What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPoloxamer 184
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Polyglycerin-10
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPantolactone
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Trisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzethonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
CI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients 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 AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
