Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment 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 Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on October 01, 2022

Overview

What they are

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

Cool Features

They both contain BHA

Suited For

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

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, 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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Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Facial Treatment Canadian Brand Canada

Facial Treatment American Brand United States

Facial Treatment

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

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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Buy 2% BHA Spot Treatment

Starts at $30.00

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Buy 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Ingredient Info

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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment 29 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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment 29 ingredients

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Exfoliators

Niacinamide

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin (3)

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation

Reduces Large Pores (4)

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (3)

Acne Fighting (6)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

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.

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment 29 ingredients

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster 21 ingredients

Salicylic Acid 2% • Water • Azelaic Acid • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Kaolin • Propanediol • Stearyl Alcohol • C14-22 Alcohols • Niacinamide • Bentonite • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Zinc PCA • Coco-Glucoside • Coconut Alcohol • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Phenoxyethanol • C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside • Citric Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Potassium Sorbate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate • Amylopectin • Dextrin • Polydextrose • Glucose • Sodium Benzoate • Xanthan Gum • Glycerin 0.01%

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.

Salicylic Acid

What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 3.

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

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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 4.

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

Propanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 6.

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster contains this as ingredient number 19.

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.

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 16.

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

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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 28.

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

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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment contains this as ingredient number 29.

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

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