What is in LactiGo? Every ingredient, in plain English
Nine ingredients in the Regular tube sold in Australia. One extra in the US Menthol version. Here is what each one is, why it is there, and what is not in the tube.
The label, as printed
Copied from the LactiGo Australian store on 23 October 2026. Ingredients are listed in descending order by amount, as cosmetic labelling rules require, so water is the largest component and sorbic acid the smallest. LactiGo does not publish percentages.
Each ingredient and what it does
1. Aqua (water)
The base
Purified water carries everything else. LactiGo is a water-based gel, not an oil or a cream. That is why it dries in a minute or two and leaves no film.
2. Glycerin
Humectant and spreading agent
Glycerin holds water and keeps the gel from drying out in the tube. On skin it helps the gel spread evenly and stops it feeling tight once dry. It is plant-derived in most cosmetics and one of the most common skincare ingredients in the world.
3. Carnosine
The active ingredient
Carnosine is a dipeptide: two amino acids, beta-alanine and histidine, joined together. Your body makes it and stores it in muscle. In LactiGo it is the reason the product exists. LactiGo states its carnosine is derived from corn, not from meat, so the tube is vegan. Carnosine is third on the label, after water and glycerin, which makes it one of the larger components. The exact percentage is not published; the patent covering the formula claims a carnosine-magnesium complex at 0.5% to 5%. What the studies on it show.
4. Magnesium sulfate
Forms the carnosine-magnesium complex
Magnesium sulfate is Epsom salt. In LactiGo it is not there as a bath-salt gesture. The patent describes carnosine bound to magnesium as a complex, and the 2018 skin-model study found that complex passed through reconstructed human skin about 1.5 times better than free carnosine. The magnesium is the delivery mechanism, as far as the published work shows.
5. Ethoxydiglycol
Solvent and penetration enhancer
Also sold under the trade name Transcutol. It dissolves ingredients that water alone cannot, and it is widely used in cosmetics and in transdermal patches and gels to help ingredients move through the outer skin layer. The patent lists a skin penetration enhancer as part of the formula; this is it. Europe's cosmetic safety committee has assessed it as safe in leave-on cosmetics at up to 7%, and LactiGo sits well inside that: it is fifth on a nine-ingredient label.
6. Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stops bacteria and mould growing in a water-based gel once the tube is opened. It is the most common cosmetic preservative in use today, usually at 1% or less, and the one most brands moved to when they moved away from parabens. A small number of people are sensitive to it; see the skin section below.
7. Xanthan gum
Thickener
A sugar-based gum made by fermentation. It turns the water base into a gel so it stays where you put it instead of running off. It is the same ingredient that thickens salad dressing and gluten-free bread.
8. Caprylyl glycol
Skin conditioner and preservative booster
A skin-conditioning glycol that softens skin and helps the preservative system work at a lower dose. Common in moisturisers and sunscreens.
9. Sorbic acid
Preservative
A second, mild preservative that works against yeast and mould. It occurs naturally in rowan berries and is used in food as well as cosmetics. It is last on the label, so it is the smallest component.
Menthol 1.25% (Menthol version only)
Cooling sensation
Menthol triggers the cold receptors in skin, so the gel feels cool and smells of peppermint. It does not change what the carnosine does. The Menthol version is sold in the US store only and is not the tube you get in Australia.
What is not in it
- No menthol, camphor, or methyl salicylate in the Regular tube. It is not a heat rub or a liniment and does not feel like one.
- No anti-inflammatory drugs. No ibuprofen, diclofenac, or aspirin-type ingredients. It is not a medicated gel.
- No sodium bicarbonate, despite the "buffering" talk you may read elsewhere.
- No caffeine or stimulants.
- No capsaicin. Nothing that burns.
- No fragrance, no colour. The pale yellow is the natural colour of the mix.
- No parabens, no alcohol (ethanol), no mineral oil, no silicones.
- No animal ingredients. The carnosine is derived from corn, per LactiGo.
- Nothing on the WADA prohibited list. Every batch is tested under the Informed Sport program. Details on the FAQ.
Regular vs Menthol
Same base, one difference. Regular has no menthol and no scent and is the formula sold in Australia and New Zealand, on this site, and in the Gold Coast warehouse. Menthol adds 1.25% menthol for a cooling feel and a peppermint smell, and is sold in the US store only. If you have bought LactiGo in the US before and the Australian tube feels different, that is why: nothing is missing, the cooling agent was never part of the Australian formula.
Skin, allergies, and who should patch test
Every ingredient in LactiGo is a standard cosmetic ingredient, and the product is sold as a cosmetic. Most people use it with no reaction. Three ingredients are worth knowing about if you have reactive skin:
- Phenoxyethanol and sorbic acid, the preservatives, cause contact irritation in a small number of people.
- Ethoxydiglycol is a solvent and can sting on broken or freshly shaved skin.
If you have eczema, dermatitis, or a history of reacting to skincare, do this before the first full application:
- Apply a pea-sized amount to the inside of your forearm.
- Leave it for 24 hours.
- If there is no redness, itching, or swelling, use it as normal.
Keep it off broken skin, cuts, and sunburn. Keep it away from eyes. If you are pregnant, nursing, have allergies, or are under medical care, LactiGo's own advice is to check with your provider before using any new product on your skin. If you react, stop, and remember the 30-day guarantee covers your first tube.
Questions people ask about the ingredients
How much carnosine is in LactiGo?
LactiGo does not publish the percentage. The patent claims a carnosine-magnesium complex at 0.5% to 5% of the composition. Carnosine is third on the label, after water and glycerin, so it is one of the larger components.
Is LactiGo vegan?
Yes. LactiGo states the carnosine is derived from corn, not taken from meat, and the other ingredients are plant-derived or synthetic. No animal products are listed.
Does LactiGo contain menthol?
The Regular formula sold in Australia and New Zealand contains no menthol and has no scent. The Menthol formula, sold in the US store only, contains 1.25% menthol.
Can LactiGo irritate the skin?
The preservatives and the solvent are common in cosmetics and well tolerated by most people, but any skin product can irritate sensitive skin. Patch test first, keep it off broken skin, and stop if you get redness or itching.
Can I use it with sunscreen or other creams?
Yes. LactiGo's guidance is to apply LactiGo first, let it dry, and put sunscreen on about 30 minutes later. Anything oily applied first will slow the gel's absorption.
Is it the same as swallowing carnosine or beta-alanine?
No. Those are oral supplements that raise muscle carnosine over weeks. LactiGo puts carnosine on the skin over the muscle. The research page explains the difference and what has been measured.
Ready to try it?
A$80 a tube, or A$72 on monthly subscription. A$10 shipping. Ships from the Gold Coast. First tube covered by the 30-day guarantee.
Order one tube from LactiGo AustraliaIngredient list checked on the LactiGo Australian store on 23 October 2026. Ingredient roles are the standard cosmetic functions of each ingredient, not claims about what LactiGo does for you. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.