What is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution?

A leave-on toning solution with 7% glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that exfoliates the skin's surface to smooth texture and improve tone, meant for use a few times a week.

Is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution worth it?

The gurus are split. 21 of the 28 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 5 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 73%.

What is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution holds a Guru Score of 73%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 28 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution best for?

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is generally suited to oily skin, combination skin, normal skin and acne-prone skin.

What is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is good for dark spots and post-acne marks (5 experts), rough or uneven texture (5 experts), dandruff and flaky scalp (4 experts), clogged or visible pores (2 experts), dull skin (2 experts) and keratosis pilaris (bumpy arms) (2 experts).

Is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution good for dark spots and post-acne marks?

5 experts who reviewed The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution say it is. Mad About Skin put it this way: “It can fade hyperpigmentation.”

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution: Guru Score 73%

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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Dr. Aleksandra Brown

153k subs

~Yay

"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% exfoliating toner is probably the best known budget friendly option. It's a really simple liquid toner and it's also incredibly versatile because you can use it on the body, you can use it on your scalp."

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"This is one of my favorite affordable ways to address [...] cell turnover directly. Glycolic acid is one of the most effective AHAs for that. It has a really small molecular size, which means it's going to penetrate a little bit deeper. 7% is strong enough to deliver results without being overly aggressive. The Ordinary formula buffers the glycolic acid with that Tasmanian pepper berry derivative to reduce irritation and includes ginseng root and aloe vera for soothing support."

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"My favorite product here in this category is definitely The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%. It helps loosen that keratin buildup that contributes to keratosis pilaris. Also helps improve rough texture by increasing cell turnover. It's a super lightweight formula. I like to apply it to clean skin initially and then moisturizer on top. And you can apply it to your back, your arms, your legs really. You can even use it for stinky feet and you can use it on your face to help increase exfoliation."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is probably one of my most recommended skincare ingredients to date because it has so many different uses. It penetrates the skin for enhanced absorption of active ingredients in your routine. It can help fade discoloration, even out skin tone, even refine pores over time. [...] I have showed the use of this product in things like dry feet, KP on the arms, on the scalp, body acne."

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"I would probably recommend the Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%. This is such a versatile product. It can help improve brittle nail or that rough nail texture when you're applying on the nail plate. When used on the nail, it can help smooth the surface irregularities, exfoliate gently that top layer of the dead keratin, which will in turn help increase penetration of your hydrating moisturizers. I wouldn't recommend this every day."

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"My recommendation here is probably the glycolic acid from The Ordinary. It's 7% toning solution. I consider this one to be middle of the road. It's glycolic acid, which is kind of like medium potency alpha hydroxy acid, stronger exfoliation than lactic acid. So it's good for more texture concern, but it's not super strong like salicylic acid leave on that's going to irritate more sensitive skin."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% can be used periodically, maybe once a month, for scalp exfoliation. Using it [...] periodically before you shampoo your hair will help eliminate any buildup you have on your scalp."

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"This one's so gentle, easy to use. It prepares the skin for enhanced absorption of active ingredients in your routine. It's ideal for alternating between retinoids. [...] The AHAs will help increase cell turnover, so that will help fade discoloration, even out the skin tone, and refine pores over time. This one is not just for your face. You can use it for your dry feet, apply it right after shower and apply moisturizer on top. I love it [...] for KP on the arms. I love it for scalp."

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"You can put this Ordinary anywhere you want to, just about on your body, like face, neck, chest, rough elbows, knees, feet, you name it. It fixes KP. If you don't have one of these in your home, just go ahead and get it. [...] I like the glycolic from The Ordinary for the winter because it's a little bit more gentle. If you're beginner to exfoliating acids, always spot treat first before you apply it to a big area. In the summertime, I tend to bump it up a little bit."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution removes dead skin cells. It will help brighten the complexion. It has so many uses: face, KP, dry feet, scalp exfoliation, you name it. This is very budget friendly and really effective. The key ingredient is the glycolic acid 7%. It also has aloe vera and ginseng."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution goes in place of the toner, so on an exfoliating night I use my exfoliating agent first then do my toner. [...] It prepares the skin for enhanced absorption of active ingredients in your routine. It's ideal for alternating with retinoids on non-retinoid nights to balance the exfoliation and skin renewal. It will help fade discoloration, even out skin tone, and refine pores over time."

