Missha Glow Skin Balm Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
Updated on December 21, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
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 and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
Missha Glow Skin Balm 79 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Missha Glow Skin Balm 79 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Squalane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Synthetic Beeswax, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil, Polysorbate 20, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glucose, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
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 Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin 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 GlycerinCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
It is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneWater. 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 WaterThis ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Missha Glow Skin Balm 79 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Missha Glow Skin Balm 79 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Did nothing for my fungal acne. Actually did nothing at all.
(Compared to my cheap no-name Russian brand Azelaic acid cream which worked wonders).
Paula's Choice at it again with cetearyl alcohol high up on the ingredient list. I'm disappointed by their ingredients fairly consistently now.
