What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Oil
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Betaine, Sodium PCA, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Water
Astringent
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Diglycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingUndecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Tridecyl Stearate
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Salix Alba Bark Water, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Niacinamide, Diglycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bakuchiol, Azelaic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hexapeptide-9, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Ceramide Ng, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Undecane, Tridecane, Tridecyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Silica, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, CI 77891
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolSodium 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
