Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus Almond Clear Level 1 Mandelic Acid Serum

Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus Almond Clear Level 1 Mandelic Acid Serum Detailed comparison of Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum versus Almond Clear Level 1 Mandelic Acid Serum. This calming serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Di

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Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus Almond Clear Level 1 Mandelic Acid Serum Detailed comparison of Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum versus Almond Clear Level 1 Mandelic Acid Serum. This calming serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate to calm redness and balance excess oil. This acne serum is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Lactic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture. No concerns Water Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate Propanediol Glycerin Methyl Gluceth-20 Allantoin Hydroxyethylcellulose Xanthan Gum Citric Acid Ethylhexylglycerin Phenoxyethanol Water, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol Mandelic Acid Sorbitol Sodium PCA Lactic Acid Sodium Lactate Caprylyl Glycol Water, Propanediol, Mandelic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. It’s often used to: Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent. 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.