What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPolyglycerin-6
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingBetaine
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeLecithin
EmollientLysolecithin
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingTranexamic Acid
AstringentKojic Acid
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAzelaic Acid
BufferingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientHydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantStomach Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingWater, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Azelaic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Betaine, Trehalose, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Phenylalanine, Pantothenic Acid, Allantoin, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sodium Lactate, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Stomach Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Laurate, Zea Mays Oil
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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 AcidBenzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholBetaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Another name for betaine is trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideWater. 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