APLB Azelaic Acid Peptide Ampoule Serum Versus Geek & Gorgeous Apad 20% Azelaic Serum
Updated on January 14, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
APLB Azelaic Acid Peptide Ampoule Serum 39 ingredients
Geek & Gorgeous Apad 20% Azelaic Serum 13 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
APLB Azelaic Acid Peptide Ampoule Serum 39 ingredients
Geek & Gorgeous Apad 20% Azelaic Serum 13 ingredients
Benefits
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentGlucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Azelaic Acid, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Squalane, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Inulin, Cellulose, Glucose, Fructose, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinAllantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
APLB Azelaic Acid Peptide Ampoule Serum 39 ingredients
Geek & Gorgeous Apad 20% Azelaic Serum 13 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
APLB Azelaic Acid Peptide Ampoule Serum 39 ingredients
most calming and hydrating azelaic acid product I've ever used! I experienced no irritation and overall this is a nice serum - but I think that might be partly because there's just not enough azelaic acid in this, unfortunately. APLB don't seem to obviously display their ingredient concentrations so I could only find one source that stated the concentration was 3-4% which isn't enough for me. Show more
Really nice serum! It feels really good on the skin and is not pilling altough it contains azelaic acid! I really like it! It has also egf in it, so I was pleasently surprised with this serum!
Geek & Gorgeous Apad 20% Azelaic Serum 13 ingredients
Beware, this is not 20% azelic acid but only 20% azeclair serum. That’s equal to like 3-5% azelic acid. It doesn’t do much at all actually. I used it only as a starter product for azelic acid (10%). So don’t expect it to magically cure whatever real issues you might have (acne, roscea etc.), cause it won’t. It helps to reduce the purging though. So yes, if you purge it should be some small white Show more
i was so excited to try this as potassium azeloyl diglycinate is a great ingredient and this formula is so simple and unlikely to cause issues for acne etc. i was hoping it could help with sebum production along with blemishes/redness but it broke me out, not even in just the small whiteheads and small red spots i usually get but quite big whiteheads in areas i dont usually get them, it was also Show more
