Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum

Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum Detailed comparison of Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum versus SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum. This calming serum is formulated aroun

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Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum Versus SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum Detailed comparison of Geek & Gorgeous aPAD 20% Azeclair Serum versus SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense Dark Spot Serum. This calming serum is formulated around Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate to calm redness and balance excess oil. This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. 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 Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid Tranexamic Acid Propylene Glycol Hydroxyethyl Urea Kojic Acid Caprylyl Glycol Chlorphenesin Disodium EDTA Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Kojic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA Be the first to review 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. 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. 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