What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Azelaic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Caffeine, Panthenol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Sodium Phytate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Artocarpus Heterophyllus Seed Extract
BleachingPhyllanthus Emblica Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDaucus Carota Sativa Extract
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water, Azelaic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hexylresorcinol, Gluconolactone, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Morus Nigra Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Artocarpus Heterophyllus Seed Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Tocopherol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Ferulic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
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 AcidC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractWater. 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
