What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylheptyl Laurate
Emollient
Dodecane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Silver Oxide
AntimicrobialWater, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Methylheptyl Laurate, Dodecane, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silver Oxide
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diglycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Nylon-12
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
Disodium EDTA
Water, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Nylon-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
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 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 GlycolGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
