What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTranexamic Acid
AstringentBetaine
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Azelaic Acid, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tranexamic Acid, Betaine, Alpha-Arbutin, Panthenol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, 4-Butylresorcinol, Ferulic Acid, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingEthylhexyl Cocoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Salicylic Acid
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract
AntimicrobialMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingColeus Forskohlii Root Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOctadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Methionine
Water, Azelaic Acid, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Cetearyl Olivate, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract, Mandelic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coleus Forskohlii Root Oil, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrahydropiperine, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 77288, Zinc Methionine
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 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTANiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideWater. 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