This acne moisturizer is formulated around Azelaic Acid to clear breakouts and calm redness.
This acne moisturizer is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Vp/Va Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlycerin
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingLaurtrimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-60 Almond Glycerides
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingBisabolol
AntioxidantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantVp/Va Copolymer, Water, Azelaic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Laurtrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Bisabolol, CI 77492, CI 77491, Oleanolic Acid, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingC15-19 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
HumectantTriethyl Citrate
MaskingDiglycerin
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Azelaic Acid, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Diglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Silica, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Azelaic acid is a multitasker ingredient that helps treat acne, pigmentation, and irritation. It is a great option for sensitive skin.
What makes it special?
OTC Azelaic acid is usually available in concentrations from 10-15% and anything over requires a prescription.
Here's what each tier does best:
Unlike other acids, azelaic acid will not make your skin more photosensitive/sun sensitive.
Though this ingredient is naturally occurring in grains like wheat, rye, and barley, it is usually synthetically created for cosmetics to ensure stability and effectiveness.
Learn more about Azelaic 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Water. 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