Lactic Acid

INCI: LACTIC ACID
Type: Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), humectant, pH regulator, skin-identical moisturizing factor
Origin: Naturally found in milk and human skin. Cosmetic-grade lactic acid is typically produced via fermentation of plant sugars (corn, beet, or cassava).

What it does:

Lactic acid is a multifunctional active with two distinct, concentration-dependent roles in skincare. It is also a natural component of the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs). Primary functions:

1. NMF humectant (at all concentrations): As a naturally occurring component of healthy skin, it attracts and binds water to the stratum corneum, contributing to optimal hydration and suppleness.
2. Gentle exfoliation (at higher concentrations >5%): At higher concentrations and lower pH (typically 3.5–4.0), it dissolves the desmosomes (intercellular “glue”) holding dead skin cells together, promoting gentle shedding and revealing smoother, brighter skin.
3. pH regulator: Used in small amounts to adjust and stabilize a formula’s pH to a skin-compatible, slightly acidic range (4.5–5.5).

Why we use it:

In our daily moisturiser, we incorporate it at a low, non-exfoliating concentration within a skin-friendly pH for its NMF humectant and pH-balancing functions.