MediCube Azelaic Acid Exosome Shot Serum 7500 Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

MediCube Azelaic Acid Exosome Shot Serum 7500 Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

This smoothing serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Azelaic Acid to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.

This calming treatment is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to calm redness and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Dipropylene Glycol

Niacinamide

Glycerin

Hydrolyzed Sponge

Sodium Polyacrylate

Hydroxyacetophenone

1,2-Hexanediol

Cetearyl Olivate

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Sorbitan Olivate

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Adenosine

Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate

Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside

Disodium EDTA

Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Azelaic Acid

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Dextrin

Butylene Glycol

Betaine Salicylate

Citric Acid

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Milk Exosomes

Panthenol

Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract

Centella Asiatica Root Extract

Saccharomyces Ferment

Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Hyaluronic Acid

Potassium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Asiaticoside

Madecassoside

Asiatic Acid

Madecassic Acid

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Azelaic Acid, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Extracellular Vesicles, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Dextrin, Butylene Glycol, Betaine Salicylate, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Milk Exosomes, Panthenol, Campsis Grandiflora Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Dimethicone

Salicylic Acid

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract

Allantoin

Bisabolol

Cyclopentasiloxane

Xanthan Gum

Sclerotium Gum

Propanediol

Phenoxyethanol

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

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.

The way it works is fairly well mapped out:

Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.

The clinical backing is pretty solid too.

A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.

A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.

On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.

This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.

Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.

Azelaic acid is a multitasker ingredient that helps treat acne, pigmentation, and irritation. It is a great option for sensitive skin.

What makes it special?

OTC Azelaic acid is usually available in concentrations from 10-15% and anything over requires a prescription.

Here's what each tier does best:

Unlike other acids, azelaic acid will not make your skin more photosensitive/sun sensitive.

Though this ingredient is naturally occurring in grains like wheat, rye, and barley, it is usually synthetically created for cosmetics to ensure stability and effectiveness.

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.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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