LACTIC ACID TREATMENTS I'M INTO FROM SUNDAY RILEY, KAT BURKI AND DRUNK ELEPHANT – BEST LACTIC ACID SERUMS, BEST EXFOLIATING SERUMS WITH LACTIC ACID
I had a lot of fun doing me this past week. I got a lot of work done, signed on a new copywriting client, and had a whole #selfcarefriday thing — including a subzero cryofacial at this dope new-age spa called the Kollectiv NYC located in the Lower East Side.
The experience of a cryofacial is extremely exhilarating and one rather simple 15-minute treatment ignites my complexion and keeps me glowing like crazy for hours.
I spent a lot of time at the Kollectiv pre-pandemic and it feels great to be going back regularly again.
They offer all sorts of out-there services like ajna light therapy, IV vitamin drips and an infrared sauna. If you haven’t experienced an infrared sauna, it’s quite cool. Err, make that warm. And bright! :)
In addition to those freezing cold cryofacials, the Kollectiv offers conventional facials — and I could use a power wash of my pores. So, I’ve scheduled a facial with my new facialist, Toni, for tomorrow afternoon at the Kollectiv. The facial will be followed by an energy healing session featuring VortexHealing, “a holistic system of multi-dimensional healing and inner awakening.”
It’s gonna be a lit #selfcaresunday for sure!
After cryofacials Friday, a friend and I hit the KAWS exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, a few stops from my apartment. If you’re unfamiliar with KAWS the artist, you may be familiar with his work — super creative pieces that bridge art, pop culture and commercialism. The Brooklyn-based artist, Brian Donnelly, is known for his character pieces that feature X’s for eyes.
In fact, in anticipation of the exhibit, I had KAWS-inspired art painted on my nails. Yes, with X’s for eyes!
The exhibit was incredible and far more extensive than I was expecting. It was kinda cool to be back in a museum again with throngs of people, even if a mask requirement was still in place.
One of the things I missed most during the pandemic was art. In particular, I love outdoor urban art exhibits that provoke thought, ideas and emotion in everyday settings.
I wasn’t always the biggest fan of conventional museums and indoor exhibits. They always seem so contrived and stifling. But I’m planning on doing much more exploring. Like everyone, I have quite a bit of catching up to do.
Up next is the immersive Van Gogh exhibit at Pier 36 on the West Side of Manhattan. And I’ve got tickets for the Banksy: Genius or Vandal exhibit in September. In classic Banksy fashion, the location is a secret.
The skincare stuff starts here.
A sub-zero cryofacial, like the ones I get weekly at my favorite new-age spa, isn’t the only way to get your skin lit. Today, there are multiple skincare treatments and active ingredients that can instantly brighten a dull looking complexion. Both Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and Vitamin C are proven skin brighteners with the additional benefit of antioxidant protection, skin strengthening and even retexturing the skin surface.
In fact, I use high concentrations of each vitamin in my daily skincare routines. And, in the case of Niacinamide, I use multiple products twice daily, including serums, toners and moisturizers that are infused with the antioxidant powerhouse. It’s central to what I refer to as pore maintenance. Daily pore maintenance is the act of deep cleaning pores each day to keep skin functioning at its optimal best!
And I make no secret of the fact that I believe the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster to be among the best anti-aging serums on Earth. It’s the star product at the heart of my daily pore maintenance regimen and not a day goes by that I don’t use it at least once.
Which means I go through about a bottle of it a month!
PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA’S CHOICE 10% NIACINAMIDE BOOSTER – THE BEST NIACINAMIDE SERUM
While Niacinamide and Vitamin C serums make superb skin brighteners, they aren’t the only topical skincare products that can get even the dullest complexion glowing. A well-formulated exfoliating acid treatment does the trick, too.
Like vitamin-infused products, acid treatments come in multiple forms. There are acid serums, acid masks and, perhaps the most popular, acid toners infused with exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids, or AHA’s, like Glycolic Acid and my personal fave, Lactic Acid, made from milk.
