What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Niacinamide, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica Silylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Benzoate, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Citronellol, Morus Alba Root Extract, CI 19140, CI 42090, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Azelaic Acid, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Salicylic Acid, Adenosine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinWater. 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
