What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
Humectant
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningBacillus
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Ketone
Masking
Folic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Pyridoxine
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Limonene, Lactobacillus/Rye Flour Ferment, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Bacillus, Allantoin, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Raspberry Ketone, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Pyridoxine, Thiamine Hcl, Cyanocobalamin, Riboflavin
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
