Ingredient glossary
Lactobionic Acid
On your shelf ✓What Lactobionic Acid does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Lactobionic Acid · Also: PHA
In short: Lactobionic 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; needs the right pH to work.
- What it does
- Exfoliation, hydration
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; needs the right pH to work
- Evidence
- Moderate
The molecule
The Glow take
One of the ingredients I trust most.
When your goal is deep, lasting hydration, Lactobionic Acid delivers, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. It only performs at the right pH, so it is worth buying from brands that get the formulation details right.
— Maya
What it does
- exfoliation
- hydration
- barrier support
- antioxidant
moderate evidenceData indicate lactobionic acid is more hydrating and may offer stronger antioxidant and barrier benefits than gluconolactone, with very low irritation.
On a label: works best above 4%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- dry
- sensitive
- all
Approach with care
No specific group flagged to avoid it.
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
- pH-dependentIts effect depends on the product's pH
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- humectants
- ceramides
- antioxidants
Lactobionic Acid, answered
Is Lactobionic Acid safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Lactobionic Acid is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Lactobionic Acid?
No specific group is flagged to avoid Lactobionic Acid. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.
What concentration of Lactobionic Acid actually works?
Research tends to show Lactobionic Acid starts pulling its weight above 4%. If a brand prints the percentage, that is the number to look for.
During pregnancy
Treat Lactobionic 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.
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