What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Scabra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Tranexamic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Azelaic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Gentiana Scabra Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingKojic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Kojic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 azelaic special?
The best thing about azelaic acid is it's gentleness. It's generally well-tolerated and safe to use alongside other actives like niacinamide or salicylic acid.
Unlike AHAs, azelaic acid will not make you photosensitive/sun sensitive.
You can find this ingredient naturally occurring in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. In cosmetics, azelaic acid is typically lab-made, which is more stable and effective.
Learn more about Azelaic AcidEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Glycerin 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 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.
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Water. 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 Water
