What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEctoin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolyglycerin-6
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingWater, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isopentyldiol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ectoin, Fructooligosaccharides, Inulin, C15-19 Alkane, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyglycerin-6, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycereth-26
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveCarnosine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningGallyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDaucus Carota Sativa Root Cell Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningGossypium Herbaceum Callus Culture
Skin ConditioningSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSucrose Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethanolamine
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Carnosine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Gallyl Glucoside, Propyl Gallate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Cell Culture Lysate, Gossypium Herbaceum Callus Culture, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sucrose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid
Reviews
Alternatives
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 AcidCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water