What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Algin
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAzelamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine
AntimicrobialSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Carrageenan
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Piper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventKaolin
Abrasive
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Potassium Lactate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Octyldodecanol, Azelaic Acid, Algin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Azelamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium PCA, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Beta-Glucan, Carrageenan, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Kaolin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Erythritol, Potassium Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Oxidized Glutathione
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceteareth-20
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingZinc Ricinoleate
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phytic Acid
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tranexamic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Arbutin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Kojic Acid, Oxidized Glutathione, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Zinc Ricinoleate, Arginine Hcl, Azelaic Acid, Squalane, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phytic Acid, Allantoin, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Melatonin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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
