What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantSophora Japonica Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventAzelamide Mea
Azelamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone
Skin ConditioningNaringenin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantGlucosylrutin
AntioxidantSwertia Chirata Extract
HumectantRutin
AntioxidantHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
AntioxidantTetrasodium 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 ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol Cocoate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSebacic Acid
BufferingAcetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract
BleachingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSilica
AbrasiveBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPanthenyl Triacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylcellulose
Squalane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Isostearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Sebacic Acid, Acetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenyl Triacetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylcellulose, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
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 AcidButylene 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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolPentylene 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 GlycolWater. 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