Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum

For all skin types, including sensitive

A concentrated 9.8% Glycolic Acid serum made with only 7 ingredients that visibly smoothes skin texture and boosts skin’s glow.

kiehls-face-ultra-pure-high-potency-serum-glycolic-acid-30ml

Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum

A concentrated 9.8% Glycolic Acid serum made with only 7 ingredients that visibly smoothes skin texture and boosts skin’s glow.

Old price New price $35.00 ($1.17 / ml)

Select a Size

1.0 fl oz / 30 ml

Quantity

*You have chosen to pick up your item in store. If you would like to ship items to your home, you must create a separate order or modify the entire order.

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What It Is

Our gentle exfoliating Glycolic Acid facial serum is minimally formulated with only seven ingredients to visibly boost skin’s glow and reduce the appearance of pores. Concentrated with 9.8% Glycolic Acid, our potent formula helps visibly refine skin’s texture for a smooth, glowing appearance.

Formulated to help visibly minimize pores and refine skin’s texture
Minimally formulated for optimal skin absorption and efficacy
Boosts skin renewal in three days
Reduces the appearance of pores in four weeks
Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive
Free of fragrance and colorants

Key Ingredients

How to Use

Apply 2-3 drops to clean, dry skin in the evening
Explore our other concentrated facial serums like our 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid serum and 5% Niacinamide serum.

Try out our Glycolic Acid serum skin hacks below:

Zone treat your face by applying Glycolic Acid serum to areas prone to roughness. Follow with your favorite moisturizer where needed.
Use as an exfoliating treatment for cracked heels.
Layer with our Hyaluronic Acid serum to hydrate & rebalance skin’s moisture.
Layer with our Niacinamide serum to reduce oil & sooth skin.

Kiehl’s Environmental Impact Scores

As part of our Kiehl’s Mission Renewal journey, we are providing the Environmental Impact Score to help you make informed decisions about the formulas you use. Kiehl’s is committed to continually improving the impact of our products throughout the product lifecycle, including the production and usage phase. This tool is designed to help assess the relative environmental and social impact of Kiehl’s Products compared to other L’Oréal Group products in the same category in 2020.

The calculation method was developed with the help of independent scientific experts and Bureau Veritas Certification, an independent auditor. The score takes into account 14 environmental impact factors all along the product's life cycle.

Learn more about the methodology, here.

Overall environmental impact

Compared to other similar L’Oréal Groupe Products sold worldwide in 2020

Carbon footprint

6¹g per average amount used

88g per 10mL

Water footprint

0.2² per average amount used

4.2 per 10mL

Every consumer product has some impact on the environment. A good score here does not mean a product has a positive impact or no impact on the environment. The letters and colors used in this tool are designed to help you make comparisons to other L’Oreal Groupe products in the same category around the world in 2020, so you can make more informed choices.

This product currently has a less favorable impact than we aim for, so we have set out an action plan to improve its environmental and social performance over the coming months. The letters and colors used in this tool are designed to help you make comparisons to other similar products in L'Oréal's global portfolio, so you can make more informed choices.

*Compared to other similar L’Oréal Groupe Products sold worldwide in 2020

This impact score is based on the simulated usage of 1 product and 4 refills.

Manufacturing Conditions

98%

Renewable energy:

100%

Packaging Facts

% of cardboard/paper certified
FSC^TM or PEFC:

100%

% of bottle made of recycled material³ including colorant:

20%

Refillable or reusable:

Social impact of the product

The ingredients and components of this product are sourced from suppliers committed to respect the Fundamental principles of the UN on labor standards.

1 or more suppliers committed to the social inclusion of people from vulnerable communities contributed to making this product.*

¹Grams of CO2 equivalent ("face care" category average = 9.6g)

²Water index including water quality + water scarcity (m3) - "face care" category average = 1.9

³Excuding pumps and/or caps

Before and After

Our Glycolic Acid facial serum visibly smoothes and refines skin’s texture:

Instantly, 83% Felt Refined Texture*
After 1 Week, 98% Agree Skin Feels Softer*
Smoother Skin in 1 Week**

*Reported by consumers in a 4-week study.
**Expert grading in a 4-week clinical study.

Why We Love It

Minimally formulated with only 7 ingredients, our concentrated 9.8% Glycolic Acid serum has a fast-absorbing texture that allows actives to be rapidly delivered into the skin to help visibly smooth and refine skin’s texture, minimize pores, and boost radiance.

Expert Advice

“We wanted to deliver known skin actives, such as Niacinamide, Glycolic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid in their pure form in simple formulations without too many ingredients to deliver efficacy, layer well into a skin regimen, such as with Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser and Ultra Facial Cream and allow users to customize their skin care according to their needs. The simplified formulas ensure the ingredients absorb fully into the skin. Our Ultra Pure High- Potency Serum 9.8% Glycolic Acid targets skin texture issues helping to smooth skin, improve skin radiance, and minimize the look of pores.”

Kiehl’s Global Scientific Director Dr. Nancy Ilaya PhD

Find Your Formula

Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum	Ultra Pure High-Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum	Ultra Pure High-Potency 5.0% Niacinamide Serum
Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum	Ultra Pure High-Potency 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum	Ultra Pure High-Potency 5.0% Niacinamide Serum
Skin Type All Types Dry Oily Combination Normal Sensitive	Skin Type All Types Dry Oily Combination Sensitive Normal	Skin Type All Types Dry Oily Combination Normal Sensitive
Skin Concern Enlarged Pores Uneven Skin Tone Tone & Texture Dull Skin	Skin Concern Dryness	Skin Concern Uneven Skin Tone Blemishes Oily Skin / Acne
Size One size available 1.0 fl oz / 30 ml	Size One size available 1.0 fl oz / 30 ml	Size One size available 1.0 fl oz / 30 ml
Price Old price New price $35.00	Price Old price New price $35.00	Price Old price New price $35.00

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Step 2

Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum

Old price New price $35.00

One size available

1.0 fl oz / 30 ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Glycolic Acid Serum do?

Serums are a way to introduce ingredients to the skin in a lighter-weight, more concentrated format – in this instance: Glycolic Acid. Glycolic Acid is an acid derived from plant material. It’s in the family of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) and its primary function is to dissolve the bonds that hold skin cells together and increase cell turnover. In other words, Glycolic Acid helps to exfoliate the skin.

How can Glycolic Acid help the skin?

What is the difference between Glycolic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid?

While they are both structurally acids, they have very different functions. Glycolic Acid increases cell turnover by breaking down the bonds that hold skin cells together. Hyaluronic Acid, however, is a group of sugar molecules that are naturally produced in the body (which can also be sourced from plant matter) and has a primary function of retaining moisture. It is primarily found in your skin and connective tissues to keep your body hydrated and flexible.

Is a Glycolic Acid Serum good for acne?

Can you use a Glycolic Acid Serum every day?

Glycolic Acid may be used every day; however, it is important to check your skin tolerance. It may be best to start off a few times a week and monitor how your skin reacts before building up to every day. Due to the strong exfoliating factor, though, it’s important to only use Glycolic Acid Pure Serum at night and to always wear a sunscreen during the day.

Purchase options

Purchase options

Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum

A concentrated 9.8% Glycolic Acid serum made with only 7 ingredients that visibly smoothes skin texture and boosts skin’s glow.

Overall environmental impact

Manufacturing Conditions

Packaging Facts

Social impact of the product

Before and After

Why We Love It

Expert Advice

Find Your Formula