Dealing with congested pores? Noticing an uneven skin tone? Or maybe your complexion has been looking a bit dull. According to dermatologists, incorporating alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) into your skin care routine can help.
AHAs are chemical exfoliants — more on that below — and they can be found in many different skin care products, including cleansers, masks, moisturizers and more. “They are known to offer almost instant gratification,” says Dr. Jessie Cheung, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago. “This makes them helpful if you need to address an issue quickly.”
To learn more about this popular skin care ingredient, I consulted board-certified dermatologists to break down everything you need to know about AHAs for the skin, including the benefits, side effects, and products you can try.
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What are alpha hydroxy acids?
AHAs are water-soluble acids categorized as chemical exfoliants. This means that they use chemicals — specifically acids or enzymes — to gently slough away dead skin cells. They cause “controlled trauma to the skin,” leading to quicker cell turnover, according to Dr. Jessie Cheung, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago. “This process can address hyperpigmentation, dullness, uneven skin tone, congested pores and more.”
When looking for a skin care product that contains an AHA, it’s important to understand the different types on the market, as some may work better than others for certain skin types or concerns. Below are the most common AHAs used in skin care products:
- Glycolic acid easily penetrates the skin and tends to make the face glowier because it exfoliates and removes dead skin cells, says Cheung. This AHA is colorless, derived from sugar cane and the smallest AHA, which means it can penetrate pores more easily to help in the exfoliation process. “Because glycolic acid is small and can really penetrate your skin, it can irritate those with sensitive skin,” says Cheung.
- Lactic acid is another often-used AHA. It can improve the overall texture and tone of the skin, according to Cheung. It is a bit more gentle than glycolic acid because it is larger in molecule size and doesn’t penetrate as deeply. It can also help reduce the appearance of large pores, age spots and hyperpigmentation, says Cheung.
- Mandelic acid is also less irritating than glycolic acid, according to Cheung. However, it is less active than the above AHAs, so it is best suited for people who want a slightly smoother skin texture or glowier complexion.
How I picked the best AHA products
To help find the best products with AHAs, I asked board-certified dermatologists what to look for. Here’s what they recommended paying attention to:
- Type of AHA: AHAs are a category, not an actual ingredient. “Glycolic acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid are the most common AHAs found in products,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell. Glycolic and lactic acids tend to be stronger, while mandelic acid is a little less potent and may be the best option for sensitive skin, she says.
- Smart ingredient pairings: Certain ingredients pair well with AHAs. For example, peptides, which are strings of amino acids that support collagen production and skin elasticity, can slow the penetration of AHAs, making them less irritating, says Cheung. AHAs also pair well with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane because the hydration they provide can help soothe any irritation that may pop up from using an AHA, she says. I prioritized options with complementary ingredients.
- Formula type: You can find AHAs in face washes, moisturizers, masks and more. However, AHAs can be irritating to sensitive skin and may make skin more sensitive to the sun. Because of this, experts I spoke to recommend using AHA products at night. Below, you’ll find mostly serums and creams intended for end-of-day use.
The best AHA products of 2025
The list below includes products made with AHAs like glycolic acid, lactic acid and more. The products are either recommended by NBC Select staffers, dermatologists or are highly rated options with at least a 4-star average rating from over 500 reviews at popular retailers.
This serum comes highly recommended by Garshick and combines an AHA (mandelic acid) with salicylic acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). “BHAs are oil soluble and can penetrate deep into pores to unclog pores and get rid of blemishes,” she says. “Together, these ingredients help to improve skin texture and tone.” Use it at night after washing your face, says the brand.
This cleanser simultaneously washes and gently exfoliates your skin. It has salicylic, glycolic, lactic and phytic acids to support cellular turnover, according to the brand. “Of all the cleansers I tried in 2025, this one is my favorite,” says NBC Select senior editor Nikki Brown. “The ingredient list scared me a little — I was worried it would be too harsh on my skin, even if I used a rich moisturizer after. Thankfully, less than a dime-size amount sufficiently cleans my skin without causing any burning or stinging. After about a month of use, I noticed that my skin looked so much smoother and brighter.”
This serum has both glycolic and lactic acid to remove dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines, says Garshick. “I find that skin looks radiant and refreshed after use.” Some people experience slight tingling when they first start using this product — though it should dissipate after a few uses, according to the brand. Try using it every other night until your skin acclimates.
This cleansing gel combines mandelic, lactic and salicylic acids to gently exfoliate your skin, and glycerin to replenish moisture, according to Garshick. This cleanser starts out as a gel, but changes into a creamy consistency as you massage it over your face, according to the brand. Garshick recommends using it a few times a week to keep skin looking bright and smooth — if you use it more than that, you may notice irritation or redness.
These pads are intended for nighttime use after washing your face and they come in sets of two that you apply back to back. The first pad is soaked in a trifecta of AHAs — glycolic, lactic and mandelic acids — to exfoliate the skin. Massage the pad gently over your face and neck until the pad feels dry. Wait two minutes and then repeat with the second pad, which has retinol to reduce fine lines, and resveratrol and green tea extract to protect skin from free radicals, according to the brand. “I find that they improve skin’s radiance and tone and can also improve the appearance of fine lines,” says Dr. Brendan Camp, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. Each box comes with five sets of pads and you should use them every other night for the best results, according to the brand.
“I have very sensitive skin, so most exfoliating cleansers tend to irritate it or cause intense redness,” says NBC Select editor Mili Godio. “I love this SkinMedica one because it’s a gentler option and makes my skin feel super soft and smooth after I use it. I only use it once a week to avoid irritation, but haven’t seen any since I started using it months ago.” The cleanser has four different acids in it — glycolic, lactic, mandelic and citric. It also has jojoba oil to minimize irritation, according to the brand.
If your skin is on the sensitive side, consider this serum from Naturium, says Garshick. It has a blend of mandelic acid, natural fruit acids and niacinamide, which work together to exfoliate your skin without leaving skin dry, according to the brand. To use: Wash your face at night, apply the serum evenly over your entire face and then follow with a moisturizer.
When I want to experiment with a skin care ingredient for the first time, I always look to The Ordinary — they offer affordable serums and moisturizers so I can test out how an ingredient works for me without wasting a ton of money if it isn’t effective. I recently incorporated this lactic acid serum into my routine and have really liked how glowy it makes my skin. It also has hyaluronic acid to help soothe any irritation from the AHA, according to the brand. The consistency is very liquidy, so a little goes a long way.
This is another product I recently started using — and I am loving it. It contains mandelic acid to gently exfoliate and centella asiatica to smooth and hydrate, according to the brand. About three weeks after using this regularly at night, I’ve found that my skin appears a bit more plump and the texture is noticeably smoother. In addition to using it on your face, you can use it on your neck, where the skin tends to thin as you age, according to the brand.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Jessie Cheung is a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago
- Dr. Marisa Garshick is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell
- Dr. Brendan Camp is board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City
Why trust NBC Select?
I am a contributing editor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. I have written about several skin care ingredients — including squalane and retinol. For this story, I interviewed board-certified dermatologists for their guidance on what to look for when shopping for products with AHAs.
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