and 70% gel peels sold online. However, regulatory bodies draw the consumer line much lower: the CIR Expert Panel considers up to 10% (at pH 3.5+) appropriate for consumer products, and anything above 20% is professional-peel territory. Products at 30%+ are sold to consumers but carry real chemical-burn risk without professional-style timing and neutralization.
What is the maximum percentage of glycolic acid in body care?
Among body-specific products we verified, the ceiling is around 15-17.5%: a 15% KP body wash and a 17.5% free-acid-value exfoliating body lotion. Most body washes sit at 2-8.8%, and body creams at 10-17.5%. Body skin tolerates more than facial skin, but underarms and bikini area are exceptions — they need 5-7% or lower.
What percentage of glycolic acid do most products contain?
Across the 42 products in our database that disclose concentration, the median is 10%, but it varies sharply by format: cleansers cluster around 4.7%, toners around 7%, serums around 10%, creams around 12%, peel pads around 20%, and at-home peels around 30%. The format you choose effectively chooses your concentration range.
What percentage of glycolic acid should I use on my body, armpits, scalp, or feet?
By body area: underarms and bikini line 5-7% (thin, sensitive skin), arms and legs 7-10%, elbows and knees 10%+, feet and heels 10-15% (thickest skin on the body). For the scalp there is no established standard — dedicated glycolic scalp products are rare, and most scalp exfoliants use salicylic acid instead; people who do use a glycolic toner on the scalp typically use 5-7% with caution. Full breakdown in our body and underarm guide.
Do brands have to disclose glycolic acid percentage or pH?
No regulation requires either on the label. In practice, 93% of the products we track (42 of 45) voluntarily disclose concentration because it's a selling point — but pH, which matters just as much for real strength, is disclosed by only a handful of brands (The Ordinary publishes a pH range; Glytone goes further and publishes free acid values directly). For everything else, pH data comes from third-party testing or not at all.
Is glycolic acid FDA approved?
Glycolic acid is not 'FDA approved' the way drugs are — cosmetics don't go through pre-market approval in the US. The FDA has studied AHAs and issued guidance: it considers them safe in cosmetics at the concentrations consumers typically encounter, provided products carry sun-sensitivity warnings, because AHA use measurably increases UV sensitivity. The CIR Expert Panel's safety assessment (up to 10% at pH 3.5+ for consumer use) is the standard the industry follows.
What is the molecular weight and CAS number of glycolic acid?
Glycolic acid (hydroxyacetic acid) has a molecular weight of 76.05 g/mol, CAS number 79-14-1, and a pKa of 3.83. It is the smallest alpha hydroxy acid — lactic acid, the next smallest, is 90.08 g/mol. That small molecular size is why glycolic acid penetrates skin faster and deeper than other AHAs at the same concentration.