23 AHA Serums Derms Recommend for Smoother, Brighter Skin

A combination of a serum and a toner, this fragrance-free exfoliating solution is formulated with two AHAs, glycolic and mandelic acids, and one PHA, gluconolactone. All of these acids work together to gently increase cell turnover (slough dead skin cells). This specific serum is pH balanced to minimize irritation and is gentle enough for more frequent use.

Cult-favorite skin-care brand CeraVe makes a 5% glycolic and lactic acid treatment that’s formulated with ceramides to protect the skin barrier and moisturize, making it a good choice for folks with normal to dry skin. It also has hyaluronic acid and licorice root extract to create visible plumpness and glow.

This powerful solution uses 5% glycolic acid, one of the best AHAs for targeting fine lines and dull skin. It combats clogged pores and pollution and is also formulated with soothing licorice root extract.

One thing we love about Paula’s Choice is that the brand lists the studies they use to create their formulations right on the site page. This derm-backed serum uses 8% glycolic acid and has a lightweight gel texture that absorbs quickly.

“A lot of AHA serums are combined with antioxidants like a topical vitamin C,” Dr. Potozkin says. “So that’s something I would look for to make your skin-care routine more efficient and deliver a double dose of brightening.” Murad combines stable vitamin C with glycolic acid to target hyperpigmentation.

If you’re already a fan of SkinCeuticals’ best-selling C E Ferulic serum, Dr. Potozkin recommends this serum, which combines 15% vitamin C and 10% AHA chemical exfoliants (citric, glycolic, and lactic acids). It’s ideal for anyone with aging skin, as vitamin C works to brighten dark spots and the trio of acids even out skin tone and smooth fine lines.

Similar to Dr. Dennis Gross’s ever-popular Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, this serum for oily and acne-prone skin combines AHAs with BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), delivering a one-two punch of anti-aging and breakout-reducing ingredients. Inside the bottle, you’ll find glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acid for unclogging pores, plus salicylic acid and witch hazel to quell excess oil production and blemishes. It also has soothing green tea and jojoba oil to combat dryness and irritation.

Packed with botanicals and organic ingredients, Eminence’s Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum relies on AHAs, BHAs, and hyaluronic acid to combat hyperpigmentation over time and deliver immediate hydration. You’ll also find antioxidants, CoQ10, and Alpha Lipoic Acid, which are excellent for reducing the appearance of wrinkles on aging skin.

With nearly 1,500 five-star reviews, Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Framboos serum is one of the top-rated AHA serums on the market. It’s formulated with a 10% blend of glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acids to brighten acne scars and age spots, plus 1% salicylic acid to prevent future breakouts. 

Here’s a clarifying, exfoliating serum from K-beauty brand Cosrx. Inside the bottle are a suite of hardworking ingredients like glycolic acid, niacinamide to control oil production and brighten, and apple fruit water which works to clear whiteheads and refine your skin texture.

Created with sensitive skin in mind, First Aid Beauty’s 10% AHA serum features the brand’s Skin Saver Complex, which is comprised of soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients like hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, vitamins C and E, aloe, ceramides, and allantoin. If you have sensitive skin, it’s still best to start using this only a few times per week, and always be sure to follow it up with a moisturizer.

“The Drunk Elephant Protini serum has peptides combined with lactic acid,” Dr. Kim says. “The idea is that you gently resurface your skin, which helps other skin-care ingredients absorb a lot more quickly and readily, thus giving you more effective results.” Peptides work to either increase the amount of collagen your cells produce or decrease the amount of it that gets broken down, SELF previously reported, with the ultimate goal of smoother, plumper, healthier skin.

Good Genes earned its place among our—and the internet’s—skin-care best-of list because it does what it says it will: Gently exfoliates skin with lactic acid to reveal a brighter and smoother complexion. What’s more, it has earned five-star reviews at top retailers and it’s been a favorite of skin-care aficionados for years.

This serum uses glycolic acid and 1.5% retinol in tandem to turn over skin cells, aid in unclogging pores, and target fine lines. To stave off any irritation, it’s also constructed with soothing allantoin and adenosine, plus hyaluronic acid, collagen, and niacinamide to visibly plump the skin.

Beyond its pretty packaging, this acne-targeting serum from Herbivore uses lactic, glycolic, and malic acids and willow bark. It’s also formulated with botanicals like Kakadu plum (which has high concentrations of vitamin C), aloe water, and hyaluronic acid.

This SELF writer-beloved serum relies on what Glow Recipe calls its Clarity Acid Complex: 2% BHA and 1% mandelic acid blend, 3.5% strawberry (water, enzymes, and leaf extract), 3% azelaic acid liposome, and 0.5% succinic acid. These chemical exfoliants slough dead skin cells, clear blemishes, and reveal a smoother, more even skin texture over time. The gentle serum is also packed with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, bisabolol (a derivative of chamomile), and vitamin C.

This serum from luxe brand Tata Harper works as a peel and includes seven AHAs and BHAs (including lactic, glycolic, citric, malic, and tartaric acid), plus vitamin C, to target dead skin build-up and dark spots.

For a serious glow, this top-rated serum should make its way to your beauty shelf—stat. It’s formulated with a blend of 10% AHAs (glycolic and lactic acid), 10% gentler PHAs (gluconolactone), and lemon enzymes to revive tired, uneven skin. It’s supported by nourishing ingredients like aloe juice and cotton water.

This SELF Healthy Beauty Award–winning nighttime serum wowed our testers. They said their face was not only noticeably smoother, but their skin tone was more even thanks to lactic acid. “The packaging is fancy and the serum itself goes on smoothly with a pleasant herbal scent,” one tester wrote. “It absorbs into your skin quickly and did a great job of exfoliating my skin overnight.”

Botanical-based skin-care brand Biossance uses 10% vegan lactic acid to unclog pores, plus a hefty dose of squalane, which helps to balance the dehydrating effects of AHAs and plump the skin.

With nearly 1,500 excellent reviews, Tatcha’s potent vitamin C serum also uses 10% AHA to promote faster cell turnover, which helps to both exfoliate and lighten dark spots. It also includes Japanese angelica root, an ingredient used in herbal medicine to reduce discoloration and heal acne scars.