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 is found in many skincare products, such as cleaners, 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 appears to be a lot of misconception floating around the internet when it comes to using acids, layering them properly, and 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 tackle your skin concerns effectively.

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 transforming your skin with this beneficial ingredient.

What is lactic acid?

Lactic acid is an exfoliating acid that belongs to the alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) family. This ingredient is derived from sour milk or sugar-rich foods and it is a water-soluble substance that possesses larger molecules than other AHAs, such as glycolic acid.

Due to its large molecules, lactic acid won’t penetrate deeper into the skin and will instead work on the surface, which leads to a lighter degree of exfoliation that is more suitable for sensitive skin types.

Which active ingredients can be associated with lactic acid?

Lactic acid can be combined with other active ingredients to enhance its effects. Lactic acid can be paired with

• Ferulic Acid.

Ferulic acid is an antioxidant agent that combats cell oxidation and thus fights against the photo-aging of the skin.

A scientific study compared the effectiveness of a peel combining lactic acid and ferulic acid to a peel containing only ferulic acid. The results show a greater effectiveness of the peel combining lactic acid and ferulic acid on fine wrinkles, photo-aging, and hyperpigmentation spots. Indeed, as a keratolytic agent, lactic acid refines the epidermis by eliminating dead cells. This action leads to a better penetration of ferulic acid, thus multiplying its effects. Therefore, lactic acid and ferulic acid work synergistically on photo-aging.

In your beauty routine, on clean and dry skin, use our gentle peeling serum followed by our antioxidant serum containing 3% ferulic acid. Since lactic acid is photosensitizing, this combination should be used only in the evening.

• Retinol.

The retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is a potent firming agent that smooths the skin texture, reduces signs of aging, and effectively combats pigmentation spots and blemishes.

Lactic acid and retinol alleviate acne through their keratolytic actions. A scientific study proves that the topical combination of A.H.A. (including lactic acid), retinol, and B.H.A. (salicylic acid) significantly reduces both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions within 4 weeks. An overall improvement in skin quality was also observed. We advise caution for those with dry, sensitive, or atopic skin, but this combination is beneficial for acne-prone skin.

In this study, the serum used is a combination of 0.1% of an AHA-Retinol complex, 2% salicylic acid, and 10.04% lactic acid.

To benefit from the virtues of lactic acid and retinol on acne, use our gentle peeling serum followed by our retinol serum. The combination of these two serums should be done only in the evening, as retinol and lactic acid are photosensitizing molecules.

However, retinol is a molecule that can prove to be irritating and drying. If you have sensitive skin, you should instead turn to bakuchiol, which is a natural alternative to retinol with fewer side effects.

• The other acids are present in the mixture.

Lactic acid (an A.H.A.) and other acids (B.H.A.s or P.H.A.s) can be very helpful when combined. Indeed, lactic acid works on the surface of the epidermis by eliminating dead cells. Our peeling mask with 10% A.H.A. and 10% P.H.A. thus helps to unclog pores while reducing the appearance of imperfections, such as blackheads, over time. Lactic acid also has humectant properties that improve skin hydration. Salicylic acid, due to its affinity for sebum, penetrates and unclogs the skin’s pores.

Thus, the combination of lactic acid and salicylic acid is also beneficial for acne-prone skin as it provides a comprehensive action against blemishes.

Please note that our local imperfection serum contains 2% salicylic acid, while our gentle peeling serum contains 10% lactic acid. In cosmetics, the combination of AHA+BHA should not exceed 10%; therefore, the combination of our two serums is not possible.

The combination of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) is also highly beneficial. In addition to their shared exfoliating properties, some molecules offer additional benefits. For instance, lactic acid not only exfoliates but also has moisturizing and soothing properties. Furthermore, the mode of action of AHAs varies depending on their size. Lactic acid, due to its molecular weight, acts on the surface, while glycolic acid, which is smaller, penetrates more deeply, stimulating the synthesis of collagen fibers, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.

Therefore, combining A.H.A.s allows for a complementary action and increased effectiveness.

What Does Lactic Acid Do To The Skin?

Lactic acid is a well-known part of the skin’s natural moisturizing complex; therefore, it can efficiently moisturize the skin. Lactic acid is naturally present in the gut and skin and it also contributes to the cell cycle in human keratinocytes (the skin cells).

Besides this, lactic acid can successfully acidify the skin, which means that when our skin is exposed to more alkaline environments that can harm the epidermis, lactic acid can effectively bring its pH level back to normal.

Besides this, here are a few other benefits of lactic acid on the skin:

• Hydrates the skin.
• It brings the pH level of the skin back to normal.
• Fades hyperpigmentation.
• It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• This product nourishes sensitive skin.
• It can have a mild effect on acne due to its exfoliating properties.

Can You Use Lactic Acid If You Have a Milk Allergy?

Due to lactic acid being derived from milk products, you might be thinking that it is related to lactose (which is a type of glucose found in milk).

However, lactic acid that goes into your skincare products won’t affect you if you are lactose intolerant because this type of lactic acid is synthetically produced.

But if you are truly allergic to milk and you get the most severe reactions, such as hives, shortness of breath, etc., then you should definitely have a little chat with your health provider before using lactic acid products.

On the other hand, it is always helpful to test a product somewhere in a small area, like the inside of your wrist or behind your ear.

You can give it to someone who can use it if you have a reaction to it, especially with products like The Ordinary Lactic Acid that cost about $10.

Should You Moisturize After Lactic Acid?

Yes, you should always moisturize after any type of exfoliation you do.

Lactic acid naturally moisturizes the skin; however, once it’s absorbed into the skin, you still want to use something a little heavier and create that nice, occlusive barrier that will help your skin retain moisture.

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 straightforward ingredients.

This serum is a very gentle exfoliant that is 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 an entirely different story for me. Having enjoyed using the milder version, I felt it was time to challenge the stronger version. I was seeking improved results, which I believe is understandable.

But little did I know my skin would immediately start rebelling against this decision. My skin broke out terribly after using this product and I have been avoiding it ever since. Despite causing a breakout, I keep it on my shelf for display purposes only, avoiding any further use on my skin.

I added this product to my list because many people seem to enjoy it, and my skin’s reaction appears to fall into the category of “isolated incidents” based on customer reviews.

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

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, which I briefly touched on earlier, I will mention it again.

My skin liked this product, and I recommended it to my mom, who also liked it, but it’s not for beginners.

It’s ideal 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 follow 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 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.

What Products Not To Mix With Lactic Acid

Avoid applying vitamin C when using products that include lactic acid and other AHAs. This is due to the fact that the combination of these acids will induce a pH imbalance on the skin, rendering each ingredient worthless.

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 suitable solution to this would be to alternate your activities and use them on different days.