The 7 Best Lactic Acid Lotions 2020

If you’re looking for the best lactic acid lotion, you’re in the right place!

RELATED:

• The 10 Best Chemical Peels for Hyperpigmentation
• The 7 Best Glycolic Acid Peels

What Are The Best Lactic Acid Lotions?

Here are my top picks for the best lactic acid lotions:

1. Best Overall Lotion: AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion + Ceramides
2. Best for Dry Skin: AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
3. Best Budget Pick: AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream
4. Best for Tough Feet & Cracked Heels: AmLactin Foot Repair Foot Cream Therapy
5. Best AmLactin Alternative: Dermal Therapy Alpha Hydroxy High Potency Lotion
6. Best AmLactin Dupe: Perrigo Ammonium Lactate Lotion 12%
7. Best Value Lotion: DNA Code 10% Glycolic Acid 5% Lactic Acid Exfoliate Body Lotion

1. Best Overall Lotion: AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion + Ceramides

AmLactin is my #1 overall pick because it helps hydrate dry and flaky skin while also alleviating the symptoms of more serious conditions like eczema and keratosis pilaris (KP).

The key benefits of this product include:

• AHAs: AmLactin contains lactic acid. As an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), lactic acid exfoliates and hydrates your skin to reduce dryness, itchiness, and roughness.
• Ceramides: Fatty acids called ceramides are responsible for maintaining your skin barrier and locking in moisture. However, those with conditions like eczema tend to naturally have fewer ceramides. Using AmLactin can help replenish your ceramide count to keep your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.
• Dermatologist-recommended: Dermatologists often recommend AmLactin for those with keratosis pilaris as it moisturizes your skin and encourages cell turnover. This helps remove those little red bumps, making it perfect for KP patients.

• Save

Overall, AmLactin has received very positive feedback with over 4,000 reviews on Amazon.

Customers reported fewer bumps, reduced dryness and irritation, and more hydrated skin. However, some users said the lotion felt “tacky” and “sticky”, which can make it less comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

2. Best for Dry Skin: AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

Next up, we have another body lotion from AmLactin. I recommend adding this one to your daily routine if you’re struggling with consistent dryness and flakiness.

Here’s why this particular lotion is great for dry skin:

• Ideal AHA Concentration: as I mentioned earlier, AHAs help improve dry skin but too much can cause burning, stinging, and irritation. The maximum recommended AHA concentration is between 10-15%. AmLactin uses a concentration of 12% which is powerful enough to provide adequate relief for dry skin without irritating it.
• Gentle Exfoliation & Intense Hydration: this lotion gently removes your top layer of dead skin cells through chemical exfoliation. Unlike physical scrubs, which may damage your skin if used too harshly, AmLactin provides your skin the moisture it needs without stripping your skin’s natural barrier.

• Save

With over 5,000 reviews on Amazon, the Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion is AmLactin’s #1 most popular product. Many customers noted that using this moisturizer resulted in smoother, more hydrated, and less flaky skin. However, you should know that the smell is not the best and the lotion has a thicker consistency that may bother some people.

3. Best Budget Pick: AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream

If you need a lactic acid lotion to treat rough and bumpy skin for under $10, I recommend the AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream.

This purple version is essentially a smaller 4.9 oz size of the blue Rapid Relief (7.9 oz / 14.1 oz) as both lotions use AmLactin’s Lactic Acid ULTRAPLEX formula.

However, this one does not include 3 types of ceramides like Rapid Relief does (which means it’s a bit less effective for dry skin and conditions like eczema).

• Save

Like all AmLactin lotions, this product contains both glycerin and mineral oil, ingredients that help provide hydration and reinforce your skin barrier.

Overall, get the purple version if you’re just treating small areas of dryness or bumpy skin. For larger areas, the blue Rapid Relief or green Daily Body Lotion provide better value.

