This acne ampoule is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and calm redness.
This acne serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water to clear breakouts and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid 5%
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Tricaprin
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Sterculia Africana Seed Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Dihexyldecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUplevity Solution
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingBenzotriazole
AntimicrobialNiacinamide Hydroxycitrate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Ethylenediamine Triacetate
ChelatingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Glycol
HumectantNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningInositol
Humectant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phloretin
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid 5%, Salicylic Acid, Water, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Tricaprin, Lecithin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Silica, Sterculia Africana Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Dihexyldecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract, Uplevity Solution, Potassium Phosphate, Benzotriazole, Niacinamide Hydroxycitrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Ethylenediamine Triacetate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Alanine/Histidine/Lysine Polypeptide Copper Hcl, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-9, Glycol, Nonapeptide-1, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Linoleic Acid, Riboflavin, Beta-Carotene, Inositol, Thiamine Hcl, Ferulic Acid, Phloretin
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAgar
MaskingGellan Gum
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningWater, Azelaic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Disodium Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Agar, Gellan Gum, Kojic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malachite Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Bisabolol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthophylls
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AcidButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
