Ingredients
Lactic Acid: How much lactic acid your skin can tolerate
Posted by Lara Schimweg on
INCI: Lactic Acid
Effect:
regulates the pH value
has a peeling effect in an acidic pH value between 3-4
Tolerability: very good
What is Lactic Acid?
Lactic acid , also known as lactate, is a cosmetic ingredient. It is a natural acid that occurs in milk and fermented foods. The INCI name is Lactic Acid . It belongs to the alpha hydroxy acids (AHA)
Lactic acid is found in the skin itself. It moisturizes and is used as an acid peeling or pH regulator.
lactic acid effect
- Peeling effect: Lactic acid removes dead skin cells and refines and smoothes the skin. Lactic acid improves the firmness, thickness and wrinkle formation of the skin.
- Moisturizing: Lactic acid binds moisture in the skin.
- pH-regulating: Lactic acid is acidic and is therefore suitable for adjusting cosmetic products to a (slightly) acidic pH value.
tolerance of lactic acid
Tolerability of lactic acid as a pH regulator
If lactic acid is used to stabilize the pH value, it has no peeling effect and can be used daily without hesitation. Even very sensitive skin tolerates lactic acid very well as a pH regulator. A slightly acidic pH value between 5 and 6 keeps the skin's acid mantle stable and maintains its natural microbiome.
Compatibility of Lactic Acid as an Acid Peeling
Lactic acid is one of the best known and best researched AHAs when used as an acid peel. Compared to glycolic acid (the strongest AHA), lactic acid has larger molecules. This is particularly good for more sensitive skin types because the large molecules of lactic acid do not penetrate as deeply into the skin. Compared to glycolic acid, lactic acid does not irritate the skin as much when peeling. Whether lactic acid is irritating for very sensitive skin depends on the concentration. 5% -12% is well tolerated. 5% lactic acid does not peel as strongly because it only works in the upper skin (epidermis). From 12%, lactic acid also works deeper down to the dermis.
If you really want to use an AHA as a peeling, lactic acid and mandelic acid (ideal for acne and rosacea/couperose ) are considered to be the most compatible.
Although lactic acid is much milder than glycolic acid, it is not the gentlest way to exfoliate the skin. If you are looking for a very gentle peeling for very sensitive skin (rosacea/couperose, neurodermatitis, etc.) you should look into enzyme peelings or PHA peelings .
Natural enzymes such as protease and lipase or gluconolactone (PHA) are much more tolerable for sensitive skin.
Lipase: body-like enzyme
Gluconolactone: PHA is the most compatible acid peeling
lactic acid application
Tip: Peelings are best tolerated, whether enzymes or acids, if you peel 1-2 times a week at most. Only if your skin tolerates it very well can you increase to 3 times a week. More than that is not healthy.
Start with a low concentration of lactic acid and increase it if your skin responds well to it. The most tolerable concentrations are between 5-12%. Ideally, your product will also contain soothing substances so that your skin can cope with the acid ideally right from the start.
lactic acid origin
The world's largest amount of lactic acid is now produced by fermenting plants, but it can also be produced synthetically. Lactic acid is biodegradable and mostly vegan. Legend has it that Cleopatra bathed in sour milk in ancient Egypt. Sour milk was the source of an exfoliating lactic acid bath.
Products with Lactic Acid
These products use vegan lactic acid to regulate the pH value.
- Tags: natürliche Inhaltsstoffe
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