What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlycerin, Water, Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Coco-Betaine, Glyceryl Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Caprylate, Glycol Distearate, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Saccharide Isomerate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate
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
