If you’re like most men, you have a few problems that bother you to an extent. One of them is skin care. There are so many products on the market; it’s hard to know what works and what doesn’t work. I fell in love with this skincare product immediately upon seeing it.

Anyone that has ever used an anti-aging skincare product knows that they have a variety of options. The most popular ingredients in anti-aging products like retinol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, are becoming household names. But natural lactic acid compounds are starting to get some attention—and for good reason.

This page will discuss Natural Lactic Acid For Face, Lactic Acid Serum and Lactic Acid For Sensitive Skin.

Moisturizing Effects of Lactic Acid

Few ingredients in the natural world are as moisturizing as lactic acid. This acid penetrates even the deepest layers of skin, carrying the moisture the skin desperately needs.

Unlike other sources of moisture, lactic acid does not just deposit hydration. Instead, it helps to train skin cells to hold onto their moisture.

One of the leading causes behind both oily and dry skin is its inability to hold the moisture it needs. This usually results in one of two conditions, the first being that the face is always dry, as it has secreted all of its moisture.

Secondly, the skin is always too oily. This is because it can sense that it is not properly hydrated and compensates by producing too much oil.

Natural Exfoliation with Enzymes

Lactic acid is rich in essential nutrients. Many times, the reason that scars do not go away is that the face lacks proper exfoliation. Over time, our complexions start to appear dull due to dead skin buildup. When we are young, dead skin is sloughed off naturally.

Lactic acid can aid the skin’s exfoliation process by providing natural enzymes that remove dead skin cell buildup. As a result, healthy skin will appear, and your skin will glow again.

If you have sensitive skin or a known allergy to lactose, it is probably best to avoid lactic acid.

Renew your complexion with a mask revealing brighter, more youthful-looking skin!

Natural Sources Of lactic Acid For Skin

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) derived from fruit acids are among the best ways to exfoliate your skin. By breaking down the bonds that hold the cells together, they help slough off the dead skin cells, loosen dirt and makeup, and clogged pores to reveal smooth skin beneath

There are several types of fruit acids found in commercial skincare products today [source], but they can also be easily made with a few fresh ingredients at home. When applied to the face, these simple AHA face masks help revitalize skin, giving you a gorgeous, fresh glow.

Just be sure you are following any fruit acid treatment or mask with the proper sunscreen. The last thing you’ll want to do is subject those new skin cells to sun damage because that contributes to aging, the opposite of what we are trying to achieve!

5 AHA Face Mask Recipes

1. Lactic Acid

One of the more gentle fruit acids, lactic acid, is ideal for sensitive skin and fighting acne. Known to have moisturizing properties, it is also acid-balancing and filled with probiotics

This natural acid is commonly found in dairy products like yogurt and some fruits, such as grapefruit, and can be applied weekly for optimal benefits. Lactic acid is a great introduction to the alpha hydroxy acids and can be a good test of your sensitivity to fruit acids in general. 

Yogurt and Grapefruit Mask 

• ½ grapefruit, juiced
• ½ cup plain, unsweetened organic yogurt

Mix yogurt with the juice from ½ grapefruit in a bowl. Apply a thin layer to clean skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with your daily moisturizer. Apply weekly as a face mask.

(Vegans can replace the yogurt with a couple of tablespoons of powdered clay, or check out the alternatives in recipe #2 or #4.)

2. Tartaric Acid

Tartaric acid is naturally found in grapes and bananas, and when applied topically, it can smooth the skin, enhancing your skin’s natural glow. Champagne (fermented grape juice) is an easily available source of tartaric acid, which makes this detoxifying face mask a great choice for a light alpha-hydroxy treatment.

Or give this second recipe for an anti-aging wine mask a shot for a gentle dose of tartaric acid.

Detoxifying AHA Mask with Champagne

• ¼ cup champagne
• 4 ounces ofpowdered clay (Bentonite is a great choice for all skin types.)
• 2 tablespoons organic heavy cream, half and half, or plain, unsweetened yogurt (vegans mix with water or raw organic apple cider vinegar in the same quantity)

Spoon the clay into a mixing bowl, then slowly pour in the cream or yogurt, gently stirring as you pour. Add the champagne and mix again.

Apply to your face and neck and let sit for about 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and a washcloth, then follow with your daily skincare routine.

