For consumers seeking a quick fix to help heal dry, itchy skin, body serums are one of the trendiest new products that could help deliver relief. Similar to a facial serum, body serums are designed to soothe and improve skin all over the body, via potent active ingredients.
“Body serums are the latest trend in skincare. Why? Well, they hydrate, exfoliate, brighten, etc., (AKA exactly what a normal serum might do) but for your bod instead of your face. Basically, if you’re looking for an upgrade to your regular lotion, you’ve got to add a body serum to your skincare routine, ASAP,” explains Women’s Health.
Excellent at exfoliation and for promoting more hydrated, healthy skin, body serums with glycolic acid are a gentle and highly effective solution to dry skin woes.
Body serums 101
Serums are lightweight, fast-absorbing skincare products designed to deliver large concentrations of active ingredients. Traditionally associated with facial skincare, body serums are now the latest iteration of this super-charged formulation.
“Just like serums for the face, serums for the body offer a great way to deliver more active ingredients to the skin,” said New York dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, a clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
While facial serums are typically liquid and viscous, body serums are available in a wide variety of formats, including lotions, sprays, gels, and even wipes.
“The beauty of a serum is that most of the fluid is eliminated,” esthetician Veronica Barton-Schwartz told WebMD. “So what you’re left with is a high concentration of active ingredients. Serums contain the most potent dose of anti-aging ingredients — antioxidants, peptides, and skin brightener– you can find in nonprescription products. They’re the true workhorses of any product line.“
The benefits of glycolic acid body serums
For dry, itchy skin a glycolic acid based body serum is an excellent, all-over solution.
“It’s a good thing that so many skin-care brands have concocted AHA-spiked body serums and wipes and creams to handle dry skin. Consider these products to be skin saviors,” said Rachel Lapidos in Well+Good.
As a top-notch chemical exfoliator, glycolic acid is ace at shedding off dead, dry skin cells that can cause itching. After application, glycolic acid dissolves the glue that holds dead skin cells together and essentially peels away the damaged, outermost layer of skin.
Once dead, dry, and dull skin cells are sloughed off, skin both looks and feels better. But, glycolic acid body serums are not just helpful for dry skin and exfoliation. Glycolic acid body serums can also help common skin conditions like:
- Body acne
- Sun spots
- Discoloration and hyperpigmentation
- Keratosis pilaris
- Ingrown hairs and razor burn
Glycolic acid body serums can help heal common skin conditions
Softer and smoother
Additionally, glycolic acid based serums can help skin stay softer and smoother for longer.
Through its process of gentle chemical exfoliation, glycolic acid also forces newer skin cells to the top layer of skin. These new skin cells more easily absorb moisturizers and lotions, which helps skin stay supple and hydrated. Plus, more frequent cell turnover creates more luminous, radiant skin, all over the body.
“Studies also show that glycolic acid significantly increases skin’s hydration. It does this by helping skin make substances like mucopolysaccharides, which help skin stay hydrated by increasing its natural content of hyaluronic acid, which in turn enhances skin’s resilience,” explains the Paula’s Choice blog.
For dullness, dryness, and a myriad of other skin conditions, a glycolic acid body serum can help improve skin from head to toe.
A trend that’s here to stay
Body serums formulated with glycolic acid are a trending product that are here to stay. With the ability gently shed off dry skin, promote suppleness, and help heal a variety of common skincare conditions, glycolic acid body serums are poised to become the next big must-have product.
