Glycolic Acid 1% + Microbeads

Glycolic acid is an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) derived originally from sugarcane, now typically produced synthetically for skincare use. It has the smallest molecular size among common AHAs (compared to lactic or mandelic acid), which is why it's the fastest-penetrating and generally considered the most potent AHA at equivalent concentrations.

It dissolves the "glue" (desmosomes) holding dead skin cells together at the skin's surface, accelerating natural exfoliation and cell turnover. The microbeads add a physical exfoliation layer on top of this chemical action.

1% is genuinely gentle. Leave-on glycolic treatments for active resurfacing are usually 5–10% or higher, so 1% in a rinse-off, daily-use cleanser is well-calibrated for everyday use rather than aggressive treatment.