Here’s some things you might not know about this mighty little ingredient.
By Kris Gucker
Where it Comes From and How it Works
When you think about lactic acid, you might think about having sore muscles the day after you work out, but this naturally occurring acid has a host of health benefits when applied to skin. Lactic acid is created through fermentation of various sugars. As the name suggests, it is most commonly made from milk sugars, but vegan varieties can also be made from corn or beet sugars.
One of the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), it is a chemical exfoliator, which means it melts the bonds between the top, dead layers of skin cells and the healthy layers underneath, allowing the dead skin to be removed and encouraging the healthy cells to grow. This process contributes to a smoother, brighter, firmer-looking complexion, especially when used in conjunction with BHAs like Salicylic Acid.
Lactic Acid also contains antioxidants, which can reduce the cells’ negative reaction to environmental stressors like pollution, dust, or UV rays from the sun.
Unfortunately, Lactic Acid can sometimes have the undesired side effect of irritating or inflaming the skin. That’s why we’ve paired it with our proprietary marine growth factor, c-PDRN®, which helps to counteract the negative effects, strengthen, and soothe for maximum benefit without the redness.
You can find its brightening power in our Advanced Intensive Pigment Corrector, which helps to minimize dark spots and brighten overall skin tone.
