Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Detailed comparison of Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Dark Spot Brightening Serum versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster. This brightening serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This calming treatment is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to calm redness and fade the look of dark spots. Water Propanediol Tromethamine Glycolic Acid 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 1,2-Hexanediol Tranexamic Acid Niacinamide Sodium Citrate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Acetyl Glucosamine Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Salix Alba Bark Extract Curcuma Longa Root Extract Beta-Glucan Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract Corallina Officinalis Extract Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Glycerin Allantoin Pentylene Glycol Hydroxyethylcellulose Cellulose Gum Butylene Glycol Lactobacillus Ferment Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate Buteth-3 Tributyl Citrate Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate Alcohol Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate Water, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Glycolic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Citrate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Allantoin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Buteth-3, Tributyl Citrate, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Alcohol, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate Azelaic Acid C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate Cetearyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Dimethicone Salicylic Acid Adenosine Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Bisabolol Cyclopentasiloxane Xanthan Gum Sclerotium Gum 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 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics. Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity. Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation. It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh. Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated. This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%. Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating. Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism. 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. Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing. One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs. Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoi