Q + A Azelaic Acid Balancing Serum Versus Absolution Le Sérum Anti-Soif
Updated on December 27, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan and reef safe serums. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Q + A Azelaic Acid Balancing Serum 24 ingredients
Absolution Le Sérum Anti-Soif 53 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Q + A Azelaic Acid Balancing Serum 24 ingredients
Absolution Le Sérum Anti-Soif 53 ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Betaine
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingTriticum Turgidum Durum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEragrostis Tef Seed Extract
EmollientChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Betaine, Zinc PCA, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Glycerin, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Triticum Turgidum Durum Seed Extract, Eragrostis Tef Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Gluconate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Extract
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Lippia Citriodora Leaf Water
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Oryza Sativa Hull Powder
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Corylus Avellana Seed Oil
Masking
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingMagnesium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Thymus Zygis Flower Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Viola Tricolor Extract
EmollientPelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Piper Nigrum Fruit Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingMimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentLinalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Mentha Viridis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Limonene, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Water, Sclerotium Gum, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, Xanthan Gum, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Levulinic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Levulinate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Magnesium PCA, Zinc PCA, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Thymus Zygis Flower Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Viola Tricolor Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Piper Nigrum Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Mica, CI 77491, Sodium Anisate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Maltodextrin, Linalool, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterZinc PCA (or "zinc salt") differs slightly from zinc itself. PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. However, Zinc PCA comes from zinc.
It can help reduce redness, regulate sebum, and promote the general healing process of the skin.
Zinc PCA tends to be especially useful for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It's certainly an ingredient worth trying out!
Learn more about Zinc PCABiosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created from fermented sorbitol. Most sorbitol is made from potato starch.
This ingredient is a a skin conditioning ingredient and helps moisturize the skin.
It is also naturally found in fruits such as apples and pears.
Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumSodium levulinate is the a sodium salt of Levulinic Acid. If dissolved in an aqueous solution, the two ingredients become identical.
It is a skin conditioning agent, meaning it helps soften and hydrate your skin.
According to Cosmetic Ingredient Review, the highest amounts of sodium levulinate are found in mouthwashes at 0.62%.
Learn more about Sodium LevulinateGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid, a fatty acid from coconut. It has emollient and emulsifier properties.
As an emollient, it helps hydrate your skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier on your skin to trap moisture in, helping to keep your skin soft and smooth.
On the other hand, emulsifiers prevent ingredients (such as oil and water) from separating.
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateSodium Anisate comes from fennel. It is used as a preservative and to add flavoring.
Sodium Anisate has antimicrobial properties.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholDehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.
Dehydroacetic Acid is not soluble in water.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HydroxideCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Q + A Azelaic Acid Balancing Serum 24 ingredients
Absolution Le Sérum Anti-Soif 53 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Q + A Azelaic Acid Balancing Serum 24 ingredients
Good & reliable azelaic acid product
I like this product because the formulation is effective and straightforward, it gets the job done without causing any irritation, it has no compatibility issues with other products , it feels right on the skin and it's affordable and easy to get if you live in europe. There are formulations I like a little bit better (Peach Slices) but they are way too Show more
Did basically nothing
Saw no change in my acne or hyperpigmentation, I thought I was purging while using it but my acne only stopped once I stopped using this product, didn't deliver any of the benefits of azelaic acid
