What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Chloride
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate-13
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyisobutene
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantBHA
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Homosalate, Propylene Glycol, Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate, Polysorbate 80, Polyacrylate-13, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, BHT, CI 16035, BHA, Disodium EDTA, Citral
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinWater. 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
