Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Exfoliation
- Anti-aging
- Anti-blemish
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 2
Key actives
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
- Purified Lactic Acid: Hydrates and exfoliates the surface layers of skin, smoothing its texture, improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and visibly clarifying blemishes.
Source: Sephora
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:
cyclomethicone, saccharomyces cerevisiae extract.
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: caprylic/capric triglyceride, dimethicone.
A moisturizing ingredient that works as a humectant to attract water to the upper layer of the skin.
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
A type of silicone that leaves a nice silky finish on the skin and can help soften its upper layer
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
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
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
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
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
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)
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
- Licorice and Lemongrass: Brighten the appearance of dark spots and skin discoloration.
Source: Sephora
This product contains ingredients (glycyrrhiza glabra root extract) that could help reduce hyperpigmentation (for example, post-acne marks or age spots) in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
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?
What it is: A lactic-acid, AHA serum that targets the look of pores, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots and is clinically shown to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Source: Sephora
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
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-blemish
What does the product description say?
- Purified Lactic Acid: Hydrates and exfoliates the surface layers of skin, smoothing its texture, improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and visibly clarifying blemishes.
Source: Sephora
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
- Purified Lactic Acid: Hydrates and exfoliates the surface layers of skin, smoothing its texture, improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and visibly clarifying blemishes.
Source: Sephora
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
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)
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Anti-aging | |
| Exfoliation | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 25/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
User reviews (3)
Averages from community submissions.
How well does it work for anti-aging?
How well does it work against blemishes?
How well does it work for evening out skin tone?
How well does it work for exfoliation?
How well does it work for moisturization?
How would you describe the texture?
How much does it pill under makeup?
How much does this product clog pores?
How would you describe the smell?
Tried this product?
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 SUNDAY RILEY Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment | Current | ≈ $79.09 | |
 Cos De BAHA Bakuchiol 2% Serum with Retinol for Face, Anti-Aging, Hyperpigmentation and Acne Flare-Ups | 50% | - |
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)
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
A moisturizing ingredient that works as a humectant to attract water to the upper layer of the skin.
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
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
A type of silicone that leaves a nice silky finish on the skin and can help soften its upper layer
Potential irritants
A plant extract that can be irritating. It can have some anti-bacterial properties, but there are no evidence of a beneficial effect for skin
A preservative that releases formaldehyde and can be irritating
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
A moisturizing ingredient that works as a humectant to attract water to the upper layer of the skin.
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)
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
Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
Comedogenic ingredients
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties
All ingredients
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
A moisturizing ingredient that works as a humectant to attract water to the upper layer of the skin.
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)
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
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
A type of silicone that leaves a nice silky finish on the skin and can help soften its upper layer
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
Helps oil and water mix together. Has some emollient properties
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
A plant extract that can be irritating. It can have some anti-bacterial properties, but there are no evidence of a beneficial effect for skin
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
A preservative that releases formaldehyde and can be irritating
Ingredient list view
Opuntia tuna fruit extract, Agave tequilana leaf extract, Cypripedium pubescens extract, Opuntia vulgaris extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract, Lactic acid, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Butylene glycol, Squalane, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Ppg-12/smdi copolymer, Stearic acid, Cetearyl alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl stearate, Peg-100 stearate, Arnica montana flower extract, Peg-75 meadowfoam oil, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Cymbopogon schoenanthus oil, Triethanolamine, Xanthan gum, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, Dmdm hydantoin
- Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acid
- Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Effects of Topical Arnica Gel on Post-Laser Treatment Bruises
- Effects of microcurrent application alone or in combination with topical Hypericum perforatum L. and Arnica montana L. on surgically induced wound healing in Wistar rats
- The seamy side of natural medicines: contact sensitization to arnica (Arnica montana L.) and marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)
- Accelerated resolution of laser‐induced bruising with topical 20% arnica: a rater‐blinded randomized controlled trial