What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingPoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingBenzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium EDTA
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Poloxamer 184, Benzalkonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Allantoin
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Juice
EmollientSodium Sulfite
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
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