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"Glycolic acid does an excellent job at exfoliating dead skin cells, unclogging hair follicles, smoothing rough texture. It also improves overall skin clarity and helps fade some of the redness from KP over time. If you maintain it, use it consistently, it works really well for stubborn KP on the arms, thighs, and buttocks. The key ingredient here is the glycolic acid and then Tasmanian pepper berry derivative, ginger root, and aloe vera."

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"I like The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%. It's strong enough to get the job done, yet mild enough not to irritate my skin. This is perfect for face, neck, chest, arms, really the whole body. It works by removing dead layer of skin cells, helping brighten complexion, and can be used anywhere really on the body. It's really budget friendly. You can get a giant bottle for like 10, 11 bucks."

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"This prepares the skin for enhanced absorption of active ingredients in your routine. It's really ideal for alternating with retinoids on non-retinoid nights to balance the exfoliation and skin renewal. It will help fade discoloration, even out skin tone, and refine pores over time. [...] I use it on my face, neck, and chest as an anti-aging product, probably once a week. I use it on the back of my hands for anti-aging."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is a perfect example if you want to just start somewhere and pick an exfoliating acid. [...] You can even use different contact therapy with this one. [...] You can apply it just for a couple minutes even though the instructions say to leave it on overnight. You can apply it for 2 to 3 minutes, leave it on, rinse off. If it doesn't burn your skin, that's a really good way to introduce a glycolic acid."

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"This is a little bit stronger than lactic acid, so it's better for more severe texture concerns. You can just put on a cotton pad after cleansing and use it maybe a couple times a week. It is like a completely runny essence. [...] So you really want to apply it to clean, completely dry skin. It does contain aloe and gins that will help calm down and energize the skin."

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"Glycolic acid, and this is the GOAT, glycolic acid from The Ordinary, is really nice. Applying this at bedtime will also help exfoliate the top layer of the skin. Now be cautious if you have rosacea or sensitive skin, it may cause some irritation, so you can apply to a small patch on the jawline and just test it one night and see how you do with it before you apply it to your entire face."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. This is super affordable, effective, super versatile as well."

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"If I want to do something a little bit stronger than this in the summer months, especially once or twice a week, I will use a glycolic acid from The Ordinary. This is like super runny. You cannot have toner under this. This just goes on clean skin directly."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution retails for about $13 for 8 ounces, a pretty big bottle that lasts a long time. I [...] really think there's no other $13 product that does this many things for this many people. It's an alpha hydroxy acid that loosens the bonds between dead skin cells and the surface so they shed more efficiently, and with consistent use it smooths rough texture, brightens dull skin, improves skin tone, and can help with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation."

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Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

~Nay

"One of my patients with melasma tried an over-the-counter high percentage glycolic acid. When The Ordinary came out with their 7% glycolic acid, I'm sure many of you have seen the burns and the horror stories that happened. She then went on to get IPL, which triggered more pigmentation, so that product was part of what made her situation worse."

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"However, 7% is quite high for skin of color and for glycolic acid specifically, I would recommend 5% or less. I just wouldn't recommend this particular product for pigmentation. [...] Even 1% reactions is too high when you're talking about hundreds of thousands of people. I would say no to this particular product. If you find a glycolic acid at 5% or less, I'm more likely to say yes. But there honestly are better exfoliators for skin of color than glycolic acid."

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"There's nothing really to penetrate to help calm down the hyperactive melanin. So yes, you will get some temporary brightening with any form of exfoliation, but it is temporary. The other thing is glycolic acid is my least favorite exfoliation out of all the acids because it can burn skin of color, lead to hot spots and hyperpigmentation just because the molecular weight is so small. For us, please go for lactic acid or mandelic acid."

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"On black skin, it can accelerate water loss and it can also trigger pigmentation through hot spots, because glycolic acid is a tiny molecule, it flies through the skin and then can burn the skin. That tends to happen worse on the underarms, so even though you're using glycolic acid under the arms to try and reduce the darkness, you can actually make the situation worse because of increased heat in the underarms. [...] It's one to avoid."

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April Basi

72k subs

~Yay

"For KP specifically, [...] chemical exfoliation is fundamentally more effective than physically scrubbing, because KP is caused by a buildup of keratin around hair follicles and glycolic acid dissolves that buildup. I apply it [...] to dry skin after showering, let it absorb, and don't rinse [...] it off. I honestly can't say enough good things about the Ordinary Glycolic Acid. It has made such a huge difference in my overall skin."