Anti-Aging Wine Mask

• 2 tablespoons red or white wine
• Handful of organic red grapes
• 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
• 1 teaspoon raw honey

Combine all ingredients in a non-metal bowl. Squeeze or crush a few of the grapes to extract the fresh juice. Mix until you have a smooth consistency, adding more wine if needed.

Spread the paste evenly over a clean face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Relax and let the mask penetrate for 10–15 minutes. Rinse and follow with moisturizer.

3. Citric Acid

Citric acid can be found in various citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes. It has many benefits for the skin, but as far as AHA face masks go, citric acid is best known for lightening acne spots and improving the overall texture of skin. This homemade lemon and milk facial mask can help inject some citric acid into your beauty routine.

While you can use most citrus fruits, it’s best to avoid limes, as exposure to sunlight 48 hours after lime juice touches your skin can set up some predisposed people to a nasty case of dermatitis.

Lemon + Milk Mask

• 2 tablespoons offull-fat organic milk
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Mix milk with lemon juice in a small bowl, and let it sit on the counter for a couple of hours until it curdles. Then apply liberally to your neck and face, avoiding the eyes. Leave it on for at least 20 minutes (longer is okay), and you’ll feel it tightening as it dries. Then rinse with warm water and apply moisturizer.

4. Malic Acid

Malic acid is found most abundantly in apples. It can reduce signs of aging, help alleviate acne, brighten skin tone, and promote collagen production. Serving as a humectant, malic acid also retains moisture. You can enjoy the benefits of malic acid with this apple cider vinegar peel.

Apple Cider Vinegar Peel (a good one for vegans)

• 1 tablespoon organic, raw, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar
• ½ lemon, juiced (optional, and those with sensitive skin should skip it)

In a bowl or small cup, combine apple cider vinegar and lemon juice (if using). Using a cotton round, dip it in the apple cider vinegar and gently swab over your face in circular motions, steering clear of the eye area.

Tingling sensations are to be expected. However, if you feel burning, you can dilute the apple cider vinegar with some water. If the tingling or burning sensation does not subside with cooling and frequent skin moisturization, it is recommended that you contact your dermatologist.

5. Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is one of the most popular rapid exfoliators available, making it a frequent additive in most anti-aging products. It’s derived from sugar cane and has shown tremendous success regenerating the surface layers of the skin and lessening the appearance of superficial scars and hyperpigmentation [source].

Using a few ingredients from your pantry, you can get the benefits of glycolic acid with the help of this AHA sugar mask.

Honey + Sugar AHA Face Mask

• 2 tablespoons raw organic sugar (turbinado or sucanat)
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• Juice of ½ lemon

You’ll want the sugar to be as fine as possible (but not processed to fine like white sugar), so you’ll probably want to use a coffee grinder or blender to break it down. Then combine the sugar and honey in a bowl. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the bowl and mix well.

Apply the mixture to your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Rinse with warm water after 5–10 minutes. In the beginning, start with just 1–2 minutes and gradually increase the time with each application to a maximum of 10 minutes.

Glycolic acid use should be gradually increased, so limit the length of time on your skin in the beginning, or extend the frequency of application if you find your skin becomes sensitive to its effects.

Many people with sensitive skin or rosacea-prone skin can have a bad reaction to glycolic acid, so avoid it altogether if you fall into this group.

Can I add apple cider vinegar (malic acid) to the glycolic acid mask, or would that be overkill?

Indeed, it’s advisable to exercise caution and proceed cautiously. Adding more acid to a mask may increase irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. I recommend adding 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and testing it on your wrist before applying it to your face.

Does sugar really contain glycolic acid?

Raw sugarcane does contain glycolic acid [source] [source], which is why we recommend using sucanat or turbinado sugar in our Honey + Sugar AHA Face Mask (the lemon has AHAs, too). While you can use white sugar, since it’s highly processed, you’re bound to get less glycolic acid and thus less of an effect than with raw sugar.

How strong are these masks? Can they be done multiple times a week?

While natural ingredients like lemon juice and apple cider vinegar are pretty strong, they’re not as potent as what you’d get at the dermatologist’s office. I recommend using them 1–2 times a week at most. Any more, and you run the risk of over-exfoliating your skin, which can do more harm than good in the long run.

As always, listen to your skin, give it time to rest between treatments, and always, always wear sunscreen when spending moments outside.

