What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Silicone Quaternium-18
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Lactic Acid, Silicone Quaternium-18, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Benzoate, Trideceth-6, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Saccharide Isomerate, Potassium Sorbate, Trideceth-12, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-7, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Parfum, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Linalool
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
