This acne moisturizer is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Octadecenedioic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate and Azelaic Acid to calm redness and clear breakouts.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 0.75%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningOctadecenedioic Acid
Emulsifying
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Amylopectin
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Succinoglycan
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water
TonicNymphaea Caerulea Flower Water
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC9-12 Alkane
SolventBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid 0.75%, Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triheptanoin, Octadecenedioic Acid, Silybum Marianum Extract, Magnesium PCA, Amylopectin, Niacinamide, Succinoglycan, Bisabolol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Water, Palmitic Acid, Lecithin, Physalis Angulata Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Carbomer, C9-12 Alkane, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dextrin, Polydextrose, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Lecithin
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Cetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingCitronellol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrochloric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Linalool
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantNiacin
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Titanium Dioxide, Lecithin, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alcohol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Azelaic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Citronellol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Laureth-7, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Linalool, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mica, Niacin, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine Hcl, Potassium Sorbate, Retinal, Retinyl Palmitate, Silybum Marianum Extract, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Tranexamic Acid, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis ingredient comes from the milk thistle plant. It is a skin conditoning ingredient that helps skin stay soft and hydrated.
The star compound in this extract is a group of flavonolignans collectively called silymarin, with silybin being the most studied.
Research shows silybin extract can protect skin from UV-induced oxidative stress and also works to calm inflammation.
There's also growing interest in its potential for acne-prone skin. One 12-month study on over 50 subjects using topical Silybum Marianum Extract found a ~60% reduction in acne lesions over the course of a year.
More recently, a 2025 study found silybin significantly boosted collagen III and hyaluronic production in skin tissue with results comparable to retinol; please know retinol is still the gold standard and silybin research has a long ways to go to confirm whether it can replace retinol.
In terms of tolerability, one large study of over 4,000 participants rated this ingredient tolerance as "good" or "very good" in about 95% of participants.
Learn more about Silybum Marianum ExtractSodium 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 HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
