What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Carboxymethyl Starch
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Inulin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch, Sodium Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Inulin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate
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 AcidGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneWater. 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
