This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Citric Acid and Papain to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This oil-control exfoliator is formulated around Zea Mays Starch and Citric Acid to balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glucose
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Powder
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantOryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentCitric Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glucose, Oryza Sativa Powder, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Oryza Sativa Starch, Citric Acid, Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Maltodextrin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Papain, Glycolipids, Glycosphingolipids, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 AcidMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinOryza Sativa Starch is an absorbent and used to mattify the skin. It is a natural carbohydrate and the main component of rice. A more common name for this ingredient is 'rice starch'.
Rice starch is created by steeping broken grains in a caustic soda.
Rice extract has many skin benefits. Read more about rice extract here.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa StarchSodium Lauroyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based mild surfactant that is used in formulas as a primary or secondary cleansing agent. This means it helps lift away oil, dirt, and makeup.
You'll see this ingredient in facial cleansers, shampoos, and even toothpaste because it foams reasonably well while being much gentler than harsher surfactants like SLS.
A study comparing surfactant mixtures found that Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate caused visibly less disruption to skin lipid structure and less irritation than SLS when tested on human subjects; this correlated with the data from in vivo results as well.
The Tenside, Surfactants, Detergents cosmetics industry journal has also concluded that amino acid based surfactants are generally milder than their corresponding alkyl sulfate counterparts. They also stated glutamates in particular are considered one of the gentler options in the category.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel has reviewed dermal irritation and sensitization data for this ingredient at the highest reported use concentration and concluded it to be safe in present practices.
Typical use concentrations tend to run low (generally less than 10%) though the CIR's review noted the highest reported use concentration was 40% as a raw material blend (and not a diluted finished cosmetic product).
Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