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"I use an exfoliant from The Ordinary, if you can tolerate it, it's not for everyone. It has 7% glycolic acid, which is [...] a pretty high dosage for an AHA, but it'll really help slough off all those dead skin cells and help prepare your skin for the rest of your products."

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"I love The Ordinary Glycolic Toning Solution for dry skin."

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"My skin felt like it was on fire in multiple places, instant regret after using it. [...] I really wanted to love it but my skin was just not having it. If your skin can handle it, I think you should go for it, but my skin is more on the sensitive side [...] so it's just not going to happen for me. If you do decide to use it, make sure you're using sunscreen because this product will make your skin very sensitive to the sun and it will cause sun damage."

The Budget Dermatologist

725k subs

~Yay

"This is 7% glycolic acid, so it's a little bit stronger. I would say start with 3.5% before you go crazy leveling up, 5% or greater I consider more intermediate to advanced users. It's such a viral product, I love this one. [...] You can actually use glycolic acid beyond just your face, [...] on the body, and even on the scalp, where it can decrease flaky scalp."

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"Once a week in your routine I just take a little bit of this put it on a cotton round and then a quick swipe over the entire skin surface very gently. [...] I cannot stress enough to be gentle with the actual application of this you're not scrubbing you're not using this as like a buff pad to scrub that skin layer off you're going to let the acid do its job and just very gently a gentle swipe over the skin."

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"The Ordinary is another amazing brand to consider. They have the holy grail glycolic acid 7% toner also for under $10."

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"This one by The Ordinary has 7% in it, it's a very good Holy Grail budget product. [...] You can also use it in your nighttime routine if you wish. My warning here is that if you are using a topical vitamin A product like a retinoid for example, you do not want to pair these together that will greatly increase your chance of irritation from those two products being paired, so if you want to use it at night use it on nights you are taking a break from your retinoid."

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"I love this one by The Ordinary. [...] This one by The Ordinary is under $10. It's 7% glycolic acid, which is really great strength. You can also use this on your face. There's a lot of uses for this. It's a viral skincare product and yes, it is really that good. It can also brighten your skin complexion. So, this is the one that I use as a toner on the rough and bumpy skin."

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"If you want to try a leave on product I really love the glycolic toning solution by The Ordinary. It is also under $10 right now, I think you can get it for $8.70, which is an amazing price for a skincare product. It has 7% glycolic acid in it. It's really nice to apply to the skin at least once a week."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is the most affordable option and you get a large quantity for this price. The ingredient list is a little complex for the purpose of this product, so that is the one downside to me. To use this you will apply a few drops onto a cotton round and then apply it to the face."

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"Let's talk about one of the most affordable topical acid products by The Ordinary, the Glycolic Acid 7 percent Toning Solution. This is great to rebalance the pH of your skin. I like this one because it gives a really reasonable amount of glycolic acid for only ten dollars for this whole bottle."

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"The Ordinary toning solution contains seven percent glycolic acid. The Ordinary is a great skincare brand because they really focus on the active ingredients, often telling us the exact percentage of that ingredient, and they are always affordable so it is easy to try new products with this brand and find what agrees with your skin without breaking the bank."

Dimma Umeh

544k subs

~Yay

"I personally love the one from The Ordinary, their 7% glycolic acid, their exfoliating toner. When I initially started using this product, I would use it as a toner for my face to get rid of like dead skin cells. But this product is such a powerhouse, guys. And I don't think that I'll stop recommending it anytime soon. So I use this on my face sometimes and I remember like I told you guys already that I had bumps on my chest. I used this product and it got rid of all those bumps."

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"I like this glycolic acid because at least one it explicitly states just how much glycolic acid you actually get in this toner. Sometimes AHA serums don't tell you how much AHA you have in the toner. With this one it's just clear, they make it clear that it's 7%. [...] I use this two to three times a week on my face. After I wipe my face, I like to take this and I run it all over my chest. It's actually working."

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"This is the Ordinary's glycolic acid. I think this has 7% glycolic acid in it. And together with retinol, these two things have gotten rid of the texture for me. I hardly ever get closed comedones anymore."

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Dr. Daniel Sugai

723k subs

~Yay

"I always want to show you this texture here. Very lightweight and makes your skin so smooth afterwards. No fragrance, fast absorbing, and not irritating so far. Do this in the morning and I only do about three times a week. I treat it like a leave-on exfoliant."