There are toners infused with beta hydroxy acids, or BHA’s, like Salicylic Acid that power wash pores. There are even toners formulated with both AHA’s and BHA’s; lately many are also made with the newest and gentlest of the exfoliating hydroxy acids, PHA’s — or polyhydroxy acid. Among the new class of PHA’s are Gluconolactone and Lactobionic Acid.
ACID TONERS – SOME OF THE BEST BHA / AHA TONERS FOR FACE FROM PAULA'S CHOICE, FARMACY AND MORE
I love a good acid toner, but have to confess that my skin doesn’t always tolerate them very well. And that’s okay. I’ve made peace with the fact that Glycolic Acid isn’t my BFF. Except when using it to deodorize my underarms as my daily deodorant! So, we’ve found a way to coexist. Psst…you can catch my article titled, Skincare Hacks: Glycolic Acid Is the Natural Deodorant that Works! on the blog here.
Even though Glycolic Acid is considered the best acid to exfoliate the skin and instantly brighten the complexion, I prefer its kinder, gentler sibling, Lactic Acid. Like Niacinamide, my skin loves Lactic Acid in multiple products, multiple times a day, and at any concentration.
What Is Lactic Acid and What Does Lactic Acid Do for the Skin?
Lactic Acid is my favorite of the range of alpha hydroxy acids. That’s not something I can say about it’s more powerful AHA partner in crime, Glycolic Acid. But what makes it so uniquely effective? There’s a great piece on the benefits of Lactic Acid written by the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, Lactic Acid for Skin. You can catch the full article here. Here is an excerpt:
Lactic acid is a skin care ingredient that quickly delivers numerous benefits when applied in a well-formulated exfoliating product. When used in a pH-correct formula (whether designed to be left on skin or in a high-strength peel that’s rinsed after several minutes), lactic acid works by gently breaking the bonds that hold dead, dry skin cells to the surface.
If you’re using a rinse-off peel with lactic acid, do so once weekly or every other week. Apply the peel to cleansed skin, leave on for the designated amount of time, rinse, and follow with the rest of your skincare routine.
These dead cells shed on their own when we’re young, but sun damage, aging, and certain skin issues can slow or even stop this process, leading to a buildup of dead skin that creates a dull, older-looking complexion. Regular use of an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) like lactic acid can turn this around.
As with other acids, research shows lactic acid’s ability to exfoliate effectively depends on the product’s acid concentration, with amounts between 5-12% having reliably impressive results.
And because I love Lactic Acid-infused products so much, I’ve amassed quite a collection of what I consider the best Lactic Acid serums, toners, moisturizers and masks anywhere. I’ve narrowed my recommendations down to a handful and am happy to share a few of them below.
Among my favorites are the Kat Burki Goji Essence — one of the most effective Lactic Acid toners I’ve tried. It’s also an absolute pleasure to use and brings me a ridiculous amount of skincare joy. #iykyk
Perhaps no article about Lactic Acid would be complete without the iconic Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment from Sunday Riley. Hands-down, I consider it to be the OG Lactic Acid serum.
New to the scene, and following in the footsteps of Good Genes, is the peptide-powered Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum. I’m a longtime fan of Drunk Elephant’s Protini Polypeptide Cream and believe that, at $68, it’s the most expensive moisturizer I would ever buy.
PRODUCT REVIEW: DRUNK ELEPHANT PROTINI POLYPEPTIDE MOISTURIZER – BEST ANTI-AGING MOISTURIZER
The fourth and final of my Lactic Acid recos is the microbiome-balancing, supremely pro-skin health Layers Probiotic Serum. The new Layers brand is focused on overall microbiome health — from the inner gut to outer skin surface. I recently reviewed the brand here.
With that, let’s take a look at four of the Lactic Acid products my skin absolutely can’t get enough of…
Kat Burki | Goji Essence
Over the last few months I’ve been immersing myself in this wonderful, mysterious skincare brand, Kat Burki. It’s one of my favorite brand discoveries of 2021 — and several of the brand’s products have become staples of my daily routine.
It’s rare that I discover a brand that I appreciate this much. Sure, I come across products I like (even love!) often. But with nearly every one of Kat Burki’s products, the experience is pure skincare joy for me, every time.
