Skincare is one of the prime concerns as more and more people look to have flawless and healthy skin. This is where glycolic acid serums come into the picture. Glycolic acid is derived from sugarcane and belongs to the alpha hydroxy acid family.
Its smallest and lightest molecular properties make it perfect for deep penetration into the skin, providing maximum benefits. The ingredients in the serum make the skin feel radiant, fresh, and healthy on the go.
The trend presents a lucrative opportunity for sellers. However, before diving into the market, here is what sellers need to know.
Table of Contents
Why are glycolic acid serums in huge demand?
What sellers should know about skin type & compatibility
Sensitive skin
Dry or mature skin
Oily or acne-prone skin
Combination skin
What should sellers consider when sourcing glycolic acid serums?
Glycolic acid concentration for different users
pH levels for maximum penetration
Complementary ingredients
Type of formulations
The right packaging & certifications
How to select glycolic acid serum for different customer bases
Beginners or first-time users
Advanced users & skincare enthusiasts
Different age groups
Bottom line
Why are glycolic acid serums in huge demand?
The global skincare market is growing rapidly as more and more people are prioritizing skin health, effective exfoliation, and anti-aging issues. However, sellers can make the best of the lucrative opportunity to tap into the market.
The global glycolic acid market is projected to reach USD 822.4 million by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.58% from 2025 to 2033. The growth is mainly driven by personal care, skin care, and pharmaceutical sector usage.
Glycolic acid is particularly popular in skincare for its anti-aging and exfoliation benefits. Its ability to penetrate into the skin makes it a sought-after ingredient, targeting hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and fine lines.
The Asia-Pacific region, especially in countries like South Korea, India, China, and Japan, offers opportunities to tap into.
What sellers should know about skin type & compatibility
Skin compatibility is a crucial aspect when it comes to choosing serums. Sellers must understand how various formulations address different skin concerns in order to effectively target their audience. For example:
Sensitive skin
Glycolic acid serums with high concentrations may not be suitable for individuals with sensitive skin, leading to various types of skin irritations. Here, 5–7% glycolic acid serum is ideal, especially if it contains soothing ingredients like green tea extract and aloe vera.
Dry or mature skin
Hydrating glycolic acid serum helps people with dry skin retain moisture. Also, the formulations contain peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to boost anti-aging benefits.
Oily or acne-prone skin
This type of skin tends to have excess oil production, which also increases the breakouts and impacts the skin texture. Such customers look for glycolic acid serums for oily skin, including salicylic acid, zinc, and niacinamide-like ingredients to target such skin concerns.
Combination skin
Customers look for serums that can target multiple concerns without causing more oil production or overdrying. The glycolic acid formulation for combination skin comes with botanical extracts.
What should sellers consider when sourcing glycolic acid serums?
To target the large customer base and offer a selection that meets their concerns, sellers should explore some of the important factors when buying glycolic acid serum. This includes:
Glycolic acid concentration for different users
Choosing the right concentration of glycolic acid impacts its effect and exfoliating power, offering different skincare solutions.
For people looking for glycolic acid serum with gentle exfoliation, buying a low concentration (5–7%) is suitable and improves the skin texture.
If buyers are opting for serums useful for their dark spots or making their skin tone even and treating mild acne scars, choosing a medium concentration (8–10%) of glycolic acid is helpful.
However, some buyers who have been using serums or looking for professional-grade serums for their anti-aging, treating hyperpigmentation, and deep exfoliation look for high concentrations (12–20%) of glycolic acid.
pH levels for maximum penetration
The pH balance in glycolic acid serums is crucial to determine how effective the serum will be, including its potential irritations. Sellers should consider this important aspect and ensure that the labels clearly mention the pH levels.
Glycolic acid action with a pH of 3.0–4.0 is suitable for customers who are looking for maximum penetration into much deeper skin layers to improve exfoliation and cell turnover.
However, people looking for less irritation and daily use should consider a balanced pH of 3.5–4.0. Also, for gentler skin, people look for buffered formulations, i.e., 4.0–5.0, which are ideal for sensitive skin types.
Complementary ingredients
Sellers should also look for complementary ingredients that make it more effective and have skin-benefiting additives to appeal to a broader customer range.
Some of the key ingredients that sellers can look for are hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid to prevent dryness and boost hydration.
Next, sellers can consider vitamin C for reducing dark spots and brightening the skin. People using a glycolic acid serum for anti-aging may consider complementary ingredients like peptides and ceramides.
Additionally, this combination helps strengthen the skin barrier, promoting overall skin health.
Type of formulations
Another factor to consider is the formulation, such as water-based glycolic acid serums, which are fast absorbing, lightweight, and ideally go with all skin types. In addition, serums are ideal for layering with other skin care products.
Gel-based glycolic acid serums are for oily and acne-prone skin as they provide a cooling effect. On the other hand, retinol and glycolic acid serums help in handling anti-aging and provide better treatment for wrinkles and fine lines.
The right packaging & certifications
Having proper packaging is another point sellers need to look for. Glycolic acid serums are highly active ingredients. The proper packaging ensures its potency but also prevents oxidation without harming its effectiveness.
Droppers or airtight pumps reduce the exposure to air, keeping the serum stable and making it suitable for the long run.
When selling serums, look for ISO-certified glycolic acid serums that dermatologists have tested and clinically proven for boosting consumer trust.
How to select glycolic acid serum for different customer bases
Different customers have their own concerns regarding their skin and preferences for the right glycolic acid serum to suit their skincare.
Sellers should focus on finding the right skin type, including experience level, perfect formulation, and skincare goals.
Beginners or first-time users
People who are new to skincare or using serums for the first time tend to over-exfoliate their skin, causing irritation and sensitive skin-like issues.
For such customers, sellers can offer a gentle exfoliator without irritation, including an application instruction and patch test recommendation.
Look for the low-concentration formula between 5% and 7% and active ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera for maintaining the natural hydration and moisture balance.
Advanced users & skincare enthusiasts
When targeting experienced skincare users who are looking to level up their routine with higher potency and faster or noticeable results, sellers can offer a high-concentration formula between 10% and 15%. Also include the complete ingredients, like peptides, retinol, or vitamin C.
Different age groups
The different age groups of customers also lead to different requirements and concerns. For example, when targeting teens and young adults, the concerns are mostly blemish reduction, acne control, and oil reduction. Sellers can pick salicylic acid or niacinamide acid when offering serums.
As for adults, the priority shifts to brightening, hydration, and skin renewal. For them, serums with antioxidants, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid can be helpful.
Sellers can also invest in different packaging to target different customer age groups, which can help buyers learn more about the product.
Bottom line
Glycolic acid serum offers a promising business opportunity, especially for sellers in the skincare industry. By staying informed about market trends and exploring complementary or trending skincare products, businesses can better meet the diverse needs of their customers.
Sellers can capitalize on the growing market. Additionally, it is crucial to consider the concentration levels, pH balance, and complementary ingredients in order to identify a wide selection of products.
With this guide, take the first step and explore Alibaba.com’s vast catalog of glycolic acid serums and complementary products from various suppliers to start and manage a profitable business in the long term.
