What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentZinc PCA
Humectant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingFructose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Distarch Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Zinc PCA, Inulin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Tocopherol, Maris Sal
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
