REVOX B77 JUST Azelaic Acid 10% Brightening Solution Versus Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum

REVOX B77 JUST Azelaic Acid 10% Brightening Solution Versus Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum

This brightening treatment is formulated around Azelaic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.

This calming serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate to calm redness and balance excess oil.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Azelaic Acid

Isododecane

Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer

Ethylhexyl Stearate

Ethoxydiglycol

Isopropyl Myristate

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether

Phenoxyethanol

Disodium EDTA

Water, Azelaic Acid, Isododecane, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethoxydiglycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

Propanediol

Glycerin

Methyl Gluceth-20

Allantoin

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Xanthan Gum

Citric Acid

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

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.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

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!

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