My Two-Week Journey With Lactic Acid Skincare Routine

Lactic acid is one of the most popular alpha hydroxy acids in skin care, and for good reason. Much milder than many other AHAs, this acid is derived from kefir and is known for its surface exfoliating properties

removing dead skin cells while reducing the appearance of fine lines and discoloration. As a lactic acid newbie, I tested one of the most popular products on the market, not to mention a favorite from Byrdie HQ: Sunday Riley’s

Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment.

I used it every day for two weeks and noticed a change in my skin’s texture, radiance and moisture levels, as well as an improvement in dark spots and fine lines. Is this exfoliating, plumping serum treatment winning over people?

Please read carefully to find out.

About my skin: Normal to oily with slight fine lines. My skin conditions vary from season to season, with my skin fluctuating between normal and oily in the summer and more prone to clogged pores and blemishes—especially now

that I wear a mask every time I leave the house.

I also struggle with texture and find that my skin is rarely smooth, whether it’s dry, oily or somewhere in between. I also suffered significant sun damage from years of tanning at the beach as a teenager, which showed up in the

form of small freckle-like dark spots on my cheeks.

I generally shy away from acids because I’ve had severe reactions to stronger ingredients in the past and have never used lactic acid treatments consistently before. Given my current skin condition, and the fact that I’m

starting to notice fine lines appearing around my eyes (hello, I’m 30!)

Good Genes seemed like the perfect choice for me to try a daily AHA for the first time. Since this product can be used both during the day and at night, I decided to incorporate it into my evening routine.

After spritzing Maison Jacynthe Rose Petal Water on clean skin, I apply Good Genes to my face and neck and let it absorb, then apply a more powerful nighttime moisturizer, Haoma’s Recovery Night Cream. Because the product is

gentle enough for daily use, I used it every night during the two-week test period.

Ingredients: Lactic acid and plant ingredients work together to refine skin. Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment is based on natural lactic acid, which works to remove pore-clogging dead skin cells from the skin’s

surface, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots

leaving skin fresh and radiant. Lactic acid is also known to kill acne-causing bacteria, promote cell turnover, and help skin retain moisture. 1 Additionally, licorice and lemongrass can fade dark spots and other skin

discolorations

Members of the skincare community may boast about having a comprehensive, multi-step routine, but that’s not reality for everyone.

Especially in the wee hours of the morning when you’re preparing breakfast for a hungry toddler, juggling a 9-to-5 work schedule, or trying to fit in other morning rituals like exercise and to-do lists.

However, a morning skin care routine can be just as beneficial as one before bed. This is the time to condition your skin after a night’s sleep—especially important if you’re too tired to wash your face before bed—and set your

complexion up for success in the face of a day full of germs, screen time, stress, and more. UV rays.

Follow these guidelines to learn how to perform your morning skin care routine. Although we’ve laid out a complete routine, there are some optional steps you can add or remove based on your specific skin type and concerns.

How to use morning skin care products. Here’s How to Layer Your Morning Skin Care Routine.

Step 1: Cleaner. It’s time to start from scratch, literally. Wash your face with a cleanser for 30-60 seconds, using circular motions to remove dirt and oil from problem areas such as your chin, nose, and forehead.

Soap-free cleansers with skin-loving ingredients, like our Antioxidant Cleanser, are beneficial for all skin types. If you’re prone to acne or oiliness, choose a product like Keep the Peace, which contains 1.5% salicylic acid.

If you have a dry skin type or have been following a bedtime skin care routine, you may not need to deep cleanse your skin.

However, it’s still important to wash away any impurities that may have sneaked in overnight (pillowcases can contain bacteria and dead skin cells). So give them a quick brush with micellar water or a little water. Or go to step

2 and cleanse with toner.

Step 2: Toner (optional): If you’ve ever washed your face and still noticed residue when you pat it dry with a towel, you already know the benefits of toner.

A good toner not only removes remaining impurities, but also sets the stage for the rest of your skin care by rebalancing your skin’s pH (which is lost by rinsing with water) and providing it with skin-loving nutrients. As

mentioned above, a toner (like Baby Cheeks) can be used in place of cleansing in the morning, even for dry skin types.

This is also a good time to exfoliate dead skin cells before applying your serum, which will penetrate more effectively when pores are clear. Use a daily brightening toner to do this while evening out your skin tone.

Step 3: Serum or Treatment. Now that your skin is fully primed and ready, you can apply targeted serums and treatments specifically tailored 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 lighten dullness and strengthen the barrier. Are you prone to acne? A clarifying serum containing niacinamide can

help balance.

Step 4: Eye Gel (optional): While we recommend using thicker eye creams and creams at night, those with dark circles and eye bags can use a cooling gel to invigorate tired eyes.

Gently pat our brightening eye gel, starting at the inner corner of the eye and working upward toward the brow bone to flush away any trapped liquid that causes dark circles and bags.

Step 5: Moisturizer: For all oily and acne-prone skin types: Don’t skip this step! Moisturizer helps seal in all the goodness while locking in the moisture you need for the rest of the day.

During the day, opt for something lighter like dew point. The cooling jelly-like texture is instantly absorbed into the skin, leaving you non-greasy all day long. Dry skin types may prefer a creamy product like Skin Soak.

Step 6: Sun protection: If you put something on in the morning, make sure it’s sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun is important year-round to prevent cancer, burns, and damage like dark spots and premature fine lines.

Choose a mineral broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen 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 take the tube with you so you can use it 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 from Sheer Golden and Sheer Bronzed (or mix the two)

and blend into skin to fade imperfections and enhance skin’s radiance. If you wear makeup, you can also mix a few drops into your foundation.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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