What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSophora Japonica Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventAzelamide Mea
SurfactantAzelamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone
Skin ConditioningNaringenin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Glucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantRutin
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Azelaic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Sophora Japonica Root Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Azelamide Mea, Azelamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine, Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone, Naringenin, Bisabolol, Glucosylrutin, Swertia Chirata Extract, Rutin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Magnolol
Antioxidant
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Azelaic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Proline, Magnolol, Honokiol, Sodium Phytate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Capryloyl Glycine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 80, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 42090
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 AcidBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (PAD) comes from the condensation of azelaic acid mixed with glycine.
This ingredient has similar properties to azelaic acid; it can help reduce sebum production and soothe skin. PAD also inhibits tyrosinase activity to help brighten skin. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that controls melanin production.
A study from 2023 found 5% PAD combined with nicotinamide (a form of niacin) effectively reduced melanin production after 6 weeks.
Several studies from the 2010's also show PAD to be effective in alleviating symptoms of Rosacea.
Though this ingredient is considered a gentle active, higher amounts may result in irritation.
Unlike azelaic acid, this ingredient is water-soluble. This property makes it easier to formulate into skincare products.
Learn more about Potassium Azeloyl DiglycinateWater. 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
