What Does Lactic Acid Do For The Skin?
There are a lot of active ingredients in the skincare industry that are marketed as cure-alls or miracle products when their usefulness is likely overrated. While many of these ingredients are effective, they aren’t the end-all be-all secret to unlocking your skin’s radiant potential. The best skincare routine incorporates both the most well-known ingredients as well as those that are specifically tailored to your skin type and goals.
If you don’t already know about how lactic acid can help your skin, here’s all you need to know and how to incorporate it into your daily routine.
What is Lactic Acid?
Lactic acid is a commercially available alpha hydroxy acid, a type of compound used in chemical peels as well as dairy products like yogurt. It adds a distinct “tang” flavor to dairy products and has been used for centuries in cultures throughout the world as a skincare treatment. These days, rather than taking a milk bath or yogurt facial, there are skincare products formulated with a synthetic form of lactic acid for convenience and compounded benefits with other high-quality ingredients.
Benefits of Lactic Acid in Skincare
As an acidic compound, lactic acid helps dissolve and remove old, dead skin cells that build up on the surface of your skin over time. In this sense, it’s a mild exfoliant that can be added to cleansers and moisturizers to amplify the benefits of cleaning your skin on a daily basis. Studies show that lactic acid also has a role to play in stimulating quicker cell turnover, which, when used regularly, over time, your skin will regenerate more quickly, leading to healthier-looking and smoother skin.
In low concentrations, Lactic acid is a mild exfoliant and a gentle hydroxy acid, making it appropriate for everyday use, as opposed to other hydroxy acids, which can dry out the skin if used too often. In this sense, lactic acid is the opposite of other acids, as it has been shown to actually improve the moisture content of skin, helping skin to feel less dry and more hydrated. It’s also used to reduce the appearance of aging like very fine lines and mild pigmentation.
Best Lactic Acid Products
When we use lactic acid in products formulated for Epicuren Discovery, we use a low percentage of it as a way to boost or complement the benefits of other active ingredients, like natural essential oils and potent antioxidants. Some of our lactic acid formulas include:
- Brazilian Propolis Lotion – This rich, lightweight moisturizer is packed with nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants your skin needs to stay hydrated-looking all day long. Lactic acid helps deliver the ingredients as effectively as possible to the skin by helping clear away dead skin cells and balancing the formula’s pH.
- Noni Skin Elixir – When your skin is irritated by environmental factors like the sun and wind, reach for our noni fruit and aloe vera formulas to refresh and calm the appearance of sensitive skin.
- Facial Emulsion Moisturizer – With a formula engineered to provide the most potent moisture while stimulating the skin with our Metadermabolic Protein Enzyme Complex. Experience the professional-grade difference with this cruelty-free product.
Professional-Grade Skincare By Epicuren Discovery
Lactic acid is just one effective ingredient we use to formulate our high-quality skincare products. Using decades of pharmaceutical-grade skincare research, our team puts together synergistic formulas that have helped thousands of people deal with their daily skincare needs, for everything from simple cleansing to anti-aging products. Discover your new favorite product today by taking our Skin Quiz, which recommends specific products for you based on your skin type and goals.