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"It's different from a leave-on product like say The Ordinary's glycolic toner, that's different. You don't want to put that on and then follow up with your retinoid. You're going to run into trouble."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid has been all over the Internet and this trend makes me uncomfortable because I see a lot of patients trying to put different things in their armpit that is actually meant for the face. We shouldn't be putting glycolic acid in the delicate skin of the armpits, or what we call the axilla. The axillary skin is very different from the face. [...] When I see videos where beauty influencers even dermatologists recommend glycolic acid for the armpits, I'm always cringing."

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"I do criticize the ordinary at times for not being the most gentle and it can irritate people's skins, but I actually like their glycolic acid solution. That toner is really nice and I've used it on my face and it actually has helped clear out the pores on my nose after a day of congesting them. I like that one."

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"With your glycolic acids, if you're using an exfoliant every day, that's a problem. You're not supposed to be exfoliating every day. I always say one to three times a week max for exfoliating. [...] A lot of you are exfoliating very frequently, and we're not meant to be exfoliating with [...] these chemical exfoliants so often. If you have an irritated face, use your cicaplast balm B5 and then just stick to one to three times a week of a chemical leave-on exfoliant."

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"I've had patients who came in because they were trying to mix like The Ordinary's glycolic acid with their retinoid and they were getting just terrible irritation."

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"I use the ordinary glycolic acid about two to three times a week to get rid of dark spots as well and then also to get rid of odor. I know this is a real concern, but I am very very concerned by putting an exfoliant, a leave-on exfoliant on such a delicate area. The axillary skin is very different from our facial skin. And so when the ordinary has come out with the glycolic acid toner that's meant for the face the armpit we have this fold here in dermatology we call that under occlusion."

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"The glycolic acid toner by The Ordinary, I actually use that every once in a while because it's gone viral and I actually like that product. If you wanted to use that [...] to help further work on your pores, that's fine to do, but I wouldn't say to do that every day and I would not do the leave-on exfoliant the same day as a retinoid."

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"The glycolic acid toner is actually pretty good. It's very nice and gentle exfoliating toner that some creators are recommending for the scalp for exfoliation or armpits. I have concerns with the armpit area. The armpit area or the axilla, that skin is very delicate and more fragile than the facial skin. And so if you apply your glycolic acid toner there to work on hyperpigmentation, which is very normal, guys, and skin of color especially, you can have darkened skin there."

Kelly Driscoll

91k subs

~Yay

"I was using the Ordinary 7% glycolic acid liquid, very affordable, big bottle, great for body application. I [...] had been using it for a while, liking the results of that one. And then this one came along and I was like, okay, 7% glycolic acid, that actually is exactly what I'm using right now and it's working perfectly for me. So it's a nice switch over to this one. I [...] love the packaging, loved the application. This does have that pretty characteristic [...] glycolic acid smell."

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"It seems non-impressive, just basic, but there's really something special about this. [...] I'm giving this a 10 out of 10. The [...] glycolic acid at 7% is not a lot but it's not a little either, I feel like it's a real sweet spot with glycolic acid. It's enough to give you a good robust result without breaking your skin barrier. I really like the multi-use of this too. It's a giant bottle you could use this for body care and it doesn't break the bank."

Mad About Skin

734k subs

~Nay

"That's going to be quite intense for a lot of people. If you have a resilient skin type, then you could go for The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%. This would be a good option, but a lot of people can't actually tolerate that daily, which is when you have to use it in order to get the best results for pro collagen benefits. So, I personally would stick to using acids as exfoliators, not as collagen boosters."

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"Looking at The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, at one point this was called The Daily Toning Solution, which implied that you need to use it every single day. That was never a good idea. I think brands like The Ordinary have realized that and actually changed their packaging to encourage people to use it less frequently to make sure that they're getting the best results from the product."

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"I would never use this on the face it's too strong but I put a little bit on the arms every single day and I find honestly it's the best deodorant around. This actually reduces the pH of the underarm to a more acidic pH which means that any bacteria which could be causing a lack of freshness during the day can't multiply and so actually it's a super effective deodorant. Also really helps if you've got any discoloration under the arms this will exfoliate it away."

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"I used to use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and it worked really well, but because it's so high potency, once a week with this is honestly all you need. If you're exfoliating twice a week, I recommend this."

