What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium EDTA
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantCI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Arginine Hcl, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycolipids, Zea Mays Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 61565, CI 40800
Reviews
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
