What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Coco-Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Carum Petroselinum Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Arguta Juice
EmollientSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningSpinacia Oleracea
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantWater, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sorbitol, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Carum Petroselinum Extract, Actinidia Arguta Juice, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Spinacia Oleracea, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
