What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Abrasive
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
CleansingHydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Palmitate
CleansingBHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingSodium Stearate
CleansingTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Palm Kernelate
CleansingSodium Chloride
Masking
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Alumina
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
CI 74160
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Lauric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Parfum, Silica, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Palmitate, BHT, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Zinc Oxide, Alumina, CI 77891, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, CI 74160
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
