Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
- Evens skin tone
- Moisturizing
- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: low
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"The Ordinary - Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%" is effective for: Exfoliation and Evens skin tone
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing and Anti-aging, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Exfoliating acids (lactic acid 5.40% - 8.00%). In this concentration, they will have a noticeable exfoliating effect. They can also have an anti-aging effect and stimulate collagen production in a long-run. Lactic Acid can also help to attract water to the upper layer (works as a humectant).
- Humectants (lactic acid 5.40% - 8.00%, glycerin 4.00% - 6.00%, arginine 1.30% - 2.00% and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer 1.80% - 2.70%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "The Ordinary" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails from 6.00£ up to 7.47£ in the United Kingdom, for 1550.00KSH in Kenya, from 6.50$ up to 13.85$ in the United States, for 18.10CA$ in Canada, from 20.99A$ up to 31.99A$ in Australia and for 59.00HK$ in Hong Kong.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Works for
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Restore a bright, even tone and a smooth texture to your skin with this mild exfoliating serum.
Source: Beautylish
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: lactic acid
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Lactic Acid 5% + HA is a mild alpha hydroxy acid solution that offers gentle yet effective exfoliation targeted at the skin's surface.
Source: Deciem
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: lactic acid.
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Offering gentle yet effective exfoliation with 10% lactic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid), this lightweight serum reduces pigmentation, minimises fine lines and wrinkles and improves overall skin texture.
Source: Cultbeauty
This product contains lactic acid. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Oh, and there's more... it's enhanced with nourishing hyaluronic acid to not only lock in moisture, but retain it too.
Source: Cultbeauty
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, lactic acid.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% | Current | $6.50 | |
 Me Lactic Acid AHA Booster | 66% | ≈ $7.98 | |
 Geek & Gorgeous 101 Smooth Out | 66% | $12.80 | |
 Geek Gorgeous Smooth Out Liquid | 66% | ≈ $40.05 | |
 Maelove Super Smooth Resurfacing Serum | 65% | $29.95 | |
 REVOLUTION SKINCARE Revolution Skin Mild Skin Exfoliator - 5% Lactic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid | 64% | - |
Key Actives
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product texture
Used to improve stability of the formulation
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product texture
Used to improve stability of the formulation
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Ingredient list view
Water, Lactic acid, Glycerin, Pentylene glycol, Propanediol, Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract, Acacia senegal gum, Xanthan gum, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Sodium hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl glycol