The warm summer months are getting closer. If beaches and parks re-open nationwide after COVID-19, we’ll see plenty of swimsuits, sandals, and more exposed skin. But for many consumers, the thought of baring the skin on their feet is downright embarrassing, as dry and peeling skin, flaky patches, and calluses are both unattractive and unpleasant to deal with.
Luckily for consumers, the exfoliating power of glycolic acid is here to create sandal-ready skin, in the form of the trendy foot peel, a body mask for the feet.
Foot peels 101
A foot peel is essentially a chemical peel for the skin on the feet. Foot peels are thin sock or bootie-like bags filled with a liquid solution of exfoliating ingredients, similar in viscosity and feel to the serum solution found in a sheet mask. The foot peel socks or bags are slipped onto the feet, so feet can soak in the exfoliating solution.
Following the soaking process, the skin on the feet begins to shed off – often in large quantities, over a period of a few days or up to two weeks. The end result of this extensive exfoliation process? Smooth, soft skin on the feet that can last all summer long.
The most popular ingredient
All of the most popular foot peels of today contain a similar, super-charged ingredient: glycolic acid. And there’s good reason for the dominance of this hero ingredient.
“While many of the foot peels on the market incorporate gentle botanical ingredients, like lavender and rosemary extract, they also include acids that pack a serious punch….Also popular in exfoliating treatments for your face (although in smaller concentrations), Alpha Hydroxy Acids, like glycolic and lactic acid, help get rid of dead skin cells by stimulating the skin’s shedding process, which is why they’re the true star ingredient in at-home foot peels,” explains Bustle.
The prominence of glycolic acid in foot peels is two-fold. First, is the superior exfoliative capabilities of glycolic acid. Secondly is the ability of glycolic acid foot peels to help promote smooth, soft, healthy skin for consumers over prolonged periods of time, when used in conjunction with moisturizing products.
Excellent exfoliation
Due to the small molecule size of glycolic acid, this tiny Alpha Hydroxy Acids is a master exfoliator – especially for the tougher, thicker skin on the feet. When applied topically, like with a foot peel, glycolic acid can easily penetrate the built-up damaged, dead skin of calluses to “dissolve” the dead skin cells that cause this thickened layer of skin. Additionally, for areas of dry or flaking skin, glycolic acid works to slough off peeling patches of skin on the feet fast.
Softer skin, for a longer time
Quick exfoliation is not the only benefit of a glycolic acid-based foot peel. Glycolic acid foot peels can also help to maintain soft, healthy skin on the feet. Glycolic acid is superb at pushing new cells to the surface of the epidermis, thanks to its ability to travel deeply into the layers of the skin. These newer skin cells are then able to exfoliate naturally and properly, retain moisture, and absorb other beneficial ingredients like oils or salves.
For consumers, use of glycolic acid foot peels can mean less dry, flaky skin, reduced occurrences of calluses, and smoother, softer skin on the feet – all for longer periods of time.
Making feet summer-ready!
A glycolic acid foot peel is the perfect personal care item for consumers this summer. By shedding dry, damaged skin and dissolving calluses quickly, glycolic acid-based foot peels make for happy customers with happy feet.
