What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ceteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingDicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Triethanolamine
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Azelaic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Butyl Avocadate, Polysorbate 60, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Isohexadecane, Polysilicone-11, Triethanolamine, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Methylisothiazolinone
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientHydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Water, 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, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Laurate, Zea Mays Oil
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 AcidC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholWe don't have a description for Ceteth-10 Phosphate yet.
We don't have a description for Dicetyl Phosphate yet.
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 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
