What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Shikimic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-6
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFructose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltose
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Mandelic Acid, Glycerin, Shikimic Acid, Polyglycerin-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Azelaic Acid, Betaine, Gluconolactone, Pentylene Glycol, Fructose, Urea, Centella Asiatica Callus Conditioned Media, Allantoin, Maltose, Trehalose, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
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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 AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
