Ingredient glossary
Lactic acid
On your shelf ✓What Lactic acid does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Lactic Acid · Also: AHA
In short: Lactic acid delivers exfoliation and hydration, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Exfoliation, hydration
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Moderate
The molecule
The Glow take
One of the ingredients I trust most.
When your goal is deep, lasting hydration, Lactic acid delivers, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. Introduce it gently, and pair it with something soothing if your skin runs sensitive.
— Maya
What it does
- exfoliation
- hydration
moderate evidenceSignificant evidence for AHA exfoliation, improving texture, tone and photoaging signs at appropriate pH and strength.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- dry
- normal
- combo
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- compromised barrier
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
- pH-dependentIts effect depends on the product's pH
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: compromised barrier.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- humectants
- ceramides
Lactic acid, answered
Is Lactic acid safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Lactic acid is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Lactic acid?
Approach Lactic acid with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive and compromised barrier. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Lactic acid actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
During pregnancy
Treat Lactic acid as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.
Commonly confused with
- Glycolic acidBoth are AHAs. Glycolic is the smaller molecule that gets in deeper and stronger; lactic is gentler and also hydrates.
Compare Lactic acid with
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