What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-81
CleansingAzelaic Acid
Buffering
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates Copolymer, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-81, Azelaic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Lecithin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Morinda Citrifolia Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Algin
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingTrisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Azelaic Acid, Morinda Citrifolia Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Algin, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Phospholipids, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Glycolate, Trisodium Dicarboxymethyl Alaninate, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThis ingredient is a cleansing agent, surfactant, and foam booster. It considered an alternative to traditional sulfates (Sulfosuccinate) and is allowed in "sulfate-free" products.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient is mild and can be used in baby and bath options.
Glycerin (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
