What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Succinic Acid
BufferingDisodium Succinate
MaskingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Menthol
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hectorite
AbsorbentSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Zinc Oxide, Succinic Acid, Disodium Succinate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Hectorite, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Asiaticoside, Citric Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
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 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
