Versus

Bayer Skinoren 15% Gel Azelaic Acid Versus Galderma Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide Spots Treatment Gel 5%

Prescription
Facial Treatment
German Brand Germany
Swiss Brand Switzerland

Updated on April 02, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne and dry skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol
Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Buffering

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

When to use

151 Routines
46% use in am
54% use in pm
81% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
345 Routines
32% use in am
68% use in pm
79% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Bayer Skinoren 15% Gel Azelaic Acid 10 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1)
lunem's avatar

Lu Nem

8 months ago
Review

Love it. When hot outside it’s enough as a moisturizer as well. Makes skin soft, reduces acne and decreases redness. Stings in the beginning, but once skin is used to it, it stops.

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well

Galderma Benzac Benzoyl Peroxide Spots Treatment Gel 5% 11 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 7 ratings
Works Well (4) Great Value (3) Drying (3)
wthtay's avatar

Taynara Motta

1 year ago
Review

HG
I had a really really bad hormonal acne breakout last year bc I had to stop taking birth control pills and absolutely nothing worked. I'm to blame tho because I was trying way too many things all at once (I had never dealt with acne before and was desperate lol) and had a damaged skin barrier. From February til May I was working on getting my skin barrier good and healthy again so I wasn't Show more

SpaceyTrxsh's avatar

SpaceyTrxsh

1 year ago
Review

Out of all the acne products I've tried this is the only one that helped with my inflamed acne. Now I have zero active acne on my face thanks to this.

#absorbs well
#sticky
#works well