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Lactic Acid

The pH balancer.

What it does

Adjusts how acidic the product is and helps skin hold on to moisture.

Good to know

It's an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). The FDA says AHAs may make skin more sensitive to the sun, so it advises using sunscreen with them.

Often found in: Shower gels, Shampoos, Hair conditioners

Around the world

• United States: No FDA limit. The FDA advises a sunburn alert on skin products with AHAs like this one. Source
• EU and UK: No special limit in the EU or UK. Source
• Canada: On the Hotlist as an AHA. Skin products with 3% to 18% need a pH of 3.5 or higher and sun and eye warnings. Source
• Australia: No limit in Australia's Poisons Standard. Source

Sources

• Applications of hydroxy acids: classification, mechanisms, and photoactivity (FDA scientists, 2010) (Independent)
• FDA: Alpha hydroxy acids (Regulator)
• CIR: Final report on glycolic acid, lactic acid and their salts and esters (1998) (Industry-funded)