What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Polysorbate 20, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Magnesium Chloride
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingMicrocitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Prunus Persica Leaf Extract
Emollient
Spiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPhytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Vinegar
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Gluconate, Triethanolamine, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Magnesium Chloride, Mandelic Acid, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Maltodextrin, Sodium Salicylate, Vinegar, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulfite
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 AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinWater. 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
