Skin science article
The INKEY List SuperSolutions 10% Azelaic Serum Redness Relief Solution Versus Typology Mattifying Serum 10% Azelaic Acid
The INKEY List SuperSolutions 10% Azelaic Serum Redness Relief Solution Versus Typology Mattifying Serum 10% Azelaic Acid This calming serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid to calm redness and clear breakouts. This oil-control serum is formulated around Azel
The INKEY List SuperSolutions 10% Azelaic Serum Redness Relief Solution Versus Typology Mattifying Serum 10% Azelaic Acid
This calming serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid to calm redness and clear breakouts.
This oil-control serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and clear breakouts.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Azelaic Acid
Propanediol
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Acacia Senegal Gum
Xanthan Gum
Allantoin
Glycerin
Ethylhexylglycerin
Polysorbate 60
Sorbitan Isostearate
Maltodextrin
Sodium Hydroxide
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Polylysine
Water, Azelaic Acid, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Polylysine
Bambusa Arundinacea Juice
1,2-Hexanediol
Zinc PCA
Sodium Benzoate
Citric Acid
Water, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, Bambusa Arundinacea Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Zinc PCA, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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.
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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
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!
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.