La
Lactobionic Acid
Lactobionic AcidExfoliant
A mild, sugar-based exfoliating acid that also holds water and works as an antioxidant. One review says it’s gentler than glycolic.
What it does
A review says acids like it work like glycolic and lactic acid with less irritation.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusThe FDA says how much an AHA exfoliates depends on the type and strength of the acid, its pH, and the other ingredients. An industry safety panel judged glycolic and lactic acid safe at 10% or less with a pH of 3.5 or higher, to limit irritation. Lactic acid moisturizes better when it is partly or fully neutralized. No source Drop has read gives a pH below which an AHA starts to exfoliate.Smith 1996 · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
PHA
Pairs worth knowing
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