Lactic acid is one of the most popular alpha hydroxy acids in skin care, and for good reason. Much gentler than many other AHAs, this acid is derived from kefir and is known for its surface exfoliating properties,
sloughing away dead skin cells while reducing fine lines and discoloration. As a lactic acid newbie, I tested one of the most popular products on the market, not to mention a Byrdie HQ favorite: Sunday Rileys
Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment.
I used it daily for two weeks and saw changes in my skin’s texture, radiance, and hydration levels, as well as improvements in dark spots and fine lines. Is this exfoliating, plumping serum-based treatment a winner?
Read on to find out.
About my skin: Normal to oily with minor fine lines. My skin condition varies by season. In the summer, my skin fluctuates between normal and oily, and I’m more prone to clogged pores and breakouts—especially now that I wear a mask every time I leave the house. I also struggled with texture, finding that my skin was rarely smooth, whether it was dry, oily, or somewhere in between. I also suffered from severe sun damage as a teenager from years of sunbathing at the beach, which showed up as small, freckle-like dark spots on my cheeks. In general, I shy away from acids because I’ve had severe reactions to stronger ingredients in the past and have never consistently used lactic acid treatments. Given my current skin condition and the fact that I was starting to notice fine lines around my eyes (hello, I’m 30!), Good Genes seemed like the perfect choice for my first try at a daily AHA. Since the product can be used both day and night, I decided to incorporate it into my nighttime routine.
After spraying Maison Jacynthe Rose Petal Water onto cleansed skin, I apply Good Genes to my face and neck and let it absorb. I’ll then apply a stronger nighttime moisturizer, Haomas Restoring Night Cream. Since the product is gentle enough for daily use, I used it every night during my two-week testing period.
Ingredients: Lactic acid and botanicals work together to refine skin. Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment is based on natural lactic acid to remove pore-clogging dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots for fresh, radiant skin. Lactic acid also kills acne-causing bacteria, promotes cell turnover, and helps the skin retain moisture. 1 Additionally, licorice and lemongrass can fade dark spots and other skin discolorations.
Members of the skincare community may tout comprehensive, multi-step routines, but it’s not something that everyone can achieve.
Especially in the early morning when you’re preparing breakfast for a hungry toddler, juggling a 9-to-5 work schedule, or trying to squeeze in other morning rituals like exercise and a to-do list.
Yet a morning skin care routine can be just as beneficial as a bedtime one. It’s the time to nourish your skin after a night of sleep (especially important if you’re too tired to wash your face before bed) and prepare it for a successful day filled with germs, screen time, stress, and UV rays.
Follow these guidelines on how to perform a morning skin care routine. While we’ve laid out a complete routine, there are some optional steps you can add or remove depending on your specific skin type and concerns.
How to Use Skincare in the Morning. Here’s how to layer your morning skincare routine.
Step 1: Cleanser. It’s time to start from scratch. Wash your face with a cleanser for 30-60 seconds, using circular motions to remove dirt and oil from problem areas like your chin, nose, and forehead.
Soap-free cleansers with skin-loving ingredients (like our Antioxidant Cleanser) are suitable for all skin types. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, choose a product like Keep the Peace that contains 1.5% salicylic acid.
If you have dry skin type or follow a bedtime skin care routine, you may not need to cleanse your skin thoroughly.
However, it’s still important to wash off pollutants that may have sneaked in overnight (your pillowcase can harbor bacteria and dead skin cells). So simply brush them off with micellar water or a little water. Or go to step
2, cleanse with toner.
Step 2: Toner (optional): If you’ve washed your face but still notice residue after patting it dry with a towel, you already know the benefits of toner.
A good toner not only removes lingering impurities, but it also sets the stage for the rest of your skin care regimen by rebalancing your skin’s pH (which is lost when you rinse with water) and nourishing your skin with skin-loving nutrients. How
As mentioned above, even for dry skin, you can use a toner (like Baby Cheeks) in the morning instead of a cleanser.
This is also a good time to remove dead skin cells before applying a serum, which will allow your serum to penetrate better when pores are clogged. To this end, use a brightening toner daily while you even out your skin tone.
Step 3: Serum or Treatment. Now that your skin is fully primed and prepped, you can apply targeted serums and treatments tailored specifically to your skin care needs. Dehydrated or dry skin?
Try Moisture Maker Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Do you have dark spots? Use tranexamic acid or vitamin C to fade dullness and strengthen the barrier. Are you prone to breakouts? A purifying serum with niacinamide can
help balance.
Step 4: Eye Gel (optional): While we recommend using a thicker eye and night cream, those with dark circles and eye bags can use a cooling gel to revive tired eyes.
Gently tap our Brightening Eye Gel, starting at the inner corner of the eye and moving upward toward the brow bone to wash away trapped fluid that causes dark circles and eye bags.
Step 5: Moisturizer: For all oily and acne-prone skin types: Don’t skip this step! Moisturizer helps lock in all the goodness while maintaining the hydration you need for the rest of the day.
During the day, choose a lighter shade like Dew Point. The cooling, jelly-like texture absorbs into your skin instantly, leaving no greasy feeling all day long. Dry skin types may prefer a creamy product like Skin Soak.
Step 6: Sunscreen: If you put something on in the morning, make sure it’s sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun year-round is important to prevent damage like cancer, burns, and dark spots and premature fine lines.
Choose a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with SPF that also protects against free radicals caused by blue light and pollution. If you’re out and about during the day, don’t forget to bring your tube with you so you can apply every two hours as recommended by the FDA. Step 7: Glowing Fireflies (Optional) As a bonus step, use mood lighting to add a little filter-free glow to your daily routine. Choose between Sheer Golden and Sheer Bronzed (or mix both) and blend into skin to blur imperfections and enhance skin’s radiance. If you wear makeup, you can also mix a few drops into your foundation.
