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The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA for mature skin

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA

Superior

  • SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best products for mature skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Excellent suitability for your normal skin as lactic acid provides effective exfoliation for wrinkles and fine lines while sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer ensures optimal hydration. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract further soothes and calms the skin, enhancing the renewal process.
  • Glycerin and pentylene glycol act as humectants, drawing moisture to the skin and supporting the hydrating effects of sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer.
  • The product is safe for your normal skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your skin.
  • Apply this exfoliant product after cleansing and toner, but before your moisturizer. This ensures the best absorption into your skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant product into your face, avoiding any rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
  • Apply this exfoliant product on completely dry skin to get the best results. This helps your normal skin accept the product smoothly.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area while using this exfoliant product. Do a patch test before your first use and avoid mixing it with strong acids.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 7.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with dry, sensitive, or textured skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to gently exfoliate without compromising the moisture barrier. The majority of reviews report a noticeable improvement in skin smoothness and radiance, with many noting it effectively reduces flakiness and mild acne scars over time.

Highlights

  • Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
    • “perfect for sensitive skin”
    • “no irritation occurred”
    • “mild yet effective”
    • “great beginner acid”
  • Smoother texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “bumps are gone”
    • “skin feels soft”
    • “glass skin effect”
    • “texture improved significantly”
  • Brightens skin Often Mentioned
    • “woke up glowing”
    • “skin looks radiant”
    • “faded dark spots”
    • “evened skin tone”
  • Hydrating Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't dry me out”
    • “feels very moisturizing”
    • “plumps the skin”
    • “good for dry skin”
  • Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like cabbage”
    • “weird sour smell”
    • “scent is off-putting”
    • “smells like spoiled milk”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “caused small bumps”
    • “broke me out”
    • “experienced bad purging”
    • “worsened my acne”
  • Sticky finish Rarely Noted
    • “leaves sticky residue”
    • “feels tacky afterwards”
    • “takes time to absorb”
    • “slightly sticky texture”
  • Too mild Rarely Noted
    • “didn't see results”
    • “too weak for me”
    • “prefer the 10%”
    • “results take time”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, theordinary.com, brandclub.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA one of the best fits for mature skin?

This product is an excellent fit for mature skin because lactic acid helps smooth out wrinkles and fine lines while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin draw in deep moisture. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract further calms the skin and supports renewal, and the formula avoids harsh ingredients to keep your skin safe and comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for mature skin?

Lactic acid gives this exfoliant a great fit for mature skin by smoothing wrinkles and fine lines, while sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and glycerin keep the skin hydrated. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract further helps calm the skin and supports renewal.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Lactic Acid do for mature skin?

Lactic acid helps mature skin by boosting firmness and smoothing out rough texture through increased collagen production. It also helps lock in moisture and brightens dark spots for a more youthful appearance.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Frontiers in Medicine, 2021

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for mature skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps mature skin by deeply boosting moisture, improving elasticity, and smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Regular use keeps the skin looking plump and soft while supporting overall firmness and hydration.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Skin Research and Technology, 2024

Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for mature skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results can carefully use them more often.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

It is generally best to avoid using this exfoliant on the same night as your retinol, as alternating nights helps prevent dryness and irritation. You can use your retinol on one evening and apply this treatment on another, making sure to follow with a good moisturizer.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Use this exfoliant once a week in the evening to start, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. This gentle routine gives your mature skin time to adjust while lactic acid helps smooth fine lines and sodium hyaluronate keeps your skin hydrated.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014

Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?

This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin because it has a very low risk of this issue, and soothing ingredients help calm the skin during renewal. It may cause mild purging as dead skin cells clear away and fine lines smooth out.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical Tasmannia lanceolata extract reduced skin roughness, increased firmness, dermal density, and thickness of stabilized stretch marks compared to placebo in 29 women over 8 weeks, alongside increased pro-collagen I, elastin, and TGF-beta concentrations in ex vivo human skin explants.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004
  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992
  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Acacia gum and carbopol hydrogel wound dressings containing gentamicin showed faster wound healing, well-developed fibroblasts, and blood capillaries compared to open wounds in swiss albino mice.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
  • Barley beta-glucan films formulated with sorbitol and acacia gum demonstrated suitable mechanical properties and stimulated in vitro keratinocytes growth.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2023
  • Gum arabic and beta-cyclodextrin microencapsulated peony seed oil emulsion protected against ultraviolet radiation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation, increasing cell viability from 54.75% to 92.69% in UVB-damaged HaCaT cells, and repairing 95.56% of UVB-damaged skin within 7 days in animal experiments through regulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026

Ingredients

Water, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.