What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingEthylhexyl Cocoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Salicylic Acid
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract
AntimicrobialMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingColeus Forskohlii Root Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingZinc Methionine
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOctadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Azelaic Acid, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Cetearyl Olivate, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract, Mandelic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coleus Forskohlii Root Oil, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Zinc Methionine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrahydropiperine, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 77288
Propylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Allantoin, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cyclodextrin, Centella Asiatica 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 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Niacinamide 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.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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