The ingredient, explained
Ammonium Lactate
A primary study examines this ingredient in the specified preparation and setting.
Ingredient guide
What it is and what it does
Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, ammonium salt
About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗
- Humectant
- Helps attract and retain moisture.
- Buffering
- Helps resist changes in a formula's pH.
- Keratolytic
- A technical role associated with removing cells from the outer skin layer.
- Skin conditioning
- A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.
Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗
Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.
A closer look
What the research shows
Human topical research
Urea alone and urea/ammonium-lactate mixtures improved hydration and barrier measures. Abstract does not report significant improvement for ammonium lactate alone.
What this does not tell us
20 healthy subjects and wash challenge. Combination improvements cannot be assigned to lactate alone; no unsupported positive isolated claim.
Sources for this summary. PubMed 11803256 ↗
Research review checked Oct 1, 2026
Bounded review of local candidates, exact-name indexed primary journal/PubMed safety and topical searches; not a systematic review.
Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.
Read the 1 selected study
Human topical research · n=20
Do urea/ammonium lactate combinations achieve better skin protection and hydration than either component alone? ↗
Skin pharmacology and applied skin physiology · 2002
Follow the formula
Products containing this ingredient
From the wider catalogue. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.
Names and identifiers
Registry identity
Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, ammonium salt
- INCI name on ingredient lists
- AMMONIUM LACTATE
- CAS registry number
- 515-98-0
- EC number
- 208-214-8
Sources for this ingredient record
- EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗ · ODbL 1.0 (Open Beauty Facts database) · Recorded Aug 8, 2026