What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialParfum
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Saccharomyces/Grape Ferment Extract, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Mandelic Acid, Phospholipids, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Anisate, Parfum, Pentylene Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Plankton Extract, Sucrose, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Geraniol
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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
