Move over, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. There’s a new glycolic acid toner in town – and it’s even cheaper than you.
Its name? Boots Ingredients Glycolic Acid Toner. Here’s how it fares:
What’s In Boots Ingredients Glycolic Acid Toner?
GLYCOLIC ACID TO EXFOLIATE SKIN
Glycolic acid is the smallest member of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) family, a group of exfoliants that dissolves the glue that holds on skin cells together, so they can slough off your skin faster.
Once they do, your complexion improves: its texture becomes softer to the touch; fine lines and dark spots look a little less obvious; and the whole complexion is brighter. Plus, glycolic acid is hydrating, too.
Its small size is its strength: Glycolic Acid penetrates deeper than other AHAs, so it works better and faster. The catch? That also makes it more irritating.
It’s a great option for dry skin that’s starting to show sun damage. But if yours so sensitive that anything irritates it, try its cousin lactic acid instead.
Related: Glycolic Acid VS Lactic Acid: Which One Should You Use?
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet on steroids: it attracts and binds to the skin up to 1000 times its weight in water.
Moisture is the foundation of healthy, glowing skin. When your skin has all the moisture it needs, all kinds of good things happen: it plumps up so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller; it textures get softer; the whole complexion glows.
Plus, skin needs enough water to perform all kinds of functions, like cellular turnover (the skin’s natural exfoliation process). So, the more moisture it has, the later it’ll experience problems.
Hyaluronic acid isn’t the only moisture magnet in Boots Ingredients Glycolic Acid Toner. This baby has Glycerin, too. It does the same thing, but on a smaller scale.
Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type
Texture
Watery.
Fragrance
Fragrance-free.
How To Use It
Two or three nights a week, straight after cleansing.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Boots Ingredients Glycolic Acid Toner is my fave product from this new, affordable range so far.
For starters, it’s a pleasure to use. Every other night after cleansing, I pour a small amount of liquid on a cotton pad and gently pat it all over my face.
There’s no stinging. Not even the slightest tingling. This stuff is really gentle on the skin and doesn’t irritate it. Yet, it does a great job at exfoliating skin.
After a couple of uses, my skin glows. Its texture has softened up. Everything looks a little smoother. Just what you’d expect from regular exfoliation.
FYI, this works to fade away dark marks left behind by pimples as well. But what if your dark spots are due to sun exposure, melasma, everything else?
Adding glycolic acid to your routine can help you lighten them a little faster, but you’d need a more powerful skin brightener (like arbutin or hydroquinone) to see a significant difference.
One more thing: I recommend glycolic acid only to dry and sun-damaged skin. If you’re oily or acne-prone, you need something that can exfoliate the pores, too. That’s a job for salicylic acid.
Related: AHAs VS BHA: Which One Should You Use?
Who Is This For?
- Dry skin
- Sun damaged skin
Who Is This NOT For?
- Acne prone skin (you need salicylic acid)
- Oily skin (you need salicylic acid, too)
- Sensitive skin (you need lactic acid)
Packaging
Boots Ingredients Glycolic Acid Toner comes in a see-through bottle with a small opening that pours out just the right amount of product you need. But the see-through packaging won’t keep glycolic acid stable and effective for long. To extend its shelf life, store the bottle in its pink box.
Does Boots Ingredients Glycolic Acid Toner Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This Glycolic Acid toner promotes a clear and even skin tone, which helps skin look renewed. | That’s a fancy way to say it exfoliates skin. And exfoliated skin looks younger and better. So yes, the claim is true. |
| Skin looks brighter. | Yes. |
Price & Availability
£5.00 at Boots
Do You Need It?
If you’re looking for an affordable glycolic acid toner for dry skin, Boots Ingredients Glycolic Acid Toner is well worth a try. Just remember to store it in its pink box.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
- Cosrx AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid ($18.00)
- The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Toner (£6.99)
- The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£6.75)
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Glycolic Acid, Peg-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate,Tocopheryl Acetate.
Hi, I am currently binging your blogs and am wondering, is this the right product for me?
I am 14 and have very dry skin, I suffer with eczema though only small patches on my face (forehead and corners of my lips). Also on my forehead there is quite a lot of texture and the first signs of fine lines (the dreaded wrinkles, gasp) would this help to improv this?
I’m in the market for a toner and would this be suitable for me?
Would this be a supplement for using an exfoliator in my skincare routine?
Thank you for your consideration!
Hi Sukie, this is an exfoliator, but if you have sensitive skin, I’d try lactic acid instead.