Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy.

Dr. Barbara Sturm
Calming Serum

Versus

Makeup Artist's Choice
Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Product category and function

Calming Serum

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Serums/Treatments	Serums/Treatments
Concentrated formulas for hydrating and addressing skin issues.	Concentrated formulas for hydrating and addressing skin issues.
----	----

Ingredient highlights

Calming Serum

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Ingredient info	Ingredient info
Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free cruelty-free	Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free

Full ingredient list

Calming Serum

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

No. of common ingredients = 0
Water, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, dicaprylyl carbonate, glycerin, octyldodecanol, lactobacillus/portulaca oleracea ferment extract, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, echium plantagineum seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil unsaponifiables, biosaccharide gum-1, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, cardiospermum halicacabum flower/leaf/vine extract, panthenol, phenoxyethanol, sodium lauroyl glutamate, stearic acid, dimethicone, carbomer, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium hydroxide, pantolactone, tocopherol, citric acid 6	Purified water, sd alcohol 40-b, propanediol, dimethicone, glycerin, azelaic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, sodium hydroxide, ammonium acrylolyl dimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, licorice root extract, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 24

Total Number of ingredients = 13

Water, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, dicaprylyl carbonate, glycerin, octyldodecanol, lactobacillus/portulaca oleracea ferment extract, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, echium plantagineum seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil unsaponifiables, biosaccharide gum-1, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, cardiospermum halicacabum flower/leaf/vine extract, panthenol, phenoxyethanol, sodium lauroyl glutamate, stearic acid, dimethicone, carbomer, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium hydroxide, pantolactone, tocopherol, citric acid

Purified water, sd alcohol 40-b, propanediol, dimethicone, glycerin, azelaic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, sodium hydroxide, ammonium acrylolyl dimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, licorice root extract, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin

Notable ingredients

Calming Serum

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Soothing: Panthenol

Antioxidant: Lactobacillus/portulaca oleracea ferment extract, Tocopherol

Solvent: Water, Echium plantagineum seed oil, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Salicylic acid

Soothing: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Licorice root extract

Skin brightening: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Load all

Ingredients with their functions

Calming Serum

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Water

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Water serves as a fundamental component in skincare products, often listed as the first ingredient, which means it's the most abundant. It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and facilitate the application and absorption of products.

Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil

Also-called: Sweet Almond Oil | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dicaprylyl carbonate

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Purified water

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Sd alcohol 40-b

Function: Viscosity controlling, Astringent, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Propanediol

Also-called: Zemea | Function: Viscosity controlling, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Dimethicone

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycerin

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Azelaic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Buffering, Skin brightening, Antioxidant

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in fungi and certain grains. It offers several benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, decreasing redness, killing acne-causing bacteria, fading dark spots, improving skin texture, protecting against free radicals, and reducing sensitivity over time. It can be easily incorporated into skincare routines and works well with other ingredients.

For acne, azelaic acid prevents the thickening of the top layer of dead skin cells, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for treating inflammatory acne.

Salicylic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Skin conditioning, Preservative, Keratolytic, Exfoliant

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Niacinamide

Also-called: Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3 | Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a potent skincare ingredient renowned for its wide-ranging benefits.

It helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also effective in managing acne and reducing redness and inflammation.

Furthermore, it inhibits melanin production, thereby assisting in fading hyperpigmentation and evening out skin tone. Safe for almost all skin types, niacinamide is a versatile ingredient found in various skincare products.

Sodium hydroxide

Function: Buffering

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ammonium acrylolyl dimethyltaurate/vp copolymer

We don't have information about this ingredient yet.

Licorice root extract

Also-called: Licorice Root, Licorice Root Extract | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Soothing, Skin conditioning

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Phenoxyethanol

Function: Preservative, Anti-microbial

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Ethylhexylglycerin