What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingMannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Laureth-2
CleansingAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingLysine Azelate
BleachingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningUndecyl Alcohol
AntiseborrhoeicCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Zinc Gluconate, PEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Capryloyl Glycine, Decylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-2, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Lysine Azelate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Undecyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Isatis Tinctoria Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Isatis Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Pentylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate
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 AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
