glycolic acid

Glycolic acid derives its vegan and vegetarian status from formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, water, sugar.

Vegan? Yes Vegetarian? Yes

Classifications are made based on the available commercial supply of the ingredient, and are made based on the criteria on our classifications page.

Commercially available glycolic acid is vegan and vegetarian.

Glycolic acid belongs to a group of chemicals called alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) that function as exfoliants in cosmetic products. Glycolic acid may be produced synthetically or from various plants including cane sugar.

Sources

  1. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Glycolic-Acid#section=Methods-of-Manufacturing
  2. Andersen, F. A. (1998). Final Report On the Safety Assessment of Glycolic Acid, Ammonium, Calcium, Potassium, and Sodium Glycolates, Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl, and Butyl Glycolates, and Lactic Acid, Ammonium, Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, and Tea-Lactates, Methyl, Ethyl, Isopropyl, and Butyl Lactates, and Lauryl, Myristyl, and Cetyl Lactates. International Journal of Toxicology, 17(1_suppl), 1–241.
    https://doi.org/10.1177/109158189801700101