What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
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