BRANDS I LOVE: KAT BURKI SKINCARE BASED ON NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE - BEST BRIGHTENING FACE CREAM
With its blend of Vitamin C and Retinol, the Kat Burki Retin-C Treatment Complex is one of my favorite anti-aging serums. And I’m not even close to exaggerating when I say that Kat’s Vital Hydration Blast is one of the most luxurious, skin-pampering moisture masks I’ve ever tried. I can’t get enough of it and have often left it on for hours on end so I can drag out #selfcaresunday as long as possible.
During the colder months at the start of the year, the Kat Burki Vital Hydration Blast kept my skin saturated and sane. I featured it in my #selfcaresunday video on my YouTube channel a few weeks ago. If you missed it, you can still catch it here for your own #selfcaresunday session this coming weekend!
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
CHILLIN ON SELFCARE SUNDAY WITH KAT BURKI AND THIS BOMB HYDRATING MASK!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
You might be wondering who exactly Kat Burki is — and why her skincare is so exceptional. Well, Kat Burki actually majored in nutrition in college. And, like me with my initial French major, she didn’t think there were great career options in nutrition. So she pursued a masters in the field of health law. From the brand: “After completing her Juris Doctorate in health law, she added a graduate degree in health policy which saw her weaving in her knowledge of health, wellness and nutrition. With the bigger focus on how to keep people healthy, she had found her true calling, applying her expertise to the pursuit of longevity.”
The pursuit of longevity. Et voilà! The impetus behind the Kat Burki brand I’ve grown to love.
Yet while I’ve enjoyed so many of Kat’s products, I gotta say there’s nothing like Kat Burki’s Lactic Acid-infused Goji Essence — one of my favorite product discoveries of the year. I’ve read it’s Kat’s personal fave and I can understand why. There’s just something about it that makes my skin come alive.
The Kat Burki Goji Essence is a remarkable fermented acid toner that lights up my skin on contact. I always know when I’ve used it because I’ll catch myself glowing hours later in the bathroom mirror and think whoa.
What is it about this Lactic Acid essence that feels so exceptional on my skin, though? I suspect it starts with Kat’s nutrient-dense KB5 antioxidant complex. But don’t quote me.
The brand’s signature blend of five nutrient-dense botanical extracts (Arnica Flower Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Lavender Flower Water, Calendula Flower Water and Chamomile Flower Water) just does something exceptional on the skin. I don’t know what. But I bet Kat does! It’s her personal go-to product for a reason.
The Goji Essence’s oomph is, of course, powered by a 5% concentration of exfoliating Lactic Acid as well as plant cell extracts, the plumping Matrixyl-3000 peptide complex and, of course, power-antioxidant Goji Berry Extract, from which the product derives its name. No joke, it really feels like liquid skin health in a bottle — and a heavy green glass one at that!
Here’s how the brand describes Kat’s (and my!) favorite product from her namesake range:
“Kat Burki’s personal go-to anti-aging product, this powerful essence is a triple threat of super foods, super acids and super peptides. Combined, these impeccable ingredients create a formula that gently exfoliates, helps moderate the skin renewal cycle and creates the powerful blurring effect that peptides and Lactic Acids are known for.”
Funny thing, I love using Kat Burki’s Goji Essence so much (and so often!) that I wonder if my skin will become sensitized to it. But it never has. There are times when I’ve even double-dipped — using it once right after cleansing and then again 20 minutes later for no explicable reason whatsoever. I just wanted to.
I honestly can’t get enough of it. You have to try Kat’s Goji Essence for yourself to believe it.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Kat Burki Goji Essence for $170 here.
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Sunday Riley | Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
I’m a big fan of Sunday Riley! Two of my favorites from the popular brand are the Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment and the brand’s newish Pink Drink Firming Essence. Psst…you can catch my review of the Pink Drink fermented essence on the blog here.
In my mission to try every Vitamin C serum on Earth, I was fortunate enough this year to finally discover Sunday Riley’s iconic C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum. With its light, milky texture, it’s become one of my favorite Vitamin C serums in my brightening arsenal. In fact there are times where I wash my face, apply my go-to Niacinamide serum (ahem, the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster) then the C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum — and go straight to bed! The stuff makes a perfectly legitimate brightening moisturizer when you don’t want or need anything too heavy.
