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What To Dilute The Ordinary Lactic Acid With
A beneficial way to dilute Lactic Acid is to mix it with another serum or moisturizer—one containing hyaluronic acid works well. When using The Ordinary lactic acid and hyaluronic acid, avoid mixing Lactic Acid with products containing retinol or other acids.
Out of all the chemical exfoliating ingredients, we rate Lactic Acid highly in Australia due to its large molecule size and its relative gentleness.
Without a doubt, Lactic Acid is one of our favorite chemical exfoliants to use on all skin types.
This guide focuses on The Ordinary. Specifically, we’re here to explore how to use The Ordinary Lactic Acid in Australia and cover the before and after results.
The Ordinary offers two products of this nature: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% vs 5%
The difference between The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% is the concentration of Lactic Acid in the formula.
‘The 5% concentration is suitable for beginners who have little experience with chemical exfoliation and can start by introducing a lower concentration into their routine and moving to a higher concentration if needed,’ explains Prudvi Kaka, Chief Scientific Officer of DECIEM.
‘The 10% concentration is suitable for experienced users of chemical exfoliants who have developed skin tolerance to higher concentrations.’
How does The Ordinary Lactic Acid work?
So, how does The Ordinary Lactic Acid work? Being a chemical exfoliant—more specifically, an alpha-hydroxy acid—Lactic Acid can loosen the sticky ‘glue’ that holds dead skin cells to the surface of your skin.
That’s why an application of a product with Lactic Acid can reveal a brighter and smoother-looking complexion.
You may wonder, ‘Should I use The Ordinary Lactic Acid for blackheads?’ Kaka explains:
AHAs such as lactic acid will help improve [blackhead] appearance through superficial exfoliation, but beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) are a more suitable choice for this concern.
This is because, while AHAs are water-soluble, BHAs are lipid- (oil-) soluble, which means that they will be able to mix with the skin’s lipids and work both on the surface and inside pores to help clear congestion.
How to Use The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5 & 10 HA
To feel the full benefit of The Ordinary Lactic Acid, you need to select either the 5% + HA 2% or 10% + HA and properly apply it. Fortunately, knowing how to use The Ordinary Lactic Acid in Australia is pretty straightforward.
Like any new product, we recommend that you patch test first! Start by applying a thin layer to your face after your toner and before your moisturizer in your evening skincare routine. If you have not used lactic acid and niacinamide before, start by incorporating this step into your routine three times a week and go from there.
What are The Ordinary Lactic Acid ingredients?
Both The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% contain mostly water, lactic acid, glycerine, and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer. Tasmania Pepperberry, known to reduce skin irritation, is also featured in both formulas.
How to Dilute Lactic Acid The Ordinary
While we recommend starting with The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% rather than the 10% formula, you can also dilute either product to lower its potency.
A beneficial way to dilute Lactic Acid is to mix it with another serum or moisturizer—one containing hyaluronic acid works well.
When you are looking at how to use The Ordinary lactic acid and hyaluronic acid, be sure not to ‘dilute’ Lactic Acid with something that contains retinol or another acid. You’ll end up with irritation, not exfoliation.
How to Use The Ordinary Lactic Acid and Niacinamide Together?
If you’re looking at how to use The Ordinary Lactic Acid and niacinamide together, then we have good news for you: you certainly can use the two together to elevate your skincare routine.
Niacinamide has the fantastic ability to address congestion in the skin, making it a top choice for getting rid of little blemishes that appear from time to time.
There’s only one thing to take note of: ‘We do not recommend combining [Lactic Acid] with our 100% Niacinamide Powder, as we do not recommend mixing the powder with formulations with a pH of 5 or lower,’ says Kaka.
Can I use The Ordinary Lactic Acid and Vitamin C together?
Now, if you’re wondering if you can use The Ordinary Lactic Acid and vitamin C together, we have to caution you here.
‘We do not recommend combining direct acids and vitamin C (direct or ethylated) in the same regimen to avoid the potential of developing skin sensitivities,’ warns Kaka.
‘If you wish to incorporate both into your regimen, we suggest [separating] the two products into AM and PM regimens.’
Can I mix lactic acid with retinol?
Properly layering a retinol serum with other skincare can make retinoids more effective. But as important as it is, it can be hard to remember when to apply retinol and which ingredients to avoid when using it.
That’s why we’ve created this complete guide to layering Squalane + Retinol Night Serum. Read on for targeted skincare routines that address common concerns, including sensitivity, wrinkles, skin texture, and pore size.
Shop Squalane + Retinol Night Serum
Conclusion
Mixing lactic acid with another serum or moisturizer—one that contains hyaluronic acid—is a wonderful method to dilute it. Be careful not to “dilute” conventional lactic acid with retinol or another acid while examining how to utilize it in conjunction with hyaluronic acid.