This calming moisturizer is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide to calm redness and clear breakouts.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate and Ascorbyl Glucoside to calm redness and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Vinyldimethicone
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Vinyldimethicone, Maltodextrin, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-150 Distearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside, Dimethiconol, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tocopherol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Linoleic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantBisabolol
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Phytic Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Bisabolol, Squalane, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Myristyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Propanediol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglyceridePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSqualane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, it’s technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term “oil-free” isn’t regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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
