What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid 14%
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Water, Azelaic Acid 14%, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine Triphosphate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Ceteareth-20
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Vp/Va Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Bisabolol
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Azelaic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Vp/Va Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Bisabolol, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
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 AcidButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeteareth-20 is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. It is derived from cetearyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol.
As an emulsifier, Ceteareth-20 prevents oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant. Surfactants help gather oil, pollution, and dirt to be washed away.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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