PRODUCT REVIEW: SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. 15% VITAMIN C BRIGHTENING SERUM - BEST VITAMIN C SERUM FOR FACE
But I’m here to talk Lactic Acid. And the Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment is the OG. It was among the first Lactic Acid exfoliating treatments I tried — and could very well be the very first. In fact, as I recall, Sunday Riley’s Good Genes put Lactic Acid on the map for me.
To start, let me say that this stuff isn’t cheap! At $85 for 1 oz. (30mL), you could be forgiven for having really high expectations of the iconic Lactic Acid serum — as I did. It’s certainly one of the most well-formulated and effective exfoliating treatments. So at least you’re getting something that’s legitimately pro-skin health for the money.
When I first started using it again this year, I wanted to really put the product to the test and pushed the envelope. I used Good Genes nightly for three straight nights. I know people who use it daily, which is great if your skin can tolerate that. But I gotta say I was surprised that I saw no irritation on any of the following mornings. (Psst…I dialed it back anyway to every other night.)
Why? Because I don’t believe skin needs or can often tolerate daily exfoliation. In fact, our skin doesn’t actually need us to do anything when it comes to exfoliation. Hydration, sure. Cleansing, sure. But exfoliation? Nah, skin is good doing that on its own.
In fact, every skin cell originating in the lower levels of the skin rises to the surface within 28 days — where it’s freed from the body like pollen cast into the wind from a wild poppy.
How Often Should I Exfoliate My Face and Is it OK to Exfoliate Face Everyday?
Personally, in my experience, I don’t believe it’s necessary to exfoliate every day. Over time, over-exfoliation can sensitize the skin. Of course, it depends on the type of exfoliation (e.g. chemical vs. physical) and the strength of the product you’re using.
I found a really cool piece on the Byrdie website titled, Ask a Dermatologist: How Often Should I Exfoliate My Face? Here are a few excerpts from the article, which you can read in its entirety here.
What are the main benefits of exfoliating your face?
Let’s start from the top: Why exfoliate your skin in the first place? According to celebrity esthetician (and Byrdie's favorite skincare guru) Renée Rouleau, there are a plethora of benefits to regular exfoliation for all skin types. For those prone to blemishes and clogged pores, exfoliation should be the main focus of your routine. There are a few different types of exfoliants (which we'll get to in a second), but for these acne-prone skin types, Rouleau recommends using a chemical exfoliant formulated with beta hydroxy acid (try her BHA Clarifying Serum), which will work "to reduce bacteria on the skin while exfoliating and cleaning clogged pores."
How often should you exfoliate your face?
The answer to our million-dollar question is pretty universal across the board: You should exfoliate your face about two to three times a week. (An acid serum two to three nights a week, plus a weekly mask or peel is a great routine to shoot for.) You may have heard only once a week, but dermatologists say that for most skin types, that's not enough. According to Dove dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, "We lose 50 million skin cells a day, and if they remain on the skin, it can look dull and dry." Encouraging that extra layer of skin cells to go on their merry way two to three times a week is the secret to smooth, glowing skin.
That said, gentle exfoliation like the kind that Sunday Riley’s Good Genes Lactic Acid delivers helps to speed up that process, leaving the complexion free of dead skin, enhancing the penetration of actives and boosting your glow. I get a bit of that glow I was expecting with this stuff, yet without the irritation common to acid treatments.
I think the reason for that more gentle effect is the product’s blend of soothing ferments and healing aloe and arnica. All of them are at higher concentrations than the Lactic Acid itself.
Not that it’s such an exact science, but Sunday Riley has clearly the right balance. What makes it iconic? Well, it’s gentle, yet effective, has a dope name (hah!) and is a whole sensorial experience. It smells great, too! (Maybe as a result of the Lemongrass Extract.) Plus, I gotta admit that it’s priced like it’s iconic…
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment for $85 here.
Drunk Elephant | Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum
Yes, I love Lactic Acid. That sounds kinda weird, doesn’t it? But it’s quite true. For my skin, Lactic Acid is the most effective acid exfoliant. So yeah, I’m a fan.
