Rough, bumpy skin on the arms and legs is where this lotion earns most of its praise, since the experts say it smooths texture gradually. The one thing to keep in mind is the smell, which some find sour or chemical, and the lactic acid can sting on tiny micro tears or cracked fingertips. Applying it to slightly damp skin at bedtime may help soften thick skin on elbows and knees.
Synthesized from 10 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026
"Lactic acid is 100% safe to use during pregnancy, but for anyone, even if you're not pregnant, I love it. I use it myself regularly to keep my keratosis pilaris at bay. It's a great exfoliating lotion that helps with dry, ashy, dull skin, and you can use it regularly to improve skin turnover, which may reduce the appearance of the stretch marks."
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"AmLactin makes a great lactic acid based moisturizer that I love for keratosis pilaris but also great would be great options for your hands and fingernails and those ingredients are also really going to be helpful if you are prone to getting dryness and fissures of your fingertips as well as getting like thickened buildup of dead skin on your hands because of the frequent hand washing and dryness just be mindful because lactic acid or alpha hydroxy acid based moisturizers can cause some temporary burning sensation when there are micro tears in your skin so maybe not the most ideal to use if you actually have cracked and fissured fingertips."
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"I actually still struggle with it on my lower legs and this is one I've been using probably since high school. Lactic acid overall is fairly gentle and unless I have like a razor burn, which will temporarily stain it, it is one that I actually continue to use on a daily basis as my lower leg body moisturizer when I get out of the shower. So I tolerate that just fine."
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"If you have mild acanthosis nigricans, one of the most effective things you can try over the counter is ammonium lactate based moisturizer, so for example AmLactin, it also contains one that's 12% which can be more irritating but it can also be effective. What is happening here is the exfoliation from the lactic acid helps to reduce the thickening of the acanthosis nigricans, which is essentially what it is."
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"Lactic acid is 100% safe to use during pregnancy, but for anyone, even if you're not pregnant, I love it. I use it myself regularly to keep my keratosis pilaris at bay. It's a great exfoliating lotion that helps with dry, ashy, dull skin, and you can use it regularly to improve skin turnover, which may reduce the appearance of the stretch marks."
"I like AmLactin Moisturizing Body Lotion. It's got lactic acid plus a ceramide barrier repair all-in-one product. You can use this two to three times per week."
"If you want more of a traditional exfoliating body lotion, the AmLactin with 12% ammonium lactate is my go-to. It's affordable and it has that higher concentration of lactic acid, so you're going to get exfoliating smoothing and skin thickening benefits. Fair warning, it has a slightly sour smell, which some people don't notice at all, but some people will not be able to get past. But if it doesn't bother you, this is a tried and true affordable option for skin anti-aging and glowiness."
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"If you want more of a traditional exfoliating body lotion, the AmLactin with 12% ammonium lactate is my go-to. It's affordable and it has that higher concentration of lactic acid, so you're going to get exfoliating smoothing and skin thickening benefits. Fair warning, it has a slightly sour smell, which some people don't notice at all, but some people will not be able to get past. But if it doesn't bother you, this is a tried and true affordable option for skin anti-aging and glowiness."
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"One of the most common lactic acid preparations that I recommend is the AmLactin Daily Lotion. You can get this at your local drug store, it comes in a big bottle, it is super affordable and you can use it on your face and on your body. My only hang up with lactic acid and this is because it's derived from milk is the smell can be a little intense for some people."
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"Another body lotion option that I really like that has alpha hydroxy acids and is a lot more gentle than the one from Glytone is the AmLactin Daily Lotion. So instead of glycolic acid this has lactic acid which is a more gentle alpha hydroxy acid and it has 12% lactic acid so a good amount. And again you would apply this just once a day."
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"Even though I like amlactin for your body, aside from the kind of nasty smell, and that's very personal, when it comes to face, I don't really like a lactic acid lotion, I prefer it in serum form."
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"This has 12 percent lactic acid which is going to help exfoliate the skin and help moisturize the skin at the same time. The one thing about this product is the smell can be a little off-putting for some people, but it is so good for dry skin and a lot of people will tell me that their KP does improve with regular use of this product."
"AmLactin Daily Lotion has been my go-to here lately. I use it when I want to improve skin texture. It helps smooth rough areas, especially in the arms and legs and over time it makes the skin look and feel softer and more even. I don't think I use it every single day, but I do use it most days. I [...] find the AmLactin to be a really good option if you're dealing with rougher bumpy skin and you want something that works really gradually."
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"AmLactin Daily Lotion has been my go-to here lately. I use it when I want to improve skin texture. It helps smooth rough areas, especially in the arms and legs and over time it makes the skin look and feel softer and more even. I don't think I use it every single day, but I do use it most days. I [...] find the AmLactin to be a really good option if you're dealing with rougher bumpy skin and you want something that works really gradually."
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"Moisturizers with lactic acid such as AmLactin act as a humectant and an exfoliant. It's effective in treating dry, rough, and scaly skin conditions."
"This smells really bad. It smells so bad. Like really bad. I mean, it's not like horrible, but it like it smells bad. Like lactic acid just doesn't smell good. [...] It has that like chemically like almost sulfuric like I just got some on my nose scent to it. [...] The formula is like nice enough. It's like it's kind of like a gel somewhere between like a gel and a cream moisturizer. So, it glides really nicely on the skin. [...] It's described as non-greasy and lightweight."
"AmLactin with lactic acid is gentle, has been around for a while, great for keratosis pilaris on the back of the arms, but it really could help soften the skin and maybe add some help with the texture of the skin that might be playing a part with the crepiness around the knees."
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"AmLactin is a great moisturizer to put on damp skin if you have keratosis pilaris. It has lactic acids, so it's good to consider for those bumps on the back of the arms, especially in wintertime when they become more obvious. Though sometimes people can find it's a little too much with the lactic acid."
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"AmLactin uses lactic acid to help exfoliate. I like that brand a lot. [...] Apply that at bedtime when your skin's slightly damp and it's going to help soften either the thick skin on the elbows and knees or the keratin plugs of keratosis pilaris."
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"AmLactin with lactic acid is gentle, has been around for a while, great for keratosis pilaris on the back of the arms, but it really could help soften the skin and maybe add some help with the texture of the skin that might be playing a part with the crepiness around the knees."
"The AmLactin is a lactic acid lotion to try that is very similar to the Alpha glycolic lotion. It has 12% lactic acid and does just about the same thing. It is 48% off, almost 50%, down to $12.98 from $24.99, a great deal."
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"AmLactin is mainly used for that rough bumpy skin that you can get on the backs of your arms because it works as an exfoliant and so it helps to clear those bumps and the research into lactic acid also shows that it helps with ceramide production in the skin. When I first started using it I would get like a little bit tingly when I would put it on."
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"The AmLactin is a lactic acid lotion to try that is very similar to the Alpha glycolic lotion. It has 12% lactic acid and does just about the same thing. It is 48% off, almost 50%, down to $12.98 from $24.99, a great deal."
"AmLactin is an over-the-counter lactic acid moisturizer that you can find at your drugstore. It is very very easy to use."
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"AmLactin is one that you can get in any Duane Reade CVS or like over-the-counter pharmacy. It has lactic acid in it. It doesn't smell the best, but with the 12% lactic acid it is very efficacious and it has ceramides to help fortify hydration, which is great."
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"AmLactin is an over-the-counter lactic acid moisturizer that you can find at your drugstore. It is very very easy to use."
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"If you however prefer to exfoliate while moisturizing, AmLactin has a 12% lactic acid moisturizer. It doesn't smell the best though, so if you're looking for any sort of aroma therapy it's not going to come from this, but this will help keep things smooth in the long run."
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"AmLactin 12 percent lactic acid is a great value for your bang for your buck. It's around 14 ounces and it costs 15 dollars. If you have keratosis pilaris, you can use it on the back of your arms for all of those nasty little bumps. If you have ingrown hair, you can also use this guy. [...] I love it. I think it is fantastic."
"The 12% AmLactin lotion, the one with the green label, is one of the things that can actually reverse the dermal atrophy from solar purpura. It's buffered ammonium lactate, the only thing you can buy and use yourself that objectively moves the dial on dermal thickness, and there are so few ingredients that actually do that. It's worth knowing about."
"I swear by this product. It has made a huge difference for me. [...] It can be used on the face and [...] in conjunction with a topical retinoid. [...] This alone can improve dermal thickness. It shows promise for reducing and reversing dermal atrophy, either age-related dermatoperosis (like the sun damage that happens on the backs of your hands) or topical steroid-induced dermal atrophy. [...] The 12% or higher gets that deep. AmLactin makes a 15% version, but it's not strikingly different."
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"I love using AmLactin body lotion. That's currently my current body lotion of choice these days. And a couple of times I have tried with good success doing the AmLactin lotion first and then covering with some glycerin top coat."
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"I have been recommending this product over and over again for years across multiple videos. I use it myself and it is a product that really yields dramatically noticeable differences above and beyond standard moisturizers."
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"This is underrated. [...] Once you get over the aroma, which does not linger, okay? And the reason you have that aroma is because they're not backing down and putting fragrance in this and turning it into a scented nightmare. [...] The lactic acid hydrates and exfoliates and with long-term use can help improve the thickness of the epidermis and the dermis for firmer skin. This is going to help actually firm the skin, crepey skin. Now, it's not going to replace loss of volume."
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"It's the Amlactin Daily 12%. This is one of my go-to recommendations for smooth, hydrated skin. If you have keratosis pilaris, rough and bumpy skin, [...] it's great for that. It's also a really wonderful product if you are dealing with dry, rough elbows or knees that appear discolored."
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"Moisturizers such as this that contain greater than 12% lactic acid or ammonium lactate, in the case of AmLactin which is a salt of lactic acid, have been shown to improve the thickness of the epidermis and the dermis, showing promise for helping to improve the appearance of crepey skin, thicken the skin, and have even been shown to be helpful for reducing dermal atrophy related to inappropriate use of topical steroids. In other words, this is a topical that can help to thicken the skin."
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"Lactic acid at strengths greater than 12% can help improve dermal thickness. [...] One I frequently recommend is AmLactin 12% or higher. If you're new here, yeah, body lotions, they can be used on the face."
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"Ammonium lactate is the salt of lactic acid and you can find that in the AmLactin 12% Daily. Great option, very affordable, effective for rough and bumpy skin."
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"It's what is in AmLactin. AmLactin makes a 12% lotion that's an option even using a lower percentage though can help improve epidermal thickness and get you some improvement in that creepy appearance."
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"Very rejuvenating. I didn't notice any performance differences between the 15% and this one, honestly, as far as the benefit to my skin. It can be used on the face with caution, as it can be irritating, so I suggest doing a test spot. [...] And if you have keratosis pilaris, this is another one you should definitely try at some point. The biggest complaints people have with this are: some people say it smells odd. I honestly don't really notice a bothersome aroma with it."
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"In fact, I slathered myself in it last night. It's AmLactin Daily 12% lactic acid. 12% lactic acid in this lotion is a percentage strength and overall formulation that has been shown to improve both epidermal and dermal thickness. So this is a really good product for moisturizing dry, rough skin texture, but with long-term consistent use may also help to improve the thickness of the skin, helping to visibly improve the appearance of crepey skin."
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"The AmLactin lotion I did not like. I just finished that."
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"For example, 12% and higher ammonium lactate or the salt of lactic acid can help to improve collagen production in the deeper layers of the skin. AmLactin lotion, glycolic acid peels used in office, game changer for a lot of skin concerns, hyperpigmentation, collagen production. They are definitely evidence-based. [...] Another benefit of alpha hydroxy acids is that they help also with moisture retention in the skin."
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"The problem with using AmLactin in those areas is going to be the same problem and the same cautionary note with regards to many, many ingredients. They can be incredibly irritating in these locations because you have a few factors going on that enhance irritency. You have delicate skin. Skin in these areas is just a lot more sensitive. You have occlusion, skin on skin contact, namely where you have your arm pressed up to your side, rubbing back and forth."
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"Don't sleep on AmLactin, it is underrated. [...] If you have a Costco membership [...] it's significantly less there. If you are dealing with skin thinning, don't sleep on AmLactin 12% lactic acid from ammonium lactate, which is the active ingredient in AmLactin, has been shown to improve skin thickness."
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"For those of you who have rough and bumpy skin, AmLactin 12% lactic acid is on sale. I love this product for keratosis pilaris. The lactic acid goes in, softens and exfoliates dry rough skin texture. Lactic acid can also help to improve skin firmness. It's one of the few ingredients that may help in improving the appearance of acanthosis nigricans by hydrating and gently exfoliating the skin."
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"12% or higher lactic acid in AmLactin [...] shows promise for improving not just the surface change but also the deeper layers of the skin specifically with regards to wrinkles and could potentially also help soften the rough sloping of a depressed scar."
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"With consistent use over several weeks, studies show that 12% lactic acid increases dermal thickness and the firmness of the deeper layers of the skin, which is really meaningful when we're talking about improving the appearance of aging skin because what leads to wrinkles, loss of elasticity, loss of firmness, loss of the structural integrity and thickness of the deeper layers of the skin."
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"Some people find they don't care for that, but it is very good and I'm always on the hunt for it because it's not that expensive. [...] It can be used in the morning and adapalene at night, and together you have synergy there for improving collagen and dermal thickness over time, and so I really like it for that reason. 12% lactic acid may also be helpful if you have corticosteroid-induced skin thinning, may help improve that as well. [...] It is amazing for dry, rough skin."
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"AmLactin is underrated, very good for softening and exfoliating dry skin, keratosis pilaris, and it also may help improve slightly the appearance of sun damage and help to lighten age spots. Its lactic acid can help exfoliate gently. Now if you have irritated skin be careful when you put this on, it will burn and sting, so this is one to not necessarily use if you have atopic dermatitis and you are in the throes of a flare because it will burn and sting."
"It firms literally not just the epidermis, but the dermis gets thicker with consistent use. [...] My arms and legs, not only are they moisturized with long lasting moisture retention, like if I skipped it the next day, I'd be cool. They have this like shiny glossy appearance. [...] Everyone comments about the odor. [...] I don't smell a dang thing with this. And I am hyper hyper sensitive to smells. [...] If you put this on freshly scratched skin, it will not be comfortable."
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"AmLactin specifically has a 12% which I frequently recommend because lactic acid ammonium lactate which is what is in AmLactin 12% or higher strength has been shown to improve epidermal thickness and dermal thickness. So once you start getting into these strengths an advantage is that it improves thickness of the deeper layers of the skin. In fact topical alpha hydroxy acids have been shown to be beneficial for preventing and reversing atrophy in the skin related to corticosteroid use."
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"It's the AmLactin Daily 12%. Why do I recommend this thing so dang much? Well, lactic acid 12% strength and higher has actually been shown to improve epidermal and dermal thickness. What that translates to for mature, dry, sensitive skin is better water retention, firmer skin, a reduction in wrinkles, and even helping you out in regards to thinning skin with age. The thing about it is it can burn, it can sting. It is a body care product."
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"I highly suggest checking out AmLactin lotion, it is ammonium lactate, okay, lactic acid body lotion that is highly underrated for improving the moisture content of the skin. It's a great option if you are trying to improve moisture content in your skin on your body as it relates to maybe keratosis pilaris."
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"AmLactin lotion with 12% lactic acid is a relatively inexpensive, generally well tolerated lotion that you could apply to the skin that not only can help improve the thickness of the epidermis, which declines with age and with menopause and with estrogen deficiency, but also can tackle the dermis and improve dermal thickness. Moisturizers with alpha hydroxy acids may help improve collagen production, specifically 12% or higher lactic acids such as what is found in AmLactin lotion."
"You [...] get this huge bruise. [...] This right here, it's not going to get rid of that issue, [...] but it's one of the few things that can legitimately help with that. [...] This is the first month at this Costco you have the 20 oz bottle. Normally it's $18.99. This month, they're taking $ [...] 5 off. $13. [...] Yes, you can use this on the face. Yes, you can use it with retinoids. [...] AmLactin reformulated and [...] it no longer has the odor."
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"Currently, I am using the AmLactin daily 12% and that's the one that's like my all-time favorite."
"What definitely can soften stucco keratoses, flatten them, make them a lot less noticeable, and significantly improve the moisture, hydration, smoothness, texture, and glow of the skin on top of the feet is good old lactic acid found in AmLactin lotion. Ammonium lactate can help to gently exfoliate the dry, flaky stuff that's leading to the rough texture, making them a lot less obvious and smoothing the skin considerably."
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"You can get that in AmLactin body lotion, which I recommend a fair amount on my channel for a variety of aging skin concerns. It's a drugstore favorite, and at these higher strengths you get some dermal thickening, so that's why I recommend it. If you're already using it, make sure you're putting it on your hands too, ideally at least twice a day, but even once a day is helpful."
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"I really like AmLactin lotion on my face. I find it very effective, and [...] as somebody with atopic dermatitis and a background of dry skin, especially on my legs, I find AmLactin very effective for sustained hydration and smoothness. It contains lactic acid, which can help normalize dry, rough skin texture, though it can burn or sting if your skin barrier is compromised or sensitive."
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"12% ammonium lactate, AmLactin, can improve both epidermal and dermal thickness, unlike the lower 5% strength which only improves epidermal thickness. If you're specifically looking to improve dermal thickness, [...] you'd want to try the 12% because that's been shown to improve dermal thickness and reverse some dermal atrophy. It's a great option."
"It's still a pretty good deal here, face and body, you won't regret it. This is far and away one of my favorites. It has been reformulated so it doesn't have that odor anymore, though some people still say it stinks depending on [...] their own scent [...] sensitivity. Either way, $18.99 is always going to be a good value."
"I recommend AmLactin at the 12% strength and higher, rather than their lower percentage strength, to people who want those [...] dermal thickening effects. That recommendation is based on two clinical studies on real human volunteers: in one, the 12% group had improvement in both epidermal and dermal thickening, while the 5% group only improved epidermal thickening, and that difference is genuinely meaningful on biopsy."
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"For the body you've got a very affordable product, although some people don't like the way it smells, and that is AmLactin Daily. It's also really good for improving overlying roughness, and long term it just improves how well the skin stays hydrated because it helps with moisture retention. It's good if you have keratosis pilaris, I get keratosis pilaris, that rough and bumpy skin on the backs of my thighs, so I actually use it there all the time."
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"This is great, it's totally underrated, the twelve percent lactic acid softens and exfoliates dry, rough, bumpy skin, and it may also help improve the look of crepey skin."
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"But in my experience this product stings significantly more than the CeraVe SA lotion, especially if you have a nick, a cut, or any sores on the skin. I had a paper cut and [...] it really stung when I put this on, though on intact skin there wasn't any stinging. If you deal with eczema [...] you may find it very uncomfortable during a flare. It also doesn't have ceramides, though there is a version with ceramides available if you want that."
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"Alternatively you could use other keratolytic ingredients like 12% lactic acid, which is found in AmLactin lotion. [...] You can buy a big bottle of it at Costco, or a smaller bottle at the drugstore. It's relatively inexpensive and it works equally as well, it's a similar mechanism of dissolving the keratin and helping to exfoliate that little cyst and make it clear out and go away faster."
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"AmLactin 12% lotion is something I think is worth looking at because clinical studies show that at-home topical preparations of buffered ammonium lactate can improve not just the epidermis but dermal thickness too, which makes it superior to at-home glycolic acid products for anti-aging since those glycolic acid at-home products mostly work at the surface."
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"Amlactin 12% lactic acid [...] can boost collagen production in the deeper layers of skin. [...] It's great for keratosis pilaris, rough and bumpy skin, and smoothing out skin texture on the body. It does instruct you specifically not to use it on your face because that percentage can be very irritating."
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"So it's one of the few skin care products with evidence behind it that it can do that. And so I recommend it for anti-aging, for thinning skin, for rough and bumpy skin, all things. I use it on my face with topical retinoids. [...] Really, really like this. They changed up the formula so it doesn't smell like it used to, but some people still say it has an odor they don't care for, but majority of people say that they don't notice an odor these days."
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"I find that the Amlactin 12% lotion really imparts this deep hydration that I haven't ever gotten from other products. [...] The following morning, my skin almost looks like glass where I've applied it, like on my legs it's reflective. It's just so hydrated and much happier. I personally get a lot more out of the Amlactin 12% than I do from Gold Bond. It does sting more though and some people don't like the smell of it."
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"The 12% ammonium lactate strength has been shown to improve epidermal thickness and dermal thickness, whereas lower percentages of buffered ammonium lactate improve just epidermal thickness. So when you start using the 12%, you get an additional benefit. [...] A glycolic acid lotion is not going to have any effect on dermal thickness. But the 12% ammonium lactate strength is unique because you're getting epidermal thickness and you're getting dermal thickness."
"This is still a must get here in my opinion. This is one of the few skin care products, aside from retinol and of course adapalene, that you can hang your hat on showing objectively like biopsy confirmed improvement in not just the epidermis [...] but actually can reverse dermal atrophy related to corticosteroid use. People who get age-related bruising, for example, on the backs of the hands. This is like one of the few things out there. [...] You can put it on the face if you tolerate it."
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"AmLactin 12% lotion is the one I talk about all the time. Its active ingredient is buffered ammonium lactate, and at 12% strength it has been shown to improve epidermal and dermal thickness. It produces amazing results for me. When I use it consistently my legs look hydrated and smooth like glass. I'd recommend it for keratosis pilaris on the body or face. The odor has changed, though some people still say it stinks, so it's not guaranteed you won't be put off by it."
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"The 12% AmLactin lotion, the one with the green label, is one of the things that can actually reverse the dermal atrophy from solar purpura. It's buffered ammonium lactate, the only thing you can buy and use yourself that objectively moves the dial on dermal thickness, and there are so few ingredients that actually do that. It's worth knowing about."
What the evidence says.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what
the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
Frequently asked.
What is AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion 12%?
A daily body lotion containing 12% ammonium lactate, a lactic acid, designed to exfoliate, smooth rough skin, and moisturize dry skin.
Is AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion 12% worth it?
Mostly yes. 9 of the 10 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 77%.
What is AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion 12%'s Guru Score?
AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion 12% holds a Guru Score of 77%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 10 expert reviewers we have collected.
Who is AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion 12% best for?
AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion 12% is generally suited to dry skin.
Cheaper alternatives the gurus rate.
Lower-priced products in the same category that the experts still rate highly.