Mar 06, 2025

How Glycolic Acid Can Help Revive Dry Winter Skin

Glycolic acid is a beloved alpha hydroxy acid known for its exfoliating powers in skincare products and medical spa treatments. But do glycolic acid benefits include hydrating with dry, winter skin, too?

We’ll explore this question in today’s article, along with how to use glycolic acid in your skincare routine. Keep reading as we explore:

Why your skin feels dryer in the winter
What is glycolic acid?
What is glycolic acid used for? Including Benefits of glycolic acid for dry skin
Who can use glycolic acid for skin hydration and health?
Glycolic acid products from NassifMD® facial plastic surgeon skincare for all your winter needs

Why Winter Skin Needs Extra Care

In the winter, outdoor and indoor conditions impact skin health. Colder, dryer weather is harsh on the skin and can contribute to dehydration. Indoors, running the heat dries out the air, leading to even more water loss. The result is a compromised skin barrier and dry skin that can feel chapped, tight, and irritated. It can increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

All this means your skin needs extra nourishment, hydration, and moisturizing in the winter to combat the environmental conditions and keep your skin healthy and vibrant. One lesser-known glycolic acid uses is to aid in skin hydration.

What is Glycolic Acid?

Glycolic acid is a natural alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) made by plants, including sugar cane. Other AHAs include lactic acid and citric acid. Yet, glycolic acid is the smallest of the AHA acids for skin, allowing it to penetrate and absorb into the skin more deeply.

Glycolic acid is found in over-the-counter skincare products, including at-home exfoliators, to exfoliate and refine the skin. You’ll also see glycolic acid used in medical spa treatments, including chemical peels. Chemical peels may contain up to 70% glycolic acid; at-home use lower concentrations.

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and impurities from the skin’s surface and pores, allowing other products to better penetrate and reveal younger skin below.

Benefits of Glycolic Acid for Dry Skin

The exfoliating benefits of glycolic acid speed up cellular turnover, essentially resurfacing the skin without scrubbing, which can aggravate dry skin and impact skin barrier health. Exfoliation can improve hydration and promote a youthful appearance by clearing pores, smoothing fine lines, and fading dark spots caused by sun damage. It’s also supportive for acne-prone skin (which can be dry simultaneously, especially in the winter) and fading acne scars.

You may think exfoliation isn’t for dry skin, but glycolic acid is unique because its benefits don’t end with exfoliation. Glycolic acid triggers collagen production and reduces collagen loss. Collagen is the primary structural protein in the skin, and within the structure, it holds water. As you begin losing collagen, as early as your 20s, the skin becomes less hydrated, which is only exacerbated by winter conditions.

Read more about glycolic acid skin benefits here: Glycolic Acid – Experts Explain the Best AHA Skincare.

To summarize:

Can I use glycolic acid for dark spots and texture? Yes!
Can I use glycolic acid and an exfoliator? Yes!
Does glycolic acid help with acne? Yes!
Does glycolic acid help with skin hydration? Yes!
Can I use glycolic acid in my winter skincare routine? Yes!

Who Should (or Shouldn’t) Use Glycolic Acid?

Now that we’ve answered what does glycolic acid do, the next questions are how to use glycolic acid and who should use it.

How often to use glycolic acid might depend on your skin type and goals. You may have to adjust glycolic acid timing or frequency when using topical skin treatments such as prescription retinol or retinoids. Talk with your plastic surgeon, aesthetician, or dermatologist for guidance.

Everyone can use glycolic acid, but it can take time for the skin to get used to it. If you are just starting, don’t use glycolic every day. Start twice per week or every other day and then increase as tolerated. If you have sensitive skin, start with just once weekly.

If your skin shows signs of redness or irritation, it doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from glycolic acid; you may need to incorporate it more slowly into your routine. Your skin may tolerate more glycolic acid in the summer or in a humid climate. In the winter your skin may naturally want less, but it can still be a part of your overall dry skin strategy.

One final tip: wear sunscreen. Alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic acid, push skin turnover, making your skin more sensitive to the sun. NassifMD® Protect and Hydrate and NassifMD® Simply Hydration are lightweight, hydrating, and perfect for everyday use.

Incorporating Glycolic Acid into Your Winter Routine

You’ll find many products on the market, including glycolic acid cream and glycolic acid moisturizer. The NassifMD® glycolic acid collection makes incorporating this exfoliating and hydrating ingredient into your skincare routine easy. Let’s talk about some of the ways to do so.

The easiest way to incorporate glycolic acid is in the first step of your routine: cleansing. Start with NassifMD® Purifying Glycolic Facial Cleanser to cleanse, brighten, and smooth the skin. Although glycolic acid is a main ingredient, it’s a non-drying formula you’ll love. Use it daily, or start with rotating it into your routine a few days per week.

If you’re a fan of double cleansing or want to effectively add glycolic acid to your routine as often as needed, NassifMD® Detox Facial Pads are a must-have product. Use the best-selling detox pads after cleansing or in place of cleansing if you’re in a pinch. Along with glycolic acid, synergistic active ingredients include salicylic acid, lactic acid, bakuchiol, ectoin, vitamin C, and witch hazel, a true powerhouse for skin healing.

Another cleansing option is NassifMD® Glycolic Microdermabrasion Skin Perfecting Polish with 10% glycolic acid and Equatorian ivory palm to clarify, brighten, and hydrate the skin. Simply apply a dime-sized amount to damp skin, massage, and wash away. Follow with the rest of your skincare routine.

To target the delicate skin on the neck and decollete prone to dehydration, use NassifMD® Deco-Lift Neck & Decollete Firming & Lifting Complex after cleansing and applying serums. Key ingredients include glycolic acid, skincare peptides, vitamin C, and plant-derived humectants to hydrate and nourish the skin.

Hydrating dry skin isn’t just about adding moisture; it requires creating the conditions for the skin to accept and hold onto hydration. Glycolic acid helps to set the stage for skin hydration by exfoliating, nourishing the skin barrier, and promoting collagen production. With NassifMD® Skincare, it’s easy to take advantage of glycolic acid’s benefits and add it to your routine.

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