I’m also a fan of Drunk Elephant — like all serious skincare users. And I’m fond of numerous Drunk Elephant products, among them the Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser — one of the best cleansers for dry skin in winter. I also really like Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum. It’s quite literally one of the best brightening serums with Vitamin C!
Oh and how could I forget Drunk Elephant’s E-Rase Milki Micellar Water??? I’d never come across a milky cleansing water before it. E-Rase has a thick, milky texture that reminds me very much of the Dr. Jart Ceramidin Liquid.
PRODUCT REVIEW: DRUNK ELEPHANT E-RASE MILKI MICELLAR WATER – ONE OF THE BEST CLEANSERS FOR DRY SKIN
So with my fanboy love of Lactic Acid and just about anything from Drunk Elephant I was super excited to be among the first to try the brand’s new Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum. If you’ve ever tried the OG Lactic Acid treatment, the Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment, then you know what’s up with this one. (And if you haven’t…what are you waiting for?)
Both the Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum and Good Genes are equally effective exfoliating serums powered by my favorite acid exfoliant. I am not 100% certain what the level of Lactic Acid is in Good Genes, but it’s somewhere around a 5% concentration.
When testing it out, I used the Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum nearly nightly for about two weeks and saw no signs of irritation, particularly on my overly sensitive forehead. My forehead is always the indicator that a product is too harsh for my skin as its the only place on my face that’s reactive.
In addition to a 10% concentration of Lactic Acid, the Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum formula contains eleven signal peptides, rather blandly referred to as a Signal Peptide Complex.
What Are Signal Peptides in Skincare and What Do Peptides Do for Skin?
As I understand it, signal peptides communicate with cells, prompting them to function more efficiently. Signal peptides can help teach damaged skin to rebuild itself by relocating proteins in the cell membrane. Such wonky science!
There’s a terrific article on all things peptides by the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team simply titled, Peptides for Skin. Here’s an insightful excerpt from the piece:
What Are Peptides?
First, we need to start with the science: Peptides are fragments of proteins. On their own, peptides are made up of amino acids. When amino acids are combined in certain formations they create specific peptides (and there are hundreds of peptides), and when peptides are formed in a certain way, they make specific proteins.
Proteins are the fundamental building blocks of skin. Without peptides, skin doesn’t remain intact and the result is loss of firmness, appearance of wrinkles, texture changes, and skin that doesn’t bounce back as it once did.
What’s so fascinating about peptides is that abundant research has clearly shown that each of them works in very specific ways to target an exact skin care need. They also teach skin to do what's required to help revitalize these building blocks, which can help revive aging skin.
Peptides in Skin Care: A Balanced View
Although there are intriguing reasons to consider peptides as a significant part of a skin care formula as we did with our unique PEPTIDE BOOSTER, we also want you to know there's a lot of hype around what they can do. Sadly, the hype is often completely blown out of proportion. Peptides can do amazing things for skin, but they do not replace what cosmetic corrective procedures can do, as many companies have claimed over the years.
There's no single ingredient solution for all the signs of aging and other skin problems we endure, and peptides are no exception. You would be cheating your skin to think that any single peptide (or any other specific skin care ingredient) is your skin's solo rescuer. We use this multi-ingredient "cocktail" approach when we formulate all Paula's Choice Skincare products, including our PEPTIDE BOOSTER, which contains a mix of eight distinctive peptides, several amino acids, and skin-replenishing ingredients.
Promising new research has us excited about using peptides in skin care products. Their ability to help revitalize skin's building blocks so it becomes more resilient is a wonderful asset for skin, but keep your expectations realistic, or you will be disappointed.
In addition to anti-aging peptides in the Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum, there are multiple amino acids in the formula — as well as a number of powerful antioxidants, including Green Tea Extract and Apple Fruit Extract.
It’s the texture of the Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum for me though! It’s a super light, semi-translucent serum that’s quite easily layered into any skincare routine.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum for $82 here.
Layers | Probiotic Serum
Layers recently introduced their clean, vegan and cruelty-free collection of ingestible and topical care — and I’ve been fortunate enough to take it all for a test run.
I featured the innovative skincare range that cares for the microbiome on the blog several weeks ago in a piece titled, Brands I Love: Layers Probiotic Skincare – Best Probiotic Moisturizer For Microbiome Health. If you are interested in exploring the health of your skin’s microbiome, I invite you to check out the article here.
