What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCentella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Monococcum Stem Water
Glycerin
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialBisabolol
Masking
Phytic Acid
Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Triticum Monococcum Stem Water, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Succinoglycan, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Bisabolol, Phytic Acid, Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate, Centella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Lactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
