What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Carnitine
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Carnitine, Salicylic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Decylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sclerotium Gum, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid
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