BRANDS I LOVE: LAYERS PROBIOTIC SKINCARE – BEST PROBIOTIC MOISTURIZER FOR MICROBIOME HEALTH
Layers takes a holistic approach to optimizing skin health by caring for both your gut microbiome and skin microbiome concurrently. It’s an intriguing skincare collection rooted in microbiome science and the connection between the gut and the health of our skin. An imbalanced microbiome can be a leading cause of skin sensitivity, reactivity, splotchiness, dryness — and even acne.
What Is the Microbiome and What Is the Link Between the Gut and the Skin?
I’ve been exploring the microbiome for the better part of the past year; in particular, its effects on skin health have intrigued me. Randomly, I’ve noticed that my skin seems to act up for no reason. Rachel Behm, CEO and Founder of Layers explains the body’s microbiomes and the link between our gut and our skin this way:
Your microbiome is made up of trillions of microbes found in your gut and on your skin, working as your skin’s natural defense system. Creating the right environment for the microbiome to be diverse and balanced (in a state of homeostasis), while also protecting it, leads to improved skin resilience from all stressors thrown at it, from aging to weather.
Gut Microbiome: In your gut, microbes digest lactose and fiber, make amino acids and vitamins, and even regulate your immune system. Your gut microbiome contributes to digestion, healthy weight, immunity, and glowing skin.
Skin Microbiome: On your skin, microbes protect you from internal and external stressors. They maintain the skin’s pH, regulate immune response, and defend against pathogens. Healthy skin relies on a healthy relationship with these microbes to prevent skin inflammation, causing redness, dehydration, dullness, and loss of elasticity.
The Gut-Skin Connection (gut-skin axis): The microbes in and on your body outnumber your human cells by a factor of 3:1. And your gut and skin are home to the largest communities of these microbes. A profound relationship exists between your gut and skin. Amazingly, these two seemingly separate systems talk to one another through your microbiome, the trillions of good bacteria whose micro-language is responsible for everything from releasing natural antibiotics to supporting our immune system to improving hydration and supporting collagen production.
Hands down, the product that excites me most is the Layers Probiotic Serum. The silky, milky treatment is infused with a pro-skin health blend of Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactic Acid and botanical extracts and oils that treat skin with TLC.
A I said, my skin loves Lactic Acid and responds well to it as it smooths skin’s surface texture and enhances my complexion’s reflectivity. Of course, among my favorite pro-skin health treatments are the best Lactic Acid serums, toners and essences.
I love everything about Layers’ skin-renewing Probiotic Serum!
The silky, milky treatment is infused with a pro-skin health blend of lactobacillus ferment, Lactic Acid and botanical extracts and oils. The texture is lit. It sinks right into my skin and is, well, easily layered!
In addition to the serum’s Lactic Acid content of the Layers Probiotic Serum, it contains a probiotic strain in the form of Lactobacillus Ferment. Layers says it’s a protective active that “fortifies your skin barrier against external stressors while soothing and hydrating. It's known to help repair damaged skin, rebalance skin flora, and reduce harmful bacteria growth.”
There’s also an antioxidant power pair — a botanical extract and a non-fragrant plant oil: Orobanche Rapum Extract and Meadowfoam Oil. If you’re unfamiliar with the potent benefits of Meadowfoam Oil, it happens to be the lone oil featured in the Laneige Cream Skin Mist — one of the best moisturizing toners.
PRODUCT REVIEW: LANEIGE CREAM SKIN MIST – BEST HYDRATING TONER FOR DRY, DEHYDRATED SKIN
According to the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team, Meadowfoam Seed Oil is among the best active ingredients for the skin.
“Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil is a non-fragrant, edible plant oil originally developed as an agricultural crop in the 1950s. This plant oil is exceedingly stable because it is primarily composed of long chain fatty acids, the type most resistant to rancidity when exposed to oxygen. Among plant oils, meadowfoam has the highest concentration (95%) of these highly stable fatty acids, making it a valuable addition to products that would otherwise be prone to spoiling quickly.”
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I love how well-tolerated the Layers Probiotic Serum is by the skin as it gently exfoliates the skin surface without disrupting its microbiome. It’s literally TLC in a bottle. Over the period that I was testing it, I experienced no irritation —just a healthy, glowing complexion. That’s Even when using it twice daily!
SHOP THE BLOG: For a limited time, save $10 off every order $49+ with code SKINCARMA10. Enter the code to purchase the Layers Probiotic Serum for $79 (reg. $89) here.
That’s it, guys! I hope you’ve enjoyed my deep dive into my favorite Lactic Acid treatments. Get yourself one (or more!) and get your complexion glowing.
See you next week…
💟 Carmine @skincarma
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WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
THE YEAR’S BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS WITH THE ORDINARY, CLINIQUE, BEAUTY STAT & MORE!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
AMPERNA PROBIOTIC SKINCARE AND TWO OF THE BEST ANTI-AGING SERUMS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
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The Ingredient List of the Kat Burki Goji Essence:
KB5™ Complex (Arnica Montana (Arnica), Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile)), Goji Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract (Plant Stem Cells), Silk Protein Amino Acid Blend (Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Lecithin, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine), Matrixyl-3000 (Glycerin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate-20, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Ubiquinone (Coq10), Sodium Lactate (Lactic Acid), Bursera Linaloe Wood Oil (Linaloe), Citrus Aurantium Flower Oil (Orange), Citrus Aurantium Leaf Oil (Orange), Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil (Mandarin Orange), Caprylyl Glucoside (Plantasol), Natural Fragrance, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene.
The Ingredient List of the Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment:
perf, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract 
so|emo|h, Cypripedium Pubescens Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract h, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate amic|pres, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Lactic Acid 
exf|h|buff, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer emo, Propanediol solv|h, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, Stearic Acid emo|vc 0 2-3, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Cetearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 1 2, Phenyl Trimethicone emo, Disiloxane, Ceteareth-20 emu|surf 3 2, Glyceryl Stearate emo|emu 0 1-2, PEG-100 Stearate surf|emu 0 0, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate so, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract so|sb, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide buff, Phenoxyethanol pres, Xanthan Gum vc, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Chlorphenesin pres|amic, Sodium Phytate chelThe Ingredient List of the Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum:
sii|h 0 0, Lactic Acid exf|h|buff, Dicaprylyl Carbonate emo, Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Glycine Max (Soybean) Seed Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil emo, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil h, Sodium PCA sii|h 0 0, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil so|emo, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide h, Tocotrienols, SH-Oligopeptide-1 cci, SH-Oligopeptide-2 cci, SH-Polypeptide-1 cci, SH-Polypeptide-9 cci, SH-Polypeptide-11 cci, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14 , Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 cci, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 cci, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 cci, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 cci, Tripeptide-1 cci, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract h, Propanediol solv|h, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Panthenol so|h 0 0, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer sii|aox|h, Sodium Lactate buff|h, Pca sii|h, Alanine sii, Arginine sii, Glycine sii, Histidine sii|h, Isoleucine sii, Phenylalanine sii, Proline sii, Serine sii, Threonine sii, Valine sii, Adenosine cci, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract aox|h, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract, Dextran vc, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil aox|emo, Linoleic Acid sii|emo|surf, Linolenic Acid sii|emo|surf|perf, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, Acetyl Glutamine, Coconut Alkanes emo|solv, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate emo, Pentylene Glycol solv|h, Isomalt h, Lecithin emo|emu, Xanthan Gum vc, Aspartic Acid sii, Phytosphingosine sii|cci|aacne|amic, Phospholipids sii|emo, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols emo, Tocopherol aox 0-3 0-3, Citric Acid buff, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol vc, Phenoxyethanol pres, Sodium Benzoate pres, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin , Polysorbate 20 emu|surf 0 0, Caprylyl Glycol h|emo, Phenylpropanol perf|solv, Chlorphenesin pres|amic, Carbomer vc 0 1, Glyceryl Caprylate emo|emu, Ethylhexylglycerin presThe Ingredient List of the Layers Probiotic Serum:
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Stearyl Heptanoate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Fragrance.
