Versus

Niod Modulating Glucosides Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Facial Treatment
Facial Treatment
Canadian Brand Canada
American Brand United States

Updated on July 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

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

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant 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

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Modulating Glucosides

Water

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Isodecyl Neopentanoate

Emollient

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Hexyldecanol

Emollient

Bisabolol

Masking
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Rosmarinyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Caffeyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Gallyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone

Skin Conditioning

4-T-Butylcyclohexanol

Masking
Fragrance IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps reduce irritation IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Superoxide Dismutase

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

PCA

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycine

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Alanine

Masking

Serine

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Valine

Masking

Isoleucine

Skin Conditioning

Proline

Skin Conditioning

Threonine

Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Histidine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Phenylalanine

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Aspartic Acid

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Lactate

Buffering

Mirabilis Jalapa Callus Extract

Skin Protecting

Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking
Helps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Curculigo Orchioides Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Isochrysis Galbana Extract

Skin Conditioning

Brassica Campestris Sterols

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Dextran

Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Isoceteth-20

Emulsifying
May cause irritation Icon

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Emulsion Stabilising

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Propyl Gallate

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconFragrance Icon

Tromethamine

Buffering

Dehydroacetic Acid

Preservative
Preservative Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Benzyl Alcohol

Perfuming
Alcohol IconFragrance IconPreservative IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

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, 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
Masking, Skin Conditioning

This 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 Triglyceride
Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. 

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol
Masking, Skin Conditioning, Soothing

Bisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.

This ingredient also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.

Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.

Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.

All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.

Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.

Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.

Learn more about Bisabolol
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

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
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.

When to use

75 Routines
37% use in am
63% use in pm
99% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
736 Routines
43% use in am
57% use in pm
81% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Niod Modulating Glucosides 54 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) Great Value (1)
Kaliope's avatar

Kaliope

1 month ago
Review

YOU DON'T GET IT!!! this is one of the greatest innovations in skincare of the century! saved my skin barrier from beyond hope, it's totally FA-safe even if SkinSort says it's not (arginine is usually okay for me) yes it's a little pricey but 100% worth it, I cannot live comfortably without this product

both photos no makeup taken 4 years apart but results happen much quicker! I just chose Show more

#great value
#expensive
#hydrating
#light

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 12 ratings
Expensive (3) Broke Me Out (3) Doesn't Work (2)
thesunrising's avatar

Mia

1 year ago
Review

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).

#doesn't work
BubbIes's avatar

BubbIes

1 year ago
Review

Paula's Choice at it again with cetearyl alcohol high up on the ingredient list. I'm disappointed by their ingredients fairly consistently now.

#broke me out
#irritating