the best alpha skincare products

“What are the best glycolic acid exfoliants at the drugstore, Gio?”

I get this question all the time. My answer’s always the same: turn to Alpha Skincare. Their glycolic acid exfoliants are cheap, but pack a powerful punch.

They’re not called Alpha Skincare for nothing, you know – glycolic acid belongs to the Alpha Hydroxy Acids family, 😉 .

But there’s more to Alpha Skincare than glycolic acid exfoliants. Some of their products don’t contain a drop of glycolic, yet they’re still as good and effective. Who said you need to pay a small fortune to have good skin?

Not me. So here goes, the best skincare products from Alpha Skincare:

Best For Advanced Users: Alpha Skincare Enhanced Revitalizing Cream 12% AHA ($16.99)

The AHA in the name is glycolic acid, a multitasking exfoliant that gets rid of dead skin cells, hydrates skin and boosts the production of collagen. Put another way, it makes your skin softer, your complexion brighter, and your wrinkles smaller. It’s here in a whooping 12% dose (quite big for a drugstore product!). Plus, Alpha Skincare Enhanced Revitalizing Cream 12% AHA has a sprinkle of antioxidants to prevent new wrinkles from forming, too. Its lightweight texture makes it suitable for all skin types (bar sensitive – your skin can’t tolerate glycolic acid, sorry!).

Available at: Ulta

Related: The Complete Guide To Glycolic Acid: What It Is, What It Does, And Side Effects


Need help creating an anti-aging routine that really works? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Anti-Aging Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).


Best For Sun Damage: Alpha Skincare Intensive Rejuvenating Serum ($18.99)

If you’re a Glycolic Acid pro who wants to up her antiaging game and get rid of sun damage, the Alpha Skincare Intensive Rejuvenating Serum is the way to go. It has 14% glycolic acid, more than enough to get the job done. Plus, it’s packed with soothing agents to reduce the risk of irritations. Even so, if your skin is on the dry side, daily use may be too much for you. If that’s the case, use it on alternate nights or cut back to a couple of times a week.

Available at: Ulta

Related: The Best Skincare Products To Treat Sun Damage

Best For Dark Spots: Alpha SkincareDual Action Skin Lightener ($10.99)

If you have melasma or dark spots, 10% glycolic acid alone won’t cut it. Enter hydroquinone. This skin-lightener inhibits the production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. When your halt its production, dark spots start to fade away. The catch? Hydroquinone can be harsh, so use it on your dark spots only. It can also cause a bluish tint in people with darker skin. If that’s you, consult your doctor before using Alpha Skincare Dual Action Skin Lightener (or anything with hydroquinone, for that matter).

Available at: Ulta

Related: Why Hydroquinone Is The Gold Standard For Treating Dark Spots

Nourishing Eye Cream ($17.99)

I don’t usually recommend eye creams (your face facial moisturiser will do). But, if you feel the need to use one, Alpha Skincare Nourishing Eye Cream checks all the right boxes. It’s loaded with moisturising oils that have anti aging properties to boot, like grape and jojoba. It has humectants like hyaluronic acid to attract a ton of moisture into your skin. It also has aloe vera to soothe stressed and irritated skin. Its lightweight texture makes it more suitable for oily skin. If yours is dry, you may not find it rich enough for you.

Available at: Ulta

Related: Are Eye Creams Really Necessary?