daymellow Azelaic Acid 10% Balancing Serum Versus daymellow Houttuynia Cordata Real Soothing Essence
This calming serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide to calm redness and clear breakouts.
This calming essence is formulated around Houttuynia Cordata Extract and Centella Asiatica Leaf Water to calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycereth-26
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycolic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Lactic Acid
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Azelaic Acid, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ectoin, Squalane, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingBetaine
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Carbomer, Arginine, Betaine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Malt Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate is a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
It rounds up dirt, oil, and grime, so they can be rinsed off easily as a cleanser.
On the emulsifier side, it keeps your formula smooth and well-mixed by playing peacekeeper for ingredients that don't naturally get along (like oil and water).
Because it has a C12 (lauric acid) fatty acid chain, this ingredient can potentially feed the Malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne. The Malassezia yeast prefers esters with C11-C24 fatty acids.
This ingredient is an ester of lauric acid and Polyglycerin-10.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-10 LaurateSodium 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