Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster .
Last updated on February 16, 2024. Published on July 21, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both 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, 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.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
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
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser 38 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser 38 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser 38 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Isononyl Isononanoate • Propylene Glycol • Azelaic Acid • Niacinamide • Squalane • Alpha-Arbutin • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Silica Silylate • Hydroxyacetophenone • Sodium Hyaluronate • Caprylyl Glycol • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Sodium Hydroxide • Olea Europaea Leaf Extract • Parfum • Butylene Glycol • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract • Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract • Sodium Benzoate • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Sorbitan Isostearate • Polysorbate 60 • Benzyl Benzoate • Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil • Lactic Acid • Benzyl Alcohol • Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone • Linalool • Potassium Sorbate • Citronellol • Morus Alba Root Extract • CI 19140 • CI 42090 • Tocopherol • Ceramide AP
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
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterSkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser contains this as ingredient number 1.
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinSkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser contains this as ingredient number 2.
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 6.
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 AcidSkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser contains this as ingredient number 5.
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 2.
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.
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser contains this as ingredient number 19.
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 20.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser 38 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser 38 ingredients
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser 38 ingredients
magicalmarion
For the fungal acne girlies its a no no. However if you have an uneven skintone this product brightens very good. As a moisturizer alone it is not...
For the fungal acne girlies its a no no. However if you have an uneven skintone this product brightens very good. As a moisturizer alone it is not enough (i have mixed skin, oily t-zone). Also the price is way too expensive and not fair. There are better and cheaper products on the market.
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients
thesunrising
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).
BubbIes
Paula's Choice at it again with cetearyl alcohol high up on the ingredient list. I'm disappointed by their ingredients fairly consistently now.
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment 3% Azelaic Acid Moisturiser.
See 1 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 36 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster.
See 36 alternatives