Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on November 23, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

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

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

Try a different comparison

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Serum American Brand United States

Facial Treatment American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid 40 ingredients

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid 40 ingredients

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

AHA

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (3)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

Acne Trigger

Irritating

Rosacea (2)

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (4)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid 40 ingredients

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Water • Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate • Glycerin • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate • 2-Hydroxyethyl Acrylate • Azelaic Acid • Inulin • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Phenoxyethanol • Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract • Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract • Betaine • Polysorbate 20 • Chlorphenesin • Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide • Caprylyl Glycol • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Sodium PCA • Sodium Lactate • Sodium Sulfite • PCA • Lactic Acid • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Serine • Sodium Benzoate • Alanine • Sodium Chloride • Glycine • Polyglycerin-6 • Glutamic Acid • Lysine Hcl • Threonine • Arginine • Potassium Sorbate • Orthosiphon Stamineus Leaf Extract • Hydroxyacetophenone • Proline • 1,2-Hexanediol • Citric Acid

Water • Azelaic Acid • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • Glycerin • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Stearate • Dimethicone • Salicylic Acid • Adenosine • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract • Allantoin • Bisabolol • Cyclopentasiloxane • Xanthan Gum • Sclerotium Gum • Propanediol • Butylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid contains this as ingredient number 1.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid contains this as ingredient number 3.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 6.

Azelaic Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Loved

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid that is derived from grains. However, the lab-created form is typically used within cosmetic products as it has better shelf-stability.

It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of acne, rosacea, and other skin conditions. Azelaic acid helps reduce the growth of bacteria that cause acne and helps to reduce inflammation.

It also helps to improve the appearance of skin by reducing the production of sebum and unclogging pores.

Azelaic Acid also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

One of the main benefits of azelaic acid is that it is gentle and well-tolerated by most people. It is also non-comedogenic, meaning that it will not clog pores.

Learn more about Azelaic Acid

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid contains this as ingredient number 7.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 2.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Mario Badescu Clarifying Serum with Azelaic Acid contains this as ingredient number 10.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 21.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.