Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus Glossier Super Pure Clarifying Face Serum with Niacinamide + Zinc

Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus Glossier Super Pure Clarifying Face Serum with Niacinamide + Zinc Detailed comparison of Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum versus Glossier Super Pure Clarifying Face Serum with Niacinamide + Zinc. This calming serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate to calm redness and balance excess oil. This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores. 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 Niacinamide Zinc PCA Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Lonicera Caprifolium Extract Polysorbate 60 Disodium Phosphate Sodium Phosphate Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Zinc PCA, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics. Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity. Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation. It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh. Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated. This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%. Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating. Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism. Citric 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. Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger. However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure. 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