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"I use it under the arms. This is the best deodorant you're going to find and it actually reduces the pH of the skin under the arms, which means that potentially unpleasant scent causing bacteria can't multiply and so it'll just keep you fresh all day long. It's also great for exfoliating the underarm, so if you're someone that has some underarm discoloration, this will really help. I put a little of this just on my pan, pop it under after the shower every morning, fresh all day long."

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"I was just using it too frequently. I've now learned that when it comes to exfoliation, a couple of times a week is all you need. [...] This is the kind of product you want to use a couple of times a week and it's really really good now. I don't use this on my face, I use this on the scalp where a couple of times a week it helps to just remove any flakes, remove any product buildup, refresh the scalp. Works so well."

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"This is phenomenal because it lowers the pH of the skin, which means that offensive scent-causing bacteria can't multiply under the arms, so nothing smells fresh all day long. It works so well, and if you get any underarm discoloration, this is also great because it'll just even that out."

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"I think this is too high strength for the face, [...] but I will put another one on order because I like to use this under the arms. If you have underarm discoloration, this is a great option, but it's also an effective deodorant. This will actually lower the pH of the underarm area, which means the bacteria causing odor can't multiply. [...] You can also use it on the scalp if you want to strip some of the buildup there or help with any dandruff that you might have."

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"It can fade hyperpigmentation. It can smooth the surface of the skin. [...] If used correctly, glycolic acid can boost collagen too. You can use it alongside all your other pro collagen ingredients just to add a little extra [...] benefit from your routine. [...] A couple of times a week it can be supplementary in terms of increasing that collagen production. The pH is key. All the studies which have shown that glycolic acid is great at boosting collagen have tested it at a pH of four or below."

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"Use a seven percent glycolic acid every day and honestly I think over time you'll just build up sensitivity and irritation. For me though, I switched about 12 months ago from glycolic acid to lactic acid specifically, and I've never looked back. I feel like my glow game is on point, my skin is smoother than it's ever been, and I have far less hyperpigmentation than when I was reaching for this."

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"We used to exfoliate [...] every single day with products like the glycolic acid from The Ordinary, and that's just too much. I've got the best glow enhancer results by using my exfoliators less frequently."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution used to be an international best seller. However things seem to have shifted in the last 12 months and glycolic acid has entered its cancelled era. People online are actively discouraging people from reaching for glycolic acid and you hear an awful lot of scare stories about how people have really damaged their skin by using this exfoliating ingredient."

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"Super affordable, super effective. Bear in mind don't use this daily. Glycolic acid will boost the levels of collagen in the skin if just used a couple of times a week. Don't overdo it because you don't want to stress the skin out. Use this once, maybe twice a week, and you're going to get a great boost to those collagen levels. A 7% glycolic acid is still pretty strong and that's not going to be for everyone's skin, especially if you have sensitive skin."

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"When it comes to glycolic acid, hands down the best seller is this: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner. [...] Glycolic acid [...] has a much smaller molecular size than a lot of other exfoliators, and that matters because it can actually get into the skin and do a lot more when it comes to its mechanism of action. Because of its small molecular size, it means it just packs a big punch. That said, a lot of people can actually experience sensitivity, redness, and irritation."

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"This is amazing. [...] For literally £8 you can get so much benefit across the whole body. You can use it on the feet three or four times a week, put a moisturizer on top, sandal ready in no time. On the scalp, put a little of this through the scalp twice a week and this will help prevent buildup of product, dandruff, and those flakes, leave it on for like 10 minutes then shampoo it out and you will notice such a difference."

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"It's a great exfoliator, particularly if you've got resilient skin. [...] You can put it on the scalp once a week to keep it fresh and manage dandruff. [...] You can use it under the arms as a deodorant, which works really well because it's got a low pH so it actually reduces the pH under the arms, which means any of the odor-causing bacteria can't proliferate. It works as a deodorant and keeps you fresh. If you've got underarm discoloration or hyperpigmentation, this works really well too."

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"I use this on the scalp couple of times a week. I just put this through the scalp. It helps prevent buildup. It gets rid of some of those flakes and my scalp feels fresher and yeah, it just works really, really well. You can use it under the arms as an alternative to deodorant because the pH of this will suppress scent causing bacteria. So, it works great for that. You can use it on the feet if you want to smooth everything out."

