Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Versus Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster versus Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on August 27, 2023

Overview

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 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 need an update? Let us know.

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Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum

Facial Treatment American Brand United States

Serum Japanese Brand Japan

Facial Treatment

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

Serum

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

Price

Shop

Buy 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

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Buy GenOptics Spot Essence Serum

Starts at $185.00

Ingredient Info

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

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum 37 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

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum 37 ingredients

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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)

Irritating (2)

Rosacea

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum 37 ingredients

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

Water • Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate • Butylene Glycol • Cyclopentasiloxane • Niacinamide • Triethylhexanoin • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Nylon-12 • Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate • Inositol • Polymethylsilsesquioxane • Boron Nitride • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Panthenol • Peg-20 Sorbitan Cocoate • Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Phenoxyethanol • Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone • Polyacrylamide • Laureth-7 • Benzyl Alcohol • Aminomethyl Propanol • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Disodium EDTA • Methylparaben • Hexyldecanol • Sodium Benzoate • Xanthan Gum • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Laminaria Saccharina Extract • Tocopherol • Zea Mays Oil • Methicone • CI 77492 • CI 75130

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

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

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

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

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

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

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

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

Cyclopentasiloxane

What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

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.

D5 is 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 Cyclopentasiloxane

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 16.

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

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

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

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

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.

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

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

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.

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

Sk-II GenOptics Spot Essence Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.

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