What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid 15%
BufferingOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingXylitol
HumectantPEG-75 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientWater, Azelaic Acid 15%, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Niacinamide, Xylitol, PEG-75 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTranexamic Acid
AstringentDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingKojic Acid
AntioxidantMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingResveratrol
AntioxidantScutellaria Lateriflora Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrangea Arborescens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-100 Stearate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-75 Stearate
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Phytate
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingWater, Niacinamide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alpha-Arbutin, Glyceryl Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citric Acid, Kojic Acid, Morus Alba Root Extract, Resveratrol, Scutellaria Lateriflora Extract, Hydrangea Arborescens Root Extract, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Steareth-20, Silica, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Phytate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 20, T-Butyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlyceryl 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 StearateIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoateNiacinamide 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 NiacinamidePEG-75 Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Pentylene 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 GlycolSteareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Water. 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