One Editor Tests L'Oréal Paris Serum with 10% Pure Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is a noisy alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). it's praised for its ability to even out skin tone and texture, provide brightening benefits, and even keep excess sebum at bay. Due to my bold, combination and acne prone skinI've been looking for a glycolic acid based serum for a while to add it to my routine for good, but I've had a hard time finding a serum that I like and doesn't cost a fortune. So when L'Oreal Paris sent me L'Oréal Paris 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum to try and review, I was itching to see if it could be The One.  

This $29.99 renewing serum contains a whopping 10% pure glycolic acid, the brand's highest concentration of glycolic acid. It promises to even out skin tone, reduce wrinkles, and make skin look brighter and more youthful. The percentage of acid didn't scare me (I've tested other potent glycolic acid products on my skin before), but due to my occasional skin sensitivity, I still decided to slowly incorporate it into my skin care routine using L' Oréal Paris 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum only twice a week at first (however, it can be used every night thanks to its unique aloe formula). Just remember that products with glycolic acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so it should be applied at night and a broad spectrum sunscreen every morning.  

The first time I applied it, I used the dropper of the bottle to apply three to four drops to my fingers and smoothed my entire face. Immediately I liked how refreshing the serum was, but I could also tell how quickly I felt it penetrate the surface of my skin with a slight tingle. After the tingle came a calm, soothing aftertaste. After a few minutes on my skin, the serum was light, almost as smooth as a moisturizer, and completely non-greasy. I then applied my regular overnight hydrating mask for extra hydration and continued to do so every few days.

After about a week, I definitely noticed a difference in my skin texture and tone - my dark spots were visibly faded and overall I felt like my face was brighter. I also noticed that my skin became more matte under makeup and I didn't have to reach for the blotting paper as often as I usually do - score!

Final thoughts

The fact that I noticed a difference in the appearance of my skin after just a couple of weeks of using L'Oréal Paris 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum is pretty impressive when it comes down to it. I love that it contains a powerful 10% pure glycolic acid, but personally I don't think my skin can handle it (yet) for everyday use. However, I will continue to apply it at least twice a week and gradually transition to night use because I can only imagine what my skin will look like then.