Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% 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 Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on April 25, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any 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.

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Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10%

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Emulsion American Brand United States

Facial Treatment American Brand United States

Emulsion

A lighter version of moisturizer, usually with a gel-consistency.

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

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Starts at $21.99

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Buy 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Ingredient Info

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

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% 35 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

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% 35 ingredients

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Exfoliators (2)

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)

Irritating

Rosacea (2)

Eczema (2)

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

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Ingredients Compared

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

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% 35 ingredients

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Water • Azelaic Acid • Butylene Glycol • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Methylpropanediol • Pentylene Glycol • Isostearyl Alcohol • C13-15 Alkane • Ethylhexyl Olivate • Butylene Glycol Cocoate • Niacinamide • Allantoin • Sebacic Acid • Acetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract • Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter • Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil • Bidens Pilosa Extract • Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Carbomer • Hydroxyacetophenone • Silica • Benzyl Alcohol • Panthenyl Triacetate • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Hydroxide • Ethylcellulose • Squalane • Ethylhexylglycerin • Lactobacillus Ferment • Sodium Benzoate • Potassium Sorbate • Tocopherol

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.

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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

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

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

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

Butylene Glycol

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

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 3.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 20.

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

What it does: Antimicrobial, Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.

As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.

This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.

Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 4.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 3.

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

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 5.

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

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.

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 Triglyceride

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 6.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 4.

Allantoin

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Community Rating: Loved

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 14.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 14.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% contains this as ingredient number 27.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 17.

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