Lactic Acid
Lactic Acid is a cosmetic ingredient used as a buffering, humectant agent. It appears in about 5% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 3,952 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | LACTIC ACID |
| Function | BUFFERING, HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING |
| CAS number | 50-21-5 |
| EC number | 200-018-0 |
| Prevalence | 4,802 products (5.17% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 3,952 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 90,500 |
Used in
Serums 14%Face Cleansers 11.2%Toners 8.3%Exfoliators 7.5%Conditioners 6.1%Shampoos 4.5%
Frequently asked
- What does Lactic Acid do in skincare?
- Lactic Acid functions as a buffering, humectant agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Lactic Acid allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Lactic Acid?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (14% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Lactic Acid
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.