What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingDisodium Undecylenamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLactitol
HumectantXylitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Formic Acid
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
EDTA
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium Undecylenamido Mea-Sulfosuccinate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Lactitol, Xylitol, Glycerin, Piroctone Olamine, Glycol Distearate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-4, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Formic Acid, Disodium EDTA, EDTA
Alternatives
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 AcidPiroctone Olamine is used to treat fungal infections and often found in anti-dandruff shampoo.
This ingredient is particularly effective against Malassezia, the root cause of dandruff.
Piroctone olamine is water-soluble.
Learn more about Piroctone OlamineWater. 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
