Never heard of AmLactin? This drugstore brand is most well known for their lotion products formulated with lactic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). If you’re into Skin Care, you probably know that AHAs are amazing ingredients that promote smooth, hydrated skin while reducing the appearance of bumps, breakouts, dryness, and even signs of aging.
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| - | Amlactin |
But can the AmLactin lotion products really provide all of these benefits? To answer this question, we’ll have to evaluate the formulation details, including the key ingredients in AmLactin Skin Care products and the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in Skin Care. Lastly, we’ll share some AmLactin reviews so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of these products.
What Are The Best AmLactin Skin Care Products?
At the time of writing this review, the AmLactin collection consists of just five moisturizing body lotions and creams. Here’s what you need to know about each product:
There are some drugstore Skin Care products that are beloved by dermatologists and beauty editors alike, such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer, and AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion.
AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion
If you’re looking for a basic body moisturizer that keeps your skin hydrated without feeling greasy, AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion could be a good choice for you. It’s formulated with 12% ammonium lactate (a combination of lactic acid and ammonium hydroxide).
Unfortunately, this AmLactin lotion cannot provide gentle exfoliation as the brand claims because the pH is too high. The formula needs to have a pH of less than 4 in order for AHAs to exfoliate the skin, and the AmLactin formulations measure above 5.
Despite this, ammonium lactate can still help to bind moisture to the skin. Another water-binding ingredient in this formula is glycerin, which is combined with mineral (an occlusive emollient) and dimethicone (a type of silicone).
One of our writers tried this AmLactin lotion, and she commented on how it initially caused a slight stinging sensation when she applied it to her skin (her skin was in good condition, not sensitive or irritated). After the initial stinging, she said that the product absorbed into the skin well, and it kept her skin hydrated without feeling greasy, heavy, or sticky.
AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion
This AmLactin lotion contains the lactic acid ULTRAPLEX formula, which is a blend of ammonium lactate, potassium lactate, and sodium lactate. Similar to the AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion, this formula also contains glycerin, mineral oil, and dimethicone.
What sets this formula apart is the inclusion of three types of ceramides. Ceramides are a family of waxy lipid molecules that make up 50% of the skin’s lipid barrier. When the skin is depleted of ceramides, the barrier is weakened, which leads to dry, rough, flaky skin. Using products that contain ceramides, such as the AmLactin Rapid Relief Lotion, will help to alleviate these symptoms.
Lastly, this AmLactin lotion includes petrolatum (aka Vaseline), which gives this lotion a rich texture. Due to the inclusion of petrolatum and ceramides, this AmLactin lotion is ideal for very dry, rough, flaky skin on your body, such as your arms, legs, or torso.
AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Cream
This AmLactin cream comes in a jar rather than a pump bottle like the AmLactin lotion products. The formula contains many of the same ingredients as the Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion, such as the ULTRAPLEX lactic acid blend, glycerin, dimethicone, mineral oil, and petrolatum.
The main difference between the AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion and this AmLactin Cream is the texture: the cream is formulated to feel light, airy, and virtually translucent on your skin.
AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream
The AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Cream is a thick, rich cream designed for visibly rough, bumpy dry skin, often associated with Keratosis Pilaris (KP) or also known as “chicken skin”. Similar to the other AmLactin products, the formula contains the lactic acid ULTRAPLEX formula, mineral oil, petrolatum, and glycerin.
One thing to know about this AmLactin cream is that the formula contains two parabens as preservatives. There is still debate over whether or not the low concentration of parabens used in cosmetic products presents a harm to human health, but if you want to play it safe you should avoid using this AmLactin cream.
AmLactin Foot Repair Cream Therapy
Is it true that you need a separate cream specifically for your feet? In our opinion, no. There’s really no reason you can’t use your body lotion or cream on your feet, but apparently AmLactin believes otherwise (likely to make money from another product).
In fact, this formula is identical to the AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream. It has all of the same ingredients in the same exact order on the ingredient list. So you really could use AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream on your feet if you didn’t want to buy two products.
But keep in mind that since the formulations are identical, this AmLactin foot cream does contain parabens as preservatives, just like the AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream.
What is AmLactin Lotion Good For?
All of the AmLactin Lotion products are good for treating dry skin because the formulas contain humectants and emollients as key ingredients.
The rich lotions, such as Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion, can be used for very dry, rough, flaky skin, and even skin conditions like keratosis pilaris (KP). Based on AmLactin reviews, it seems as though many people with KP find that AmLaction lotion products help, but there were some reviews from customers who saw no difference.
How Much Do AmLactin Products Cost?
The price of the AmLactin products will depend on the retailer where you purchase the product. Generally speaking, AmLactin products are in line with other drugstore moisturizers, such as CeraVe and Cetaphil. For example, the AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion costs $12.97 for a 7.9 ounce bottle on Amazon.
What Are The Key Ingredients in AmLactin Skin Care Products?
The AmLactin products contain one key ingredient throughout all of the formulations: lactic acid.
Lactic acid is an organic compound that is naturally found in sour milk products (i.e. yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese). Lactic acid can also be produced synthetically.
With a hydroxyl group adjacent to the carboxyl group, lactic acid is classified as an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs are frequently used in skin care products because they have the ability to exfoliate the skin, stimulate the skin’s natural regeneration process, and help the skin to retain moisture.
Lactic acid is particularly beneficial for those with sensitive skin because it provides gentler exfoliation than other AHAs, such as glycolic acid. It works by breaking down keratin, a protein that acts as a glue to keep dead skin cells together. By dissolving keratin, lactic acid helps to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells, leaving skin looking brighter with a more even tone. Exfoliation also helps to break down rough, dry skin and boost the skin’s natural renewal process.
