This acne serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salix Alba Bark Extract to clear breakouts and balance excess oil.
This calming treatment is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Glycyrrhetinic Acid to calm redness and clear breakouts.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-6
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
HumectantPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Gluconate
ChelatingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-2
BleachingZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingPinene
MaskingWater, Polyglycerin-6, Azelaic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium PCA, Propolis Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-2, Zinc Sulfate, Parfum, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Amyl Salicylate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Limonene, Coumarin, Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Pinene
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingBetaine
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialEscin
TonicO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Azelaic Acid, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Sclerotium Gum, Chlorphenesin, Escin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Citrate
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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