4. Best for Tough Feet & Cracked Heels: AmLactin Foot Repair Foot Cream Therapy

If you’re looking for a solution to the dry, rough, or cracked skin on your feet and heels, I recommend using AmLactin Foot Repair Foot Cream Therapy.

This affordable 3.0 oz foot cream is the #1 recommended moisturizer brand by podiatrists and helps remove layers of hardened skin on your feet for a smoother and softer texture.

In addition, this lactic acid cream locks in moisture to relieve dry, flaky, and rough skin.

• Save

As with any AHA product that removes the epidermis, remember to limit your sun exposure and apply adequate sunscreen. Even though the skin on your feet is thicker, it’s still susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) damage from the Sun which may result in sunburn.

No time to apply a foot cream everyday? A good alternative is the popular Baby Foot Peel which features lactic acid and glycolic acid plus a long list of natural extracts.

You simply slip on the foot peel, leave for one hour, wash off, and then watch the dead skin peel away in the following 5-7 days. Baby smooth skin without the hassle!

5. Best AmLactin Alternative: Dermal Therapy Alpha Hydroxy High Potency Lotion

Finally, a non-AmLactin product! ???? The Dermal Therapy AHA High Potency Lotion combines the hydrating properties of a traditional 10% urea cream (usually prescribed by doctors for very dry, flaky, rough, itchy, or scaly skin) and a 10% lactic acid lotion.

The result is a powerful dual-action formula that moisturizes and exfoliates at the same time to restore moisture to dry skin while removing excess dead skin cells and keratin plugs (the main cause of keratosis pilaris and skin conditions like acne).

• Save

Dermal Therapy has received very positive reviews and customers have reported success using it for dry skin, eczema, ichthyosis (genetic skin disorders), psoriasis, and KP. It’s also a great lotion to keep your skin hydrated during the dry winter season.

While it’s not as popular as AmLactin (5,000+ reviews vs. 100+ reviews), Dermal Therapy is a hidden gem that I’d recommend for severe dry skin or if AmLactin isn’t working for you.

The extra 10% urea is really helpful for skin conditions like chronic dry skin and eczema where your skin needs the additional hydration to reduce flakiness and itchiness.

6. Best AmLactin Dupe: Perrigo Ammonium Lactate Lotion 12%

If you’re looking to save a few dollars, Perrigo makes an almost identical lactic acid lotion with 12% ammonium lactate (lactic acid) which is the same key ingredient found in AmLactin.

For comparison, a 14.0 oz (400g) bottle of Perrigo costs only $15 compared to $23 for the same amount of AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion.

Customer reviews have been very positive as well with over 1,500+ ratings on Amazon. The general sentiment is that this product works effectively on keratosis pilaris (chicken skin), eczema, psoriasis, extremely dry or rough skin, and ichthyosis.

On the other hand, similar to AmLactin, this lotion doesn’t smell great (due to ammonium) and has a sticky texture that some people may find off-putting.

7. Best Value Lotion: DNA Code 10% Glycolic Acid 5% Lactic Acid Exfoliate Body Lotion (32.0 oz)

Last but not least, if you need to buy a lactic acid lotion in bulk (or you’re starting a spa), the DNA Code Exfoliate Body Lotion is the best deal that I’ve found on Amazon.

At $70 for 32.0 oz, this massive tub works out to $2 per oz. There’s also a 8.0 oz version that you can try out first to see if you like the formulation.

Unlike AmLactin, this product is primarily a glycolic acid lotion (an equally effective AHA) with a lower concentration of 5% lactic acid. However, it does not use ammonium lactate which means there’s no issue with unpleasant smells or odors.

• Save

In addition, the DNA Code body lotion is 100% natural and 72% organic, and enhanced with Green Tea, Argan Oil, Papaya, Licorice Root, Squalane, Pumpkin, and Allantoin. These are all excellent ingredients that help with skin hydration and uneven skin tone.

Finally, customer reviews are a bit more limited but almost all of them have been 5-stars, with some people switching over from AmLactin and highly recommending it.