Versus

Curology Liquid Pore Exfoliant Versus Nineless A-Control 10% Azelaic Acid Serum

Exfoliator
Serum
American Brand United States
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on February 22, 2024

Overview

What they are

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

Cool Features

They both contain AHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
A-Control 10% Azelaic Acid Serum

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

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
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Buffering, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.

Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.

Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.

Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.

Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Lactic Acid
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.

This ingredient has many skin benefits:

This ingredient contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off molecules that damage skin cells.

On top of that, the antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.

Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties.

Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.

Other compounds found in tea include: Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.

Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

When to use

45 Routines
31% use in am
69% use in pm
47% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
322 Routines
35% use in am
65% use in pm
78% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Curology Liquid Pore Exfoliant 12 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Drying (1) Great Value (1)
melissasecrest's avatar

Melissa Secrest

9 months ago
Review

My first bha exfoliant. Tolerated well, noticeable pore improvement. Might go back to this, but going to play the field a while.

#great value
#no scent
#works well
sarahmeadows's avatar

Sarah Meadows

5 months ago
Review

Exfoliated my skin great and makes my skin feel soft. It’s helped with my pores and has improved some of the texture however, I have really bad closed comedones and was hoping it would help with this but I’ve only noticed a small difference.

#drying
#light
#absorbs well

Nineless A-Control 10% Azelaic Acid Serum 31 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 11 ratings
No Scent (7) Hydrating (7) Light (6)
osjatlen's avatar

osjatlen

1 month ago
Review

It is a little sticky due to snail mucin, but I love it, it’s calming and feels refreshing on my skin, and it really does help with PIE. (not even a month difference)

#hydrating
#sticky
#no scent
#works well
Alodia's avatar

Alodia

7 months ago
Review

This product is effective and gentle. Noticeably improved my skin texture and appearance of pores in 1 week (using once a day only). Great active ingredients - 10% azeleic acid, niacinamide, lactic acid.

I’ve had issues of irritation and tingling from other Azeleic products but this one feels like a hydrating serum with no irritation! The texture is runny, the slight snail mucin texture is Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well