La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.Z. Gel Cream Versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.Z. Gel Cream Versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum Detailed comparison of La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.Z. Gel Cream UK versus The INKEY List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum. This acne moisturizer is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to clear breakouts and refine skin texture. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin and Panthenol to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin. Water Azelaic Acid C15-19 Alkane Glycerin Triethyl Citrate Diglycerin Salicylic Acid Panthenol Silica Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract Zinc Gluconate Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Phosphate Disodium Phosphate Hydroxyethylcellulose Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Citric Acid Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Pentylene Glycol Polysorbate 60 Parfum Water, Azelaic Acid, C15-19 Alkane, Glycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Diglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Silica, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Parfum Propanediol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Coconut Alkanes Ectoin 2% Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate Maltodextrin Phenoxyethanol Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate Cetearyl Alcohol Sclerotium Gum Xanthan Gum Jojoba Esters Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Citrate Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Ceramide NP Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide AP Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Behenic Acid Sodium Levulinate Polyglycerin-3 Potassium Sorbate Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate Ceramide EOP Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Ectoin 2%, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Triethyl Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Behenic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Polyglycerin-3, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ceramide EOP These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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 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. Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive. Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture. This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic. A close cousin of this