Why do I need to avoid the eye area with these masks?

For starters, the eye area is more delicate than other areas of the face, and applying acid can cause redness and irritation. Second, these masks have a tendency to tingle or sting, which can be pretty irritating and even do serious damage to your eyes.

Can you exfoliate (with a sugar scrub, for example) before using one of these masks?

Since AHAs naturally exfoliate skin, using a scrub prior to applying an AHA face mask may be too harsh. Not only does it increase the likelihood of pain and irritation, but it can also break down your skin’s moisture barrier, making skin look and feel more irritated and splotchy than before. 

How Is Lactic Acid Made?

Lactic acid is produced through fermentation, a process where yeasts, mold, fungi, or bacteria break down carbohydrates — like sugar and starch — into alcohol, gas, and acids. Fermentation results in food products high in lactic acid.‌

Fermentation can happen naturally. Yogurt and sourdough, for instance, ferment on their own. But in most cases, food manufacturers use a starter culture to begin the fermentation process.‌

A manufacturer takes these steps to create fermented foods:

1. Selects a container to limit oxygen exposure
2. Adds a brine of water and salt to the container before sealing it
3. Puts in the food that needs to be fermented, such as cabbage or cucumber

As bacteria break down the sugar in the food, carbon dioxide and lactic acid will form. Meanwhile, the process removes oxygen, and the food becomes more acidic. This promotes the growth of more lactic acid bacteria and suppresses the growth of other microorganisms.

The fermentation process can take anywhere from days to months. The food manufacturer will then take the fermented food out and store it in a cool place to keep it from spoiling.

What Foods Are High in Lactic Acid?

A few types of foods are high in lactic acid. Generally, any food produced through a fermentation process is full of lactic acid bacteria and other beneficial bacteria. These include but are not limited to:

• Bread and beer
• Soy products such as tofu and soy milk
• Cheese
• Pickled vegetables such as kimchi and sauerkraut
• Pickled meats such as salami
• Legumes, such as beans and peas.

To get the most out of these foods, avoid cooking them over high heat. This may kill the beneficial bacteria. 

Instead, try adding them as toppings or condiments for cooked food. Fermented foods are delicious and highly varied in texture and flavor. They make an excellent addition to any meal.

Is Lactic Acid Vegan?

Generally, lactic acid is vegan because it’s made from or originates from cereals, legumes, or fermented vegetables. The main exceptions are lactic acid found in fermented meat and dairy products, which are non-vegan.‌

But some food manufacturers may have used animal sources to produce human-made lactic acid. The only way to find out for certain is to ask the manufacturer directly.

Is Lactic Acid Good for You?

Yes, lactic acid is good for you, even when it’s in the form of a food preservative.

Although many food preservatives are unhealthy, lactic acid preservatives will help protect you from getting sick. It controls the pH, or acidity and alkalinity, to prevent food from spoiling.

Lactic acid also improves your food’s taste. By controlling the acidity, it balances flavors in foods such as olives, cheese, canned fish, desserts, and carbonated drinks.‌

More importantly, lactic acid can boost the quality of your food’s nutrition. While the lactic acid added to desserts, canned fish, and carbonated drinks is not very healthy, the naturally produced lactic acid in fermented foods such as kimchi and yogurt offers a variety of health benefits by:

• Strengthening your immune system
• Helping your body absorb minerals and vitamins
• Giving your food antioxidant effects
• Protecting you from vaginal and urinary infections

Some strains of lactic acid bacteria found in food are probiotics, such as those belonging to the genus Lactobacillus. This means many foods high in lactic acid have probiotic qualities and can boost your gut health.

Lactic acid can also protect you from constipation and other gastrointestinal issues.

Conclusion

Lactic acid is one of the world’s oldest and most well-loved beauty ingredients. For centuries, women have been using milk’s renewing, calming powers to improve their complexions. Moreover, every animal’s milk contains lactic acid, which is suitable for the babies that drink it.

Additionally, it is good for women worldwide who want something that will both effectively moisturize the skin and promote renewed skin tone and improved texture. In fact, Cleopatra would bathe in milk to keep her skin hydrated and glowing. Considered one of the most beautiful women in history, there’s no arguing with lactic acid’s efficacy.

While lactic acid is found in milk, it is also common in yogurt. Therefore, powdered milk or plain yogurt makes great homemade masks.