This calming serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate and Propolis Extract to calm redness and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Psoralea Corylifolia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Coffea Arabica Seed Powder
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Psoralea Corylifolia Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Coffea Arabica Seed Powder, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Gallic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingLactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Propolis Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Gallic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (PAD) comes from the condensation of azelaic acid mixed with glycine.
This ingredient has similar properties to azelaic acid; it can help reduce sebum production and soothe skin. PAD also inhibits tyrosinase activity to help brighten skin. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that controls melanin production.
A study from 2023 found 5% PAD combined with nicotinamide (a form of niacin) effectively reduced melanin production after 6 weeks.
Several studies from the 2010's also show PAD to be effective in alleviating symptoms of Rosacea.
Though this ingredient is considered a gentle active, higher amounts may result in irritation.
Unlike azelaic acid, this ingredient is water-soluble. This property makes it easier to formulate into skincare products.
Learn more about Potassium Azeloyl DiglycinateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
