why i tried it...

Short answer, dollars baby. This mama needed an alternative to Sunday Riley’s Good Genes which costs $135 for 30mL. When I do the math, it works out to be about $4.50 a pump? I still love the stuff, but I was super intrigued by The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid 10% + HA 30mL with a $6.70 price tag.

Long answer, lactic acid works to gently exfoliate the skin for brighter and smoother looking complexion by working on those pesky dark spots and uneven texture.  Lactic acid is an AHA. It is gentler on the skin in comparison to its sister AHA glycolic acid. If you are new to acid treatments, lactic acid is a good place to start.

how i used it...

Every night after cleansing I applied a few drops all over my face avoiding lips and eyes.  I would wait a few minutes before applying any other products for full strength exfoliation.

Tip: Use only oil free products as part of your night routine. This allows your skin to exhale and restore its natural hydrating course.  This can feel a little awkward at first, but personally worked well for me. Skin feels revitalized in the morning and helps keep my combination skin balanced.

my experience...

The texture of this product is liquid in comparison to Good Genes which is a creamy texture. I was extra vigilant with my application to ensure my lips and under eye areas were not in contact with the product. I started to notice a difference by day 3. Many of the reviews out there claim results after one night. Personally, I believe because my skin has been exposed to AHA’s and lactic acids before, my experience was slightly different. That said, this product does perform and stands up to its claim and gently exfoliates to reveal a smoother and more even complexion.  This formulation also includes hyaluronic acid (ultra-moisturizing and helps retain over 1,000 times its weight in water within the skin cells) lending to less irritation. I experienced zero skin irritation, just a slight tingling after application for a few minutes.

final thoughts...

I have purchased this product twice. It is part of my daily night routine.  The results are almost on par with Good Genes. Main difference here is texture of product and for that I cannot justify the $128 difference between these two lactic acid treatments. This product does what it says and costs less than my Startbucks Green Matcha Tea Latte.  The Ordinary also has a 5% concentration of this formulation for those with more sensitive skin or trying AHA’s for the first time.

Remember, it is super important to wear sunscreen, especially when treating skin with acids.

The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid 10% + HA 30mL can be purchased for $6.70 at DECIEM

Be Well,