This calming serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Panthenol to calm redness and clear breakouts.
This acne serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid to clear breakouts and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid 12%
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium DNA
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Water, Azelaic Acid 12%, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethoxydiglycol, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Arginine, Betaine, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Zinc PCA, Sodium DNA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phosphatidylcholine, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Alanine, Lysine, Proline, Threonine
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Squalane
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Triethyl Citrate, Propanediol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalane, Silica, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