208SkinDoc

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"If you want chemical exfoliation, I recommend starting off with over the counter products containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid in low concentrations, like The Ordinary Glycolic Toner. [...] These are formulated for at home use, the pH is appropriate, and the concentration is such that it won't send you to the ER."

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"I've seen people using glycolic acid under the armpits, like the Ordinary makes a glycolic acid. You put it on a cotton pad and swipe under the armpits, and that can help to kill the bacteria."

Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert

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"Put a little bit of like a glycolic acid toner [...] on a cotton pad, this is how you wash your face. Barely, right? Just a little bit. Don't rub hard because you don't want to move that fat around. [...] And you can use this on your whole body as well. Like sometimes I'll use it on your elbows, you know, various places."

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"This is the Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% exfoliating toner. This is not just for your face, right? You [...] can use this head to toe. I oftentimes use this on the back of the heels, elbows, knees, any place that gets needs a little bit of extra exfoliating. You could use this on your whole body, on your whole arms. [...] Really, really great and very tolerable for most people. [...] This is also a great toner that I love. It's considered a chemical peel [...] because it is an active."

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"Put a little bit of glycolic acid toner [...] on a cotton pad, this is how you wash your face. Barely, right? Just a little bit. Don't rub hard because you don't want to move that fat around. [...] You can use this on your whole body as well. Like sometimes I'll use it on your elbows, you know, various places."

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"This is the Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% exfoliating toner. This is not just for your face, right? You [...] can use this head to toe. I oftentimes use this on the back of the heels, elbows, knees, any place that [...] needs a little bit of extra exfoliating. You could use this on your whole body, on your whole arms. [...] Really, really great and very tolerable for most people. [...] This is [...] considered a chemical peel. That's why I'm talking about it because it is an active."

Dr Dray

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"If you're just picking up a random skincare product like The Ordinary's glycolic acid toner, for example, and trying to use it in the skin folds where it was never meant to go because that's just not how that product is meant to be used, you can get significant irritation. Glycolic acid will help acidify the skin pH, but it can be super irritating."

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"Glycolic acid tends to be very irritating under the arms. It's an exfoliant depending on how the product is formulated. [...] Alpha hydroxy acids can cause a lot of underarm irritation. So, I don't suggest doing that. A lot of people use this on their scalp too for scalp buildup or for dandruff control. But salicylic acid is so much better because it actually localizes in the sebaceous gland and really thrives in the oily rich environment of your scalp."

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"I've seen people wanting to use that as a deodorant and it's just not a good idea because first of all the mechanism really isn't there."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is a product that is meant for the face, so you can run into issues using it under the arms where you have skin on skin contact, you have sweat, and enhanced penetration. Glycolic acid even on the face can be pretty irritating, but under the arms it's a lot more likely to cause irritation because of skin on skin contact, moisture, and sweat. That irritation ultimately can really worsen the hyperpigmentation."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is a seven percent glycolic acid with a pH of 3.6, which is close to the pKa. That tells me that this is something that is going to be formulated in such a way to actually be exfoliating. The performance of glycolic acid in terms of exfoliating is influenced by the pH of the product, which plays into what's called the free acid value. [...] Other products may be less likely to have a free acid value that really gets the same level of exfoliation."

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"I caution not to do that because it can lead to intertrigo. Be careful there. It's not meant to go in the skin folds per se. It's just gained popularity and sure people who promote it and rave about it, they probably did just fine with it, but be cautious because things like hydroxy acids can be super irritating when you have trapping of sweat, friction, moisture, especially if you live somewhere super hot and humid."

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"The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, I use it after the shower as it is lightweight and absorbs without residue."

Doctor Anne

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"It won't give the same drastic results as a stronger peeling product, but it is much harder to overdo and works great against texture with regular use. Some people recommend it against acne, but while it helps with leftover texture and medication, it wouldn't be my first choice for that. For me this is a great one against texture and a good supporting act against stubborn hyperpigmentation, and due to its versatility a valuable addition to your skincare stash."

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"Right now I'm using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner for extra exfoliation against the hyperpigmentation, because salicylic acid is good against congestion but not so good against hyperpigmentation. I [...] concentrate it on the areas where I have hyperpigmentation, around the temples and the whole cheeks, and whatever is left goes on my chest, which has seen too much sun exposure as well."

Nipun Kapur

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"You can use the Glycolic Acid. The reason I mention the Ordinary Glycolic Acid because it has been tested. Its pH is correct. It's been tested for the scalp."