Lactic acid is a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that promotes skin cell turnover—which helps soften and smooth skin, improving its overall appearance and texture. Plus, lactic acid is one component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor, a blend of compounds naturally found in the skin that helps it hold on to moisture. Because lactic acid is so gentle, it’s an excellent exfoliant for sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, and combination skin. CeraVe’s skincare products containing lactic acid do everything from helping to smooth fine lines, improving skin’s natural turnover, and removing dead skin cells to help to soften and smooth skin. Three essential ceramides are also featured in all CeraVe products to lock in moisture and help restore your skin’s protective barrier.
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Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment
AQUA / WATER / EAU, GLYCERIN, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, DIMETHICONE LYCOLIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6 , CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, TRIETHYL CITRATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, PHENYLETHYL RESORCINOL, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, XANTHAN GUM, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, BENZOIC ACID Please be aware that ingredient lists for the products of our brand are updated regularly. Please refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date list of ingredients to ensure it is suitable to your personal use. (For refilled products in the store, the most up to date list of ingredients should be obtained locally after refill of the product on the point of sale).View Product Details -
SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin
AQUA/WATER/EAU, GLYCERIN, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM/MINERAL OIL/HUILE MINERALE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, SALICYLIC ACID, NIACINAMIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, AMMONIUM LACTATE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, ZEA MAYS OIL/CORN OIL, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, DIMETHICONE, METHYLPARABEN, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLECALCIFEROL, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA, TOCOPHEROL, PROPYLPARABEN, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM Please be aware that ingredient lists for our CeraVe products are updated regularly. Refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date formulation to ensure it is suitable for your personal use.View Product Details -
SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin
Aqua / Water / Eau, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum / Mineral Oil / Huile Minerale, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Lactate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Oil / Corn Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholecalciferol, Cholesterol, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum Please be aware that ingredient lists for the products of our brand are updated regularly. Please refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date list of ingredients to ensure it is suitable to your personal use. (For refilled products in the store, the most up to date list of ingredients should be obtained locally after refill of the product on the point of sale).View Product Details -
Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: SALICYLIC ACID 2% INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, UREA, GLYCERYL STEARATE SE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, GLYCERIN, NIACINAMIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, PEG-100 STEARATE, LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, LAURETH-9, GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM (COTTON) SEED OIL, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, C12-13 ALKYL LACTATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, DIMETHICONE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, GLYCERYL STEARATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLESTEROL, TASMANNIA LANCEOLATA FRUIT/LEAF EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA, TOCOPHEROL, HYDROXYACETOPHENONE, HYDROGENATED OLIVE OIL, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN Please be aware that ingredient lists for our CeraVe products are updated regularly. Refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date formulation to ensure it is suitable for your personal use.View Product Details -
Psoriasis Cleanser
Active Ingredient: Salicylic acid 2% Inactive Ingredients: WATER, GLYCERIN, CAPRYL/CAPRAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, UREA, SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE, SHEA BUTTERAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, PEG-150 PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRASTEARATE, LAURETH-9, SODIUM LACTATE, NIACINAMIDE, ETHOXYDIGLYCOL, SODIUM CHLORIDE, GLUCONOLACTONE, C12-13 ALKYL LACTATE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE, GLYCOLIC ACID, CALCIUM GLUCONATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA, TETRASODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, BENZOIC ACID Please be aware that ingredient lists for the products of our brand are updated regularly. Please refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date list of ingredients to ensure it is suitable to your personal use. (For refilled products in the store, the most up to date list of ingredients should be obtained locally after refill of the product on the point of sale).View Product Details -
Acne Control Gel
Active Ingredients: SALICYLIC ACID 2% Inactive Ingredients: WATER, GLYCERIN, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, GLYCOLIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, NIACINAMIDE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, TRIETHYL CITRATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLESTEROL, CHLORPHENESIN, DISODIUM EDTA, HYDROXYPROPYL GUAR, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, XANTHAN GUM, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, BENZOIC ACID Please be aware that ingredient lists for the products of our brand are updated regularly. Please refer to the ingredient list on your product package for the most up to date list of ingredients to ensure it is suitable to your personal use. (For refilled products in the store, the most up to date list of ingredients should be obtained locally after refill of the product on the point of sale).View Product Details
FAQ
Find the answers to some frequently asked questions about lactic acid below.
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What Does Lactic Acid Do?
Lactic acid is a mild alpha-hydroxy acid that gently exfoliates skin and helps lock in moisture. By promoting skin cell turnover, it helps improve skin’s appearance and texture, which makes it a valuable tool for anti-aging, acne, and rough and bumpy skin. You’ll find lactic acid paired with glycolic acid in our Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment, which provides gentle exfoliation to help smooth fine lines, accelerate surface cell renewal, and clear away dead skin cells—without causing flaking or redness.
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How Often Can You Use Lactic Acid on Your Face?
CeraVe’s lactic acid products are gentle enough to be used every day. No matter what skin type you have, we have lactic acid skincare that’s right for you.
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Do Dermatologists Recommend Lactic Acid?
Yes. The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) affirms the cosmetic skincare benefits of alpha-hydroxy acids such as lactic acid.1
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References
- Smith, W., Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acid. JAAD, Clinical & Laboratory Study; volume 35, issue 3, P388-391, Sept. 1, 1996