Glycolic Acid
AKA “2-Hydroxyacetic acid, 79-14-1, hydroxyacetic acid, Hydroxyethanoic acid, Glycollic acid, glycolate, alpha-Hydroxyacetic acid, 2-Hydroxyethanoic acid, Kyselina glykolova
Acid
Ingredient Facts
Glycolic acid
AKA: 2-Hydroxyacetic acid, 79-14-1, Hydroxyacetic acid, Hydroxyethanoic acid, Glycollic acid, Glycolate, Alpha-Hydroxyacetic acid, 2-Hydroxyethanoic acid, Kyselina glykolova
Acid · Buffering · EWG: 6
Synthetic
Chemical Exfoliant
Acid
Not Clean
Based on the available information included in this report, the CIR Expert Panel concludes that Glycolic and Lactic Acid, their common salts and their simple esters, are safe for use in cosmetic products at concentrations less than or equal to 10%, at final formulation pH greater than or equal to 3.5, when formulated to avoid increasing sun sensitivity or when directions for use include the daily use of sun protection. These ingredients are safe for use in salon products at concentrations less than or equal to 30%, at final formulation pH greater than or equal to 3.0, in products designed for brief, discontinuous use followed by thorough rinsing from the skin, when applied by trained professionals, and when application is accompanied by directions for the daily use of sun protection...Glycolic Acid...
Formula
C2H4O3
Mol. Weight
76.05
CAS #
79-14-1
State
Solid
See origin →
Functions
Buffering
Supports cell turnover
Smooths skin texture
Brightens uneven skin tone
Traditional Use
This is not a cosmetic ingredient but a cautionary statement.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
EWG
6
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-6
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
CANADApermitted
Regulatory Agencies
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
HPLC determination of thioglycolic acid and other aliphatic thiols in cosmetic formulations using ethacrynic acid as precolumn derivatization reagent.
Cavrini V, Andrisano V, Gatti R, Scapini G
International journal of cosmetic science, 1990
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl Thioglycolate, Glyceryl Thioglycolate, Isooctyl T
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ammonium and Glyceryl Thioglycolates and Thioglycolic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Glycolic Acid, Ammonium, Calcium, Potassium, and Sodium Glycolates, Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl, and Butyl Glycolates, and Lactic Acid, Ammonium, Calcium, Potassium,
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Ammonium Glycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ammonium Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butyl Glycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butyl Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Calcium Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ethanolamine Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ethyl Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Glyceryl Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Glycolic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Isooctyl Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Isopropyl Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Magnesium Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Methyl Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Glycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Thioglycolic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Ammonium Glycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Ammonium Thioglycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Calcium Thioglycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Glyceryl Thioglycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Glycolic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Isooctyl Thioglycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Sodium Glycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Sodium Thioglycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Thioglycolic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Effects of Thioglycolate Compounds in an Emerging Technique in the World of Cosmetics-Brow Lamination.
Ghanem L, Chagoury S, Issa A, Khoury KM, Karam KK et al.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025
Glycolic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Thioglycolic acid and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Thioglycolic acid esters
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
RALGA (Diacneal), a retinaldehyde and glycolic acid assoc...
A D Katsambas
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 2005
The use of glycolic acid as a peeling agent.
H Murad, A T Shamban, P S Premo
Dermatologic clinics, 1995
Toxicity studies of sodium thioglycolate administered dermally to F344/N rats and B6C3F1/N mice.
National Toxicology Program
Toxicity report series, 2016
Pd/C-Catalyzed Efficient and Selective Synthesis of Glycolic Acid from Ethylene Glycol.
Schmoll A, Huo YW, Shao S, Wu XF
ChemSusChem, 2025
Examination on biological activities and fates of new steroids, steroid-17-yl methyl glycolate derivatives.
Suzuki T, Tada H, Sato E, Tojima Y
The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 1999
Chitosan-Glycolic Acid Gel Modification of Chloride Ion T...
Olga Zavyalova, Dominika Dąbrowska-Wisłocka, Konrad Misiura, Iga Hołyńska-Iwan
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2023
Chitosan-Glycolic Acid Gel Modification of Chloride Ion T...
Olga Zavyalova, Dominika Dąbrowska-Wisłocka, Konrad Misiura, Iga Hołyńska-Iwan
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2023
Chitosan-Glycolic Acid Gel Modification of Chloride Ion T...
Olga Zavyalova, Dominika Dąbrowska-Wisłocka, Konrad Misiura, Iga Hołyńska-Iwan
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2023
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR