The Ordinary’s glossary classifies lactic acid as an alpha hydroxy acid, or AHA, and describes it as having exfoliating and humectant functions. This entry introduces cosmetic vocabulary for reading packaging and distinguishing ingredient names. It does not set out an application routine or a combination of active ingredients: those details belong to the specific product and its instructions, and no formula has been tested here.
Olfactory descriptions are not equivalent to an ingredient list. The properties of an ingredient do not automatically transfer to the finished product.
