What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Trideceth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Buteth-3
SolventCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
CI 14720
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methyl 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate
Skin ConditioningOlivamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-10
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberSodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Sulfate
Tetrasodium EDTA
Tributyl Citrate
SolventTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingWater, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Buteth-3, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, CI 14720, CI 42090, CI 60730, Citric Acid, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Methyl 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate, Olivamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Sulfate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tributyl Citrate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
