What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSorbitol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPullulan
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
TonicCentipeda Cunninghamii Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglycerin-6
HumectantSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingC15-19 Alkane
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantInulin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCetrimonium Bromide
AntimicrobialDilauryl Citrate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-6, Sorbitan Laurate, Glycerin, Azelaic Acid, C15-19 Alkane, Carbomer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Bisabolol, Inulin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Gluconolactone, Betaine, Sodium Hydroxide, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Cetrimonium Bromide, Dilauryl Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Calcium Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol
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 AcidGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum