The global glycolic acid market continues its stunning growth. According to a new forecast, the market is expected to swell from $288.897 million USD in 2017 to $406.394 million USD by 2023, exhibiting an incredible CAGR of 6.83% over the next six years.
Why so much sustained growth? Long considered one of the ultimate skin-saving ingredients to add into personal care items, the demand for glycolic acid-based products continues to surge, as consumers clamor for more quick-working and effective skincare items – and innovative manufacturers try to keep up with their ever-expanding demand.
Plus, there’s another driver behind all this skyrocketing glycolic acid market growth. Consumer complaints about “sensitive skin” are on the rise, and glycolic acid has long been deemed one of the safest and best items to use on sensitive, easily-irritated skin.
A sensitive skincare issue
While dermatologists define sensitive skin as adverse skin reactions like bumps or rashes, extremely dry skin that doesn’t protect nerve endings, skin conditions like rosacea or eczema, or a tendency to blushing or flushing, for many skin sensitivity is a self-given diagnosis.
For the millions of consumers who identify as living with sensitive skin, the condition means milder, but still extremely unpleasant symptoms: dryness, redness, tightness, itching, or even burning. In short, skin sensitivity means uncomfortable and often unattractive skin issues that can drive consumers crazy.
The number of consumers claiming sensitive skin has been on the rise for several years now.
“We used to say a couple of years ago that 50% of women were declaring that they had sensitive skin,” saidVéronique Delvigne, scientific director at Lancôme, in an interview with Fashion Magazine. “Today, this figure has reached 91% in some countries.”
Why so sensitive all of a sudden?
There are several hypotheses behind these growing sensitive skin claims from consumers. Many point to common household products like dish soap as irritating their skin and causing redness or drying. Laundry detergent, clothing fibers, and cleaning products are also oft-cited as triggers for itchiness or rash outbreaks.
Another driver behind the growth in claims of skin sensitivity? Increases in air pollution. Anyone exposed experiences the negative effects of environmental debris, dust, pollen, smog, smoke, and car exhaust, and particulate matter (tiny airborne particles formed from carbons, metal, and compounds) on their skin, no matter their age, line of work, or genetic makeup. And for those with sensitive skin, air pollution serves up a double dose of bad news, as environmental pollution promotes skin inflammation and dehydration, two problems consumers with sensitive skin already struggle with.
A final contributor to the rising tide of the sensitive-skinned is increased consumer knowledge about skincare. As today’s savvy consumer learns more and more about their skin, they also become more likely to test out a slew of new products to “fix” their latest skincare issue. Unfortunately, this “more is more” practice can become a double-edged sword. Far too often, over-exfoliation with harsh, abrasive scrubs or too frequent application of overly strong facial care products results in dry, flaky, itchy, red, or tight-feeling skin – the exact opposite result of what the consumer wanted.
“Acids don’t work like retinoids, which repair skin by kick-starting inflammation. They dissolve the upper layer of cells to trigger repair.”
Ranella Hirsch
Boston University
How glycolic acid alleviates these issues
As the number of consumers with sensitive skin issues continues to tick upwards, the global glycolic acid market will continue to surge in tandem. Not only is glycolic acid truly one of the best ingredients to improve a variety of common skin problems (acne, the appearance of wrinkles, shrinking pores), but glycolic acid is also one of the most effective – and safest – ingredients to use on sensitive skin.
“Acids don’t work like retinoids, which repair skin by kick-starting inflammation,” said Ranella Hirsch, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine in an interview with Allure Magazine. “They dissolve the upper layer of cells to trigger repair.”
This ability of glycolic acid to gently disintegrate the glue between skill cells, rather than abrasively slough it off, that makes it the perfect exfoliator, acne fighter, and anti-aging ingredient to add into any skincare routine – but especially for those suffering from sensitive skin issues. It’s no wonder glycolic acid is touted by everyone from dermatologists to beauty editors to aestheticians as the skincare savior for sensitive-skinned folks.
The next six years will be a truly exciting time for formulators and manufacturers, as the growing demand for glycolic acid-based products will help spur innovation and creativity to solve the latest of consumer skincare complaints: sensitive skin.
