WHY AM I LATE TO LACTIC-ACID LOVE?

This time the Lipstick League wants to know: what skincare "super ingredient" intrigues you most at the moment?

Great. Another buzzy term to make you think you need to toss your regimen and aim your poor wallet at a whack of new caped-crusader formulas. But as far as I can tell, "super ingredients" simply refers to those work-horse ingredients, some new and some tried-and-trusted that have worked for years, such as retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, antioxidants – stuff that truly changes your skin's appearance.

In that context, I have just fallen into what I'm sure is Forever Love with lactic acid. Yep, an oldie-but-goodie alpha hydroxy acid, long trusted by skincare professionals everywhere and an element in many an exfoliating formula.

Why am I so late to lactic-acid love? Like many of you, I've heard odes to lactic acid's smoothing + hydrating properties (especially for dry and older skin) for years and years, but I'd never actually tried anything in which it was the star ingredient. Instead, I was deep in the throes of a longtime affair with glycolic acid, which transformed my breakout-prone complexion to smooth and clear. Can't blame me for that, right? Glycolic came through for me.

But last week I tried something I can't tell you about yet, and it sent me tumbling headlong into lactic bliss. Suddenly my skin was luminous and smooth and I swear it looked at least five years younger than it had before. But more than that, my skin was beautifully hydrated in a way it hadn't been for ages. It was hydrated enough that I didn't need to fuss with extra serums, masks and heavier moisturizers – Vichy's Aqualia Thermal Serum and a light gel topper were all I needed, and holy wow, my tinted sunscreen went on like buttah.

Now I really get the hype around Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment (from $130 CAD and $105 USD at sephora.com). My wallet's giving that one the cold shoulder though...

Funnily enough, I've had a Very Affordable bottle of Deciem's The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% ($6.70 CAD at deciem.com and $6.79 USD at skinstore.com) somewhere around here for months, purchased by me and still unopened, still untried. No longer: that seal's been cracked and it's instantly a staple in my daily regimen (Sunday Riley's is a treatment, which usually means once or twice a week rather than every day). I'm using The Ordinary Lactic at night (as per bottle instructions), followed by a light, silicone-free HA moisturizing cream. I did try applying a hyaluronic acid serum between the lactic and the cream, but ended up with a pilling situation – too much HA, perhaps.

Note: if you've never tried lactic acid, or never tried an alpha hydroxy acid before, you'll want to start with The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% ($6.50 CAD at deciem.com and $6.50 USD at beautylish.com). Note: there's an updated, no-stink version of The Ordinary lactic, but I think I have the previous formula – and its unmasked scent is somewhat off-putting. Still, I'd rather wrinkle my nose at the pong than deal with yet another fragranced skin care formula.

I'm still marvelling that it's taken me this long to try lactic acid. Part of the reason is that finding a simple lactic formula isn't easy – The Ordinary really is a game-changer collection. And of course, as I've said, I hadn't seen a reason to stray from glycolic. But because lactic is a more gentle AHA – and unlike glycolic, it's hydrating – I think it may, for the most part, replace glycolic in my regimen. We'll see. 

Other than this toe-dip, I haven't done a lactic-acid dive on Beautygeeks as yet, so I've found a couple of excellent posts you can visit for more on the subject, at labmuffin.com and fanserviced-b.com.

lipstick league links of the week

My Beauty Bunny found a store that sells cruelty-free and vegan dupes of your favourite perfumes!

Painted Ladies  Attention oily-skin friends: Sheila from Painted Ladies has three mattifying primers (sans silicone) that will keep your makeup from sliding off your face. And for all budgets!

Phyrra  Courtney's teamed up with two of her cruelty-free beauty BFFs, Jen & Emily, to bring you an Amazing Giveaway. One lucky follower will win $200 in CASH, plus a prize package of skincare and makeup worth $800!

Prime Beauty  If you like sparkling, fresh citrus scents for summer, Cindy has a beautiful one for you: Skylar Capri. Read about this natural, cruelty-free company and their mission.

Realizing Beauty  A matte lip mousse? Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Check out Christa’s review of all 8 shades of the new Urban Decay Lo-Fi Lip Mousse!

we heart this  Facial hair: we all have it, we all hate it. Stef's discovered the best way to get rid of it, and it’s easy, inexpensive and simple. Here, show your facial hair who’s boss!

Blushing Noir  We all love surprises, especially beauty related ones! Enter to win a HUGE Surprise Box of Makeup and Skincare to get you ready for Fall. Open Worldwide!

EauMG  Victoria's aware she talks a lot about expensive perfumes (it’s the industry!), but today she's sharing a “budget” perfume that smells like it costs at least double what it retails for. See? You don’t have to spend a fortune to smell good.

(Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)

My Beauty Bunny is Currently Craving the Becca Ultimate Coverage Longwear Concealer, because aren’t we all on the hunt for the perfect concealer?

•  •  •  •  •

Over to you, lovelies! Has a particular "super ingredient" caught your attention? What about lactic acid – have you ever tried it? Are you already a fan?

shoppity shop-shop

DECIEM THE ORDINARY LACTIC ACID 10% + HA 2% ingredients: Aqua (Water), Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Potassium Citrate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Ethyl 2,2-Dimethylhydrocinnamal, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.

DECIEM THE ORDINARY LACTIC ACID 5% + HA 2% ingredients: Aqua (Water), Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.

SUNDAY RILEY GOOD GENES ALL-IN-ONE LACTIC ACID TREATMENT ingredients: Opuntia Tuna Fruit (Prickly Pear) Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf (Blue Agave) Extract, Cypripedium Pubescens (Lady's Slipper Orchid) Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris (Cactus) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract & Saccharomyses Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract, Lactic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Ppg-12/Smdi Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol And Ceteareth20, Glyceryl Stearate And Peg-100 Stearate, Arnica Montana (Flower) Extract, Peg-75 Meadowfoam Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil, Triethanolamine, Xantham Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, Dmdm Hydantoin.

BECCA ULTIMATE COVERAGE LONGWEAR CONCEALER ingredients: BIS-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Water, Behenyl Alcohol, Tribehenin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Honey Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tin Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate. May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Zinc Oxide (Ci 77947), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Mica, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499).

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