One of our favorite blogs, Vivawoman, recently blogged about using yogurt as a facial exfoliant because it contains an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). According to her blog post, “I’m not sure what’s the concentration of AHA in the yogurt but the pH level is definitely under 5 and so most people can use it quite regularly” and that “there is no need to purchase cleansers or creams containing AHA because yogurt is a natural and viable option.” We thought this was an intriguing statement and decided to look at the facts behind lactic acid in yogurt and lotions.
First the good news: the pH of yogurt is about 4.5 which IS low enough for it to be effective as an exfoliant. However, according to this food science reference , yogurt only contains about about 0.9% free acid. Even if we assume that ALL the acid in yogurt is in the form of lactic acid (a common AHA) that’s still a very low concentration for an active exfoliant.
In formulated products, AHAs are used at different levels depending on the intended effect. Regular “Over the counter” exfoliant lotions contain as little as as 5 to 10% AHA. Products formulated for professional application, like chemical peels, contain much higher levels (50 to 80%). As you can see, the amount of AHA in yogurt is only a fraction of what is needed for effective exfoliation.
While it won’t hurt to use yogurt on your face it’s not an effective substitute for an exfoliant with 5 to 10 times as much lactic acid.
One of our favorite blogs, Vivawoman, recently blogged about using yogurt as a facial exfoliant because it contains an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA). According to her blog post, “I’m not sure what’s the concentration of AHA in the yogurt but the pH level is definitely under 5 and so most people can use it quite regularly” and that “there is no need to purchase cleansers or creams containing AHA because yogurt is a natural and viable option.” We thought this was an intriguing statement and decided to look at the facts behind lactic acid in yogurt and lotions.
First the good news: the pH of yogurt is about 4.5 which IS low enough for it to be effective as an exfoliant. However, according to this food science reference , yogurt only contains about about 0.9% free acid. Even if we assume that ALL the acid in yogurt is in the form of lactic acid (a common AHA) that’s still a very low concentration for an active exfoliant.
In formulated products, AHAs are used at different levels depending on the intended effect. Regular “Over the counter” exfoliant lotions contain as little as as 5 to 10% AHA. Products formulated for professional application, like chemical peels, contain much higher levels (50 to 80%). As you can see, the amount of AHA in yogurt is only a fraction of what is needed for effective exfoliation.
While it won’t hurt to use yogurt on your face it’s not an effective substitute for an exfoliant with 5 to 10 times as much lactic acid.