First Aid Beauty Brighten + Glow Facial Radiance Pads With Glycolic + Lactic Acids Versus I'm from Beet Purifying Mask
This smoothing exfoliating pad uses a pre-saturated pad with Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Powder 1.5%
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Powder
Skin Conditioning
Bentonite
Absorbent
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPrunus Persica Seed Powder
Abrasive
Polyacrylate-13
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Kaolin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Palmitic Acid, Beta Vulgaris Root Powder 1.5%, Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Powder, Bentonite, Arachidyl Glucoside, Prunus Persica Seed Powder, Polyacrylate-13, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, CI 77491, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Myristic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, Panthenol, Sucrose, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Parfum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
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
