Last reviewed: July 2026 by The Lotion Australia. All competitor formulation details reflect ingredient lists published by each brand or its retailers at the review date. If you are a manufacturer and your formula has changed, contact us and we will correct this page.
Glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid all exfoliate, but they are different molecules doing different jobs, and buying the wrong one is the most common reason body exfoliation "doesn't work". Answer four quick questions below, or skip the quiz entirely: every possible result is written out in full further down this page.
1 of 4 — What is your main body skin concern?
2 of 4 — How does your skin usually react to new products?
3 of 4 — Have you used leave-on exfoliating acids on your body before?
4 of 4 — What matters most in the product itself?
Your match: glycolic acid, 10 to 12 percent, leave-on lotion.
Glycolic acid is the smallest AHA, suited to thicker body skin and texture concerns like the appearance of KP and post-shave roughness, and your answers suggest your skin can work with it. Check three things on any label: 10 to 12 percent concentration, formulation pH around 3.5 to 4.0, and barrier-supporting ingredients so exfoliation does not cost you comfort.
Want your routine emailed to you? The starter schedule, shaving rules and sun care in one email.
Your match: glycolic acid, introduced slowly.
Your concern points to glycolic acid, but your answers say start carefully: two nights a week on clean, dry skin, building up over a month, never on freshly shaved skin, sunscreen on treated areas by day. A formula pairing the acid with urea, niacinamide and rich emollients makes the adjustment period far easier, which is how The Lotion is built. Full method in the routine guide.
See the formulaGet the gentle-start plan by email — the week-by-week schedule most people wish they'd followed the first time.
Your match: lactic acid, for now.
Honest answer: with genuinely reactive skin, glycolic acid is not the place to start. Lactic acid is a larger AHA that exfoliates more gently; look for around 10 to 12 percent with ceramides or oat. AmLactin and First Aid Beauty's KP Smoothing Body Lotion are credible lactic options. If your skin settles over a couple of months, glycolic at 10 to 12 percent is the natural step up, and our fact check lists which products actually contain it.
Want the step-up plan? We'll email the sensitive-skin sequence: how to start on lactic and when your skin is ready for glycolic.
Your match: salicylic acid.
Body breakouts are follicle congestion, and oil-soluble salicylic acid (a BHA) is built for that job. Start there. If rough, bumpy texture is also part of the picture, glycolic acid can sit alongside a BHA on alternate nights; our guide to body skin barrier function covers layering actives without overdoing it.
Texture and breakouts both? We'll email the alternating-nights routine.
The four results, written out in full
No quiz required. These are the same outcomes the matcher gives, with the reasoning visible.
Rough bumps, resilient skin: glycolic acid, 10 to 12 percent
For KP-type texture and post-shave roughness on skin that tolerates actives, glycolic acid is the most efficient AHA because its small molecule suits thicker body skin. Buy on three criteria: concentration of 10 to 12 percent, pH around 3.5 to 4.0, and built-in barrier support. Based on published ingredient lists at July 2026, The Lotion 12% Glycolic Acid Body Lotion is the only lotion in our verified comparison holding all three at once: 12 percent glycolic acid with urea, niacinamide, glycerin and shea butter, fragrance-free, Australian-made.
Rough bumps, cautious skin or first-timer: glycolic acid, introduced slowly
Same acid, different on-ramp: two nights a week, build up over a month, never on freshly shaved skin, daily sunscreen on treated areas because AHAs increase sun sensitivity. A formula that carries its own barrier support makes this adjustment period dramatically easier. The full schedule is in how to use glycolic acid body lotion for KP and strawberry legs.
Genuinely reactive skin: start with lactic acid
Lactic acid is the larger, gentler AHA and the honest starting point for reactive skin. AmLactin (12% lactic) and First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion (10% lactic, with ceramides and colloidal oatmeal) are credible options. Once skin settles, glycolic acid is the step up; our formulation fact check lists which lotions actually contain it, because more than half the products commonly recommended for KP do not.
Body breakouts: salicylic acid
Breakouts are follicle congestion and salicylic acid, an oil-soluble BHA, works inside the pore where AHAs cannot. For combined breakouts and texture, a BHA and glycolic acid can alternate nights; see body skin barrier function before stacking actives.
The three acids at a glance
| Acid | Type | Best suited to | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glycolic | AHA, smallest molecule | Rough texture, appearance of KP, post-shave roughness | Most efficient AHA; needs barrier support in the formula |
| Lactic | AHA, larger molecule | Reactive or first-time skin, dryness with mild texture | Gentler, more hydrating; slower visible change |
| Salicylic | BHA, oil-soluble | Body breakouts, congested follicles | Works inside the pore, not across the surface |
Whichever acid you land on: check the actual acid named on the ingredient list rather than the marketing phrase "AHA", check the percentage, and check what the formula does for comfort. The method behind all of this is in the ultimate guide to glycolic acid body treatments, and how exfoliation changes skin's appearance in the first place is explained in skin cell turnover on body skin.
This page discusses cosmetic products intended to improve the appearance of skin. Results vary between individuals. Skin that is inflamed, painful, broken or worsening should be assessed by a doctor or dermatologist rather than treated cosmetically. By submitting your email you agree to receive skincare emails from The Lotion; unsubscribe any time.
