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Medik8 Sleep Glycolic for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Medik8 Sleep Glycolic

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin and acne concerns due to glycolic acid's keratolytic action, complemented by lespedeza capitata stem extract for potential seboregulation.
  • The formulation is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation.
  • This product provides good texture refinement and renewal for acne, blemishes, and breakouts.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.

People Say

★4.8Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this product is highly praised for its ability to transform dull skin into a glowing, radiant complexion. Users report significant improvements in skin texture, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines, with many noting a lack of irritation. Some users experience a mild tingling sensation or dryness.

Highlights

  • Glowing, radiant skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost.”
    • “My skin looks beautiful the next morning after using sleep glycolic.”
    • “I felt like I was wearing highlighter all over my face due to the luminosity.”
    • “Skin is literally like a baby's bottom - soft, plump and smooth.”
  • Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced.”
    • “Skin is clearer and smoother, I'm 70 so never going to have glass skin but pleased with the result.”
    • “It leaves my skin feeling SO smooth the next morning!”
    • “My skin texture is smoother and complexion clearer.”
  • No irritation Often Mentioned
    • “No issues with sensitivity and super easy to use a couple of times a week.”
    • “I was worried it might irritate my 50 year old skin, but it doesn't at all.”
    • “Not a tiny bit of irritation in sight. In fact, it felt beautiful as I applied.”
    • “I have experienced no irritation and my skin feels much smoother the following day.”
  • Reduces dullness Sometimes Noted
    • “Banished skin dullness and started to scare wrinkles into submission.”
    • “It left my skin tone so much more clearer and lighter.”
    • “I also think the dark rings on my neck are less noticeable since using this.”
    • “With only one use, the Sleep Glycolic had transformed my dull complexion.”
  • Causes mild dryness Rarely Noted
    • “The next morning, my skin felt a touch dry but I think that is to be expected.”
    • “The first couple of times I used it my skin felt a bit dry a few days afterwards.”
    • “Not sure if it's just me but I do notice a little light itchiness on the drier parts of my face.”
  • Slight tingling sensation Rarely Noted
    • “I do notice a little light itchiness on the drier parts of my face a day or two after use.”
    • “I personally only experienced very slight mild irritation.”
    • “It's just the right amount of tingle, and at the right price point.”
  • Too strong frequently Rarely Noted
    • “Can't use frequently, too much for my skin.”
    • “I cut down from a 'large-ish' pea-sized amount to a 'petit pois' size and that solved the issue.”
    • “I use it once a week, that's enough for my skin which can be slightly sensitive.”

Sources: lovi.care, medik8.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, adorebeauty.com.au, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Medik8 Sleep Glycolic work for oily acne-prone skin?

Medik8 Sleep Glycolic works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, offering decent texture refinement and breakout care through glycolic acid without heavy irritation risks. For this skin type, products need specialized soothing ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or benzoyl peroxide to deliver better acne control and oil balance.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycolic acid helps smooth oily skin and clear breakouts, while lespedeza capitata extract helps manage excess oil. To fit this skin type best, an exfoliant of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or vitamin c that control oil and soothe skin safely without causing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

What does Glycolic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycolic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and soothing breakouts. It exfoliates the surface to keep pores clear and leaves the skin feeling smooth.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Dermatologic Surgery, 2014

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This exfoliant goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting once a week and using it more often only if you tolerate it well. To work best for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs exfoliating ingredients like glycolic acid alongside soothing and oil-balancing plant extracts.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

This exfoliant works for your oily acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because this skin type needs stronger targeted ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing agents. Using both this glycolic acid treatment and a retinol at the same time may easily lead to irritation, so it is best to use them on different nights or alternate evenings.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often only if your oily skin tolerates it well and sees good results. For this skin type, an exfoliant also needs oil-balancing ingredients and soothing plant extracts to keep breakouts calm while clearing pores.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and uses glycolic acid to help smooth skin and clear blemishes. However, it may occasionally cause mild dryness or a slight tingling sensation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

  • Regular application of cosmetic submicron emulsions and gels containing hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin showed no statistically significant effects on skin barrier function and observed physiological skin parameters in 15 healthy human subjects over four weeks, indicating good skin tolerability.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021

  • A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.

    International Journal of Dermatology, 2000

  • Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2017

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • The circadian clock component PER represses MMP-1 expression via the cAMP signaling pathway and mediates the MMP-1 suppression induced by Lespedeza capitata extract in HaCaT keratinocytes.

    Molecules, 2018

  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024

  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000

  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

  • Topical retinoic acid-beta-cyclodextrin complex formulations at 0.025% showed greater acne improvement scores (4.0-4.1) and lower irritation than a commercial 0.05% retinoic acid gel (score 3, with side effects in all patients) after 3 months in 66 patients with acne vulgaris.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2004

  • Tretinoin cyclodextrin complex demonstrated an antiwrinkle effect equal to that of conventional tretinoin with more moderate irritant reactions in photoaged patients.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2012

  • Binary systems of trans-resveratrol with polyethylene glycol or beta-cyclodextrin enhanced its antioxidant activity and in vivo skin anti-aging effects compared to trans-resveratrol alone in human keratinocytes and volunteers.

    Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2014

Ingredients

Water, Glycolic Acid, Cyclodextrin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Lespedeza Capitata Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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QR code: get the Lovi app
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