According to a publication in the journal Molecules, one of the factors that determines the effectiveness of AHAs is the product’s pH level. The formula needs to have a pH between 3 and 4 in order for AHAs like lactic acid to exfoliate the skin.
Like we mentioned above, the AmLactin lotion products are not formulated at a pH that would allow exfoliation. The pH is higher than 4, which means lactic acid will not exfoliate the skin like the brand claims.
But that doesn’t mean the lactic acid in AmLactin lotion products is ineffective; it will actually help to increase the skin’s hydration by replenishing the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF).
The NMF is primarily composed of free amino acids and various derivatives of these amino acids, for example, PCA, urocanic acid, and inorganic salts, sugars, as well as urea and lactic acid. The role of the NMF is to maintain adequate skin hydration. The NMF can become depleted with age and also from routine exposure to sensitizing ingredients like drying cleansing agents and denatured alcohol. This leads to visibly dry, tight-feeling, flaky skin.
Thus, by using ingredients that help to replenish NMF, such as lactic acid, the skin will be better hydrated. Ultimately, the skin will look and feel healthy, smooth, and supple.
Another way that lactic acid helps to improve dry skin conditions is by functioning as a powerful humectant. A humectant is a hygroscopic substance that has a molecular structure with several hydrophilic (water loving) groups. This structure allows humectants to attract and retain the moisture in the air nearby via absorption, drawing the water vapor into or beneath the surface.
AmLactin products also contain rich emollients and additional humectants that work together with lactic acid to improve the skin’s hydration. A few examples of these additional key ingredients include glycerin, mineral oil, dimethicone, and petrolatum.
Where to Buy AmLactin Skin Care Products?
AmLactin skin care products are not sold on the brand’s website. You must buy AmLactin skin care products on third party online retailers, such as Amazon, Walgreens, Target, and more. AmLactin skin care products are also sold in drugstores throughout the United States.
What is The AmLactin Return Policy?
AmLactin does not have a return policy on their website since they do not sell products on their website and, therefore, don’t accept returns.
Is AmLactin Cruelty Free?
Yes, AmLactin is cruelty free.
Is AmLactin Vegan?
Yes, Amlactin is a vegan brand.
AmLactin Reviews
The brand does not display customer reviews on their website, so we had to turn to Amazon to evaluate AmLactin reviews.
One product that has received a lot of positive feedback is the AmLactin Daily Moisturzing Lotion, which has earned an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars after more than 14,000 customer reviews.
The positive reviews for the AmLactin Daily Moisturzing Lotion mention how it helps to moisture even very dry, rough, flaky skin.
For example, one review says, “Turned my dry, flakey, cracked, bleeding hands soft and mostly pain free. Not a cure, but a huge improvement in comfort and appearance. I’ve recommended it to several people and will continue to do so. I’m a very happy customer.”
And other reviews mention that it helps to reduce the bumps associated with KP. For instance, one AmLactin review says, “Exfoliation in the shower, then using this right after the shower and applied consistently before bed other days took care of 80% of the KP on my legs. On top of looking better, my skin feels super soft. The smell is fine to me, it’s not great but inoffensive – it’s faint and doesn’t stick around once the lotion is absorbed.”
However, there are a handful of negative reviews for the AmLactin Daily Moisturzing Lotion that mention it is ineffective, and some reviews even mention negative reactions like hives.
For example, one review says, “My dermatologist recommended this lotion to treat the small red bumps on the back of my arms. I used it religiously for the entire summer, once in the morning and once at night, only to have no improvement. I could have dealt with the chemical smell and greasy feel if I had seen any progression. Buy yourself lotion that smells pretty or makes your skin feel nice, Amlactin will do neither. I don’t recommend this lotion.”
And another 1-star review says, “My daughter ordered this lotion hoping it would help with the eczema on her arms and legs. Instead of helping, it immediately gave her hives (which she has never had before) and they lasted about 5 days so it was a pretty extreme reaction. I can’t recommend this product at all.”
And then there are quite a few negative reviews for this AmLactin lotion that comment on the unpleasant smell of the formula. One review says, “It smells SO bad. I hate it. I don’t care if it cures dry skin.”
And a similar review for this AmLactin lotion says, “This smells TERRIBLE. I tried to ignore the smell in an attempt to reap the benefits of the lotion, but after using it only twice I just can’t handle it. It’s not worth it.”
Our Verdict
Overall, we think that AmLactin products are basic moisturizers that could be a good option for dry skin, although we believe there are better AHA lotions, such as Alpha Skin Care.
Pros
- AmLactin lotion products contain a mix of emollients, humectants, and lactic acid
- Many positive AmLactin reviews
- AmLactin is cruelty free
Cons
- The pH of AmLactin products (greater than 4) prevents lactic acid from exfoliating skin
- Several reviews comment on the unpleasant smell of AmLactin lotion products
- Some AmLactin products contain parabens
What Are Some Alternatives to AmLactin Skin Care Products?
If you’re looking for hydrating skincare products for dry skin, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. We recommend this repair moisturizer.
References:
Molecules. 2018 Apr; 23(4): 863.
Mark Original review: Jan 28, 2023.
My wife bought a 14.1 oz dispenser of Amlactin Rapid Relief. The dispenser wouldn’t open. I even tried to open it by taking the pump out of the dispenser, washing and drying it for a better grip, and turning it open. It would turn maybe 5 degrees, and remain stuck. I have a difficult time thinking the care they take in making a quality lotion will be better than the care you take in making the dispenser.