What To Mix Lactic Acid With

Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that naturally occurs in milk, fruits, and vegetables. It’s also produced by our bodies as a byproduct of exercise. Lactic acid has many uses, including the exfoliation of dead skin cells to reveal smoother, more vibrant skin.

When used as an ingredient in cosmetics, lactic acid acts as a mild exfoliant and humectant (moisturizer), which makes it useful for treating dryness and flakiness. It also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production in the skin. Lactic acid can be found in many skincare products, such as cleansers, moisturizers, toners, masks, serums and peels. It’s often paired with other ingredients such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid to enhance its exfoliating effects on the skin.

You may find it hard to access the right information on the internet, so we are here to help you in the following article, providing the best and updated information on what to use after lactic acid and what products not to mix with lactic acid

Acids are the best ingredients in skincare for the sole reason that they work great, give instant results, and can have a transformational effect on the skin.

However, there seems to be a lot of misconception floating around the internet when it comes to using acids, layering them properly, combining them with the right products to boost the effects, as well as which acid can help you with your particular skin concern.

Not every acid works for everything, so you need to know which one to choose to effectively tackle your skin concerns.

Lactic acid is one of those acids that many people claim works for everything when this is simply not the case. So today, I will give you the “complete guide” to using lactic acid and transform your skin with this great ingredient.

5 Best Lactic Acid Products

Here are some excellent lactic acid products with different price points you should take a look at:

The Inkey List—Lactic Acid Serum

The Inkey List is a new and revolutionary skincare brand that is often compared to The Ordinary due to their ridiculously low prices and great product quality.

Their lactic acid serum is a gentle blend of naturally derived acids from milk and fruit sugars and what I love about it is that the product has a short list of straight-to-the-point ingredients.

This serum is a very gentle exfoliant, super-suitable for sensitive skin and it also contains 1% hyaluronic acid for extra hydration.

The Ordinary—Lactic Acid 5%

Before the Inkey List entered the scene, this was by far my favorite lactic acid product, and now I must conduct a comparison review between the two.

Anyhow, this one is a super-gentle lactic acid exfoliant, very suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin types with an additional 2% of hyaluronic acid for an extra hydration boost.

The Ordinary—Lactic Acid 10%

My skin loved the 5% version; however, the 10% was a completely different story for me. Having enjoyed using the milder version, I felt it was time to challenge the stronger version. I wanted even better results, so who can blame me for that?

But little did I know my skin would immediately start rebelling against this decision. My skin broke out very badly after using this product and I have been avoiding it ever since. It still has a place on my shelfie, but it’s not going anywhere near my skin anytime soon.

I added it to this list because many people seem to enjoy this product and my skin’s reaction seems to be falling in the category of “isolated incidents” when you take a look at the customer reviews on this product.

So, I am not writing off the fact that I might have done something wrong with this product, but anyhow, it’s here. Let me know in the comments if you have had a similar experience with the 10% lactic acid. I would love to know.

Paula’s Choice—Smoothing Treatment 10% AHA

I’ve already mentioned this product in my guide to using glycolic acid, but since it’s a blend of exfoliating acids and I briefly touched on this earlier, I will mention it again.

This product isn’t the best option for beginners, however, my skin liked it, and I also suggested it to my beloved mother, who also enjoyed using it.

It’s great for mature skin types as it has a blend of several alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic, lactic, and malic acid. It works to rejuvenate the skin and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

It is excellent to be followed up with low percentage retinol such as the Barrier Repair Moisturizer or the Retinol + Bakuchiol Treatment for amazing anti-aging benefits.

This is what I mean when I say that using a properly formulated product that contains multiple exfoliating acids is totally fine, however, you should never go ahead and use one lactic acid product and follow it up with another salicylic acid or glycolic acid product, for example.

Biossance – Squalane Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

I don’t have this product and I have never tried it, however, it comfortably sits in my CultBeauty cart, waiting for this global pandemic to end so it can be on its way to me (because, delays, ugh).

I have heard some great reviews on this product, and while I am not really impressed with several ingredients on the bottom, I am willing to forgive and try it out.

So I will be updating this post and obviously give you a proper, detailed review once that happens.

Lactic acid peels are an anti-aging substance found in both OTC and professional skin care products. They target hyperpigmentation, age spots, and other causes of dull, uneven skin by improving skin tone and minimizing pores. Lactic acid is gentler than glycollic acid, making it ideal for delicate skin. However, lactic acid is a potent AHA, making it more susceptible to UV rays, making sunscreen essential.

Sun exposure without protection can cause ageing spots, scarring, and raise skin cancer risk. Rash and itching can result from lactic acid peels, but these effects are typically minimal and improve as the skin adjusts to the product. If side effects persist after a few applications, stop using and consult a doctor.

Lactic acid peels are for evening use and should not be used in the morning due to increased sun sensitivity. To protect your skin, apply sunblock daily, sunscreen daily in the morning, and a sunscreen-containing daytime moisturizer and SPF foundation.

Homemade lactic acid products include the Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant, Juice Beauty Strong Green Apple Peel, Patchology FlashMasque Facial Sheets Exfoliate, Perfect Image 50% Lactic Acid Gel Peel, and QRx Labs 50% Lactic Acid Gel Peel. These products are designed for sensitive skin and include salicylic acid, salicylic acid, vitamins A and C, willow bark, natural salicylic acid, and vitamins A and C.

The Mayo Clinic recommends deeper chemical peels for optimal outcomes, as the effects persist longer than OTC peels. If OTC versions aren’t working but you don’t want a stronger AHA, a dermatologist or skin care specialist may recommend a lactic acid peel. Discuss your medications and sensitivity with your dermatologist before receiving a professional lactic acid peel.

It may take up to two weeks to recuperate from a professional lactic acid peel, with mild side effects lasting a day and severe peels requiring bandaging for several weeks. Lactic acid peels are not covered by insurance and vary in cost, but as cosmetic treatments, they are not medically required. Moisturisers are recommended after lactic acid, as they can physically protect the skin. Vitamin C should not be used with lactic acid and other AHAs, as the combination will cause a pH imbalance on the skin, rendering each ingredient useless.

Conclusion

Lactic acid is still a strong exfoliant on its own, so combining it with other active ingredients is really unnecessary because this can potentially increase redness, irritations, and sun sensitivity.

Combining lactic acid with other actives isn’t a good idea. A good solution to this would be to alternate your activities and use them on different days.