What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
PEG-12 Allyl Ether
Sodium Citrate
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-12 Allyl Ether, Sodium Citrate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Parfum, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzoic Acid, Denatonium Benzoate, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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 AcidSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
