Make Beauty Lactic Acid + Vitamin C Serum
Works for
ExfoliationLactic acidWorks well
“This multi-benefit milky skin serum gently exfoliates, brightens, hydrates and plumps skin while targeting dark spots and fine lines wrinkles to ensure skin stays in perfect harmony.”
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.
Anti-agingLactic acid, Ascorbyl glucoside + 3 moreWorks well
“This multi-benefit milky skin serum gently exfoliates, brightens, hydrates and plumps skin while targeting dark spots and fine lines wrinkles to ensure skin stays in perfect harmony.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains niacinamide.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: ascorbyl glucoside, lactic acid.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Evens skin toneLactic acid, Ascorbyl glucoside + 1 moreWorks well
“This multi-benefit milky skin serum gently exfoliates, brightens, hydrates and plumps skin while targeting dark spots and fine lines wrinkles to ensure skin stays in perfect harmony.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: lactic acid, niacinamide
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: ascorbyl glucoside.
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.
MoisturizingNiacinamide, Caprylic/capric triglyceride + 13 moreWorks well
“This multi-benefit milky skin serum gently exfoliates, brightens, hydrates and plumps skin while targeting dark spots and fine lines wrinkles to ensure skin stays in perfect harmony.”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
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. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
arginine, lactic acid.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, caprylic/capric triglyceride.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide
Anti-blemishSide benefit · Niacinamide, Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceWorks well
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Ascorbyl glucoside, Vitis vinifera fruit extract + 2 moreMay help
This product contains antioxidants (ascorbyl glucoside) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is some human evidence for this effect in skin, though it is smaller or less consistent than the evidence for the best antioxidants.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Eugenia caryophyllus flower extract, Vanilla planifolia fruit extractMedium risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~6.8–8.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideLactic acid~4.2–5.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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)
More about Lactic acidHelianthus annuus seed oil~3.3–4.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilGlyceryl stearate~2.4–3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateCetyl alcohol~2–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholAscorbyl glucoside~1.8–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
More about Ascorbyl glucosideNiacinamide~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamidePinus strobus bark extract~1.2–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Arginine~0.95–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin
More about ArginineSaccharomyces ferment~0.7–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A product of yeast fermentation. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Saccharomyces fermentLauroyl lysine~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice product texture
More about Lauroyl lysineVitis vinifera fruit extract~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. It might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin, but is less potent than the extract from the seeds
More about Vitis vinifera fruit extractSodium hyaluronate~0.5–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateGlyceryl stearate citrate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin
More about Glyceryl stearate citrateTocopheryl acetate~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateAloe barbadensis leaf juice~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juice1,2-hexanediol~0.25–0.45%
Caprylyl glycol~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolXanthan gum~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumMaltodextrin~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize the product formulation and can help absorb oil
More about MaltodextrinTriethyl citrate~0.15–0.3%
Tocopherol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolEugenia caryophyllus flower extract~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that is used as a fragrance. Can be irritating
More about Eugenia caryophyllus flower extractVanilla planifolia fruit extract~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract used as a fragrance. Can be irritating
More about Vanilla planifolia fruit extractSodium hydroxide~0.1–0.15%
Ingredient list view
Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Lactic acid, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Glyceryl stearate, Cetyl alcohol, Ascorbyl glucoside, Niacinamide, Pinus strobus bark extract, Arginine, Saccharomyces ferment, Lauroyl lysine, Vitis vinifera fruit extract, Sodium hyaluronate, Glyceryl stearate citrate, Tocopheryl acetate, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl glycol, Xanthan gum, Maltodextrin, Triethyl citrate, Tocopherol, Eugenia caryophyllus flower extract, Vanilla planifolia fruit extract, Sodium hydroxide
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Make BeautyLactic Acid + Vitamin C SerumYOUR PRODUCT | NaturiumVegan Lactic Acid Emulsion 5% | CeraVeSalicylic Acid Acne Control Gel, Acne Treatment for Face | It CosmeticsBye Bye Breakout Salicylic Acid Acne Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 98% | 83% | 82% |
| Price | — | — | $12.04 | $36.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 8 | 3 of 8 | 3 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid | Salicylic Acid | Salicylic Acid |
| Irritancy | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: marie veronique Intensive Repair SerumUrban Skin Rx HydraFirm + Brightening Serum
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 17 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 3
- 4
- 5Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 6
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