Being the penny pincher that I am, I love a multi-use product. And no, I’m not talking about a 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, and body wash type situation. That would be taking it a little far! But if I can reasonably use a product multiple ways on my person and still have it work well for each method, then I’m all for it! The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is one such product. I can use it in a variety of ways, and the large bottle still lasts me months. You may be wondering, “What ARE all the ways that this toner can be used?” Allow me to share!
1. For Your Face (Obviously)
I figured I’d get this one out of the way first since we all know it! But hey, it’s not any less important, right? As an AHA, glycolic acid exfoliates the skin and helps reduce skin texture. AHAs are water-soluble, and they affect the outer layer of skin cells. BHAs, on the other hand, are fat-soluble. They work both on the surface of the skin and further down in the pores, clearing congestion. AHAs like glycolic acid are helpful for people with dry skin, as they remove flaky skin to reveal newer, smoother skin underneath. In doing so, AHAs can work to fade discoloration. They can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines as well by promoting collagen production.
2. On Your Back and Chest to Control Body Acne
Glycolic acid can be helpful in treating acne both on your face and body. Gentle exfoliation can help prevent clogged pores, which in turn can lessen the number of pimples you might be getting. I typically will begin using this on my back in the summer when I start to see more body breakouts happening. All that sunblock and sweat tends to cause more pimples for me during that time, and I find this toner to be wonderfully helpful.
3. For the Bikini Line to Prevent Ingrowns
I have the unfortunate tendency to get a lot of ingrown hairs around my bikini line. I find it extremely beneficial to exfoliate that area daily, and this toning solution is perfect for that! It has significantly reduced the number of annoying ingrowns that used to pop up.
4. As an Acid Rinse on Your Scalp
I tend to get a ton of annoying buildup on my scalp. I don’t like the feeling of my hair almost being choked out by the amount of dead skin and oil that gathers over time. Once a week I’ll use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid on my scalp! Since the bottle already has a slim, pointed nozzle, it’s easy to apply the toner to my scalp with that. I’ll do several lines all over my head, then gently massage it in with my fingers. I let it sit for 10 minutes or so, then I shampoo it out in the shower. It helps my scalp feel much cleaner but with no irritation! In addition, I use Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Charcoal & Tea Tree Scalp Treatment to reduce itchiness and flakes. Giving my scalp the care it needs is sometimes hard to remember, but it truly benefits from it when I do.
5. On the Inner Thighs to Reduce Shaving Irritation
Did you know that exfoliating your legs can help prevent razor bumps? In the past, I had terrible irritation on my inner thighs when I shaved, and I’d get pimples in that area as well. Laser hair removal helped abundantly with the razor bumps, but the problem wasn’t 100% solved. At night I’ll put this toner on my inner thigh area (though you could use it lightly all over your leg if you wanted). It is highly effective at keeping razor burn away! AHAs help prevent follicles from getting clogged with dead skin cells, and as a result, the hair on your legs is able to grow normally after shaving. Additionally, it can stave off pimples that can be caused by bacteria your razor might be harboring.
There you go! Now you know five(!) ways that you can use The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. Considering you can pick up an 8 oz bottle of this for only $8.70, you are getting an amazing steal with this toner. I have so many other products from The Ordinary that I love for their affordability and efficacy, including the Hemi-Squalane Oil and the Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density. If you are looking for a product that will truly give you your money’s worth, this is the one!
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It’s also good for keratosis pilaris, and cheaper than most lotions marketed for KP.
Definitely for keratosis pilaris! I have also been using it occasionally to slough armpit dead cells and reduce stank.