What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientKojic Dipalmitate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventArbutin
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthyl Linoleate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBakuchiol
AntimicrobialTapioca Starch
Hexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantSodium Stearate
CleansingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Water, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Dimethicone, Kojic Dipalmitate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Arbutin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethyl Linoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bakuchiol, Tapioca Starch, Hexylresorcinol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Sodium Stearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Silybum Marianum Extract, Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingKojic Acid
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, 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 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 AcidGlycerin (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.
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.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water