Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Versus Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Versus Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster versus Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm. This calming treatment is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to calm redness and fade the look of dark spots. This calming treatment is formulated around Panthenol and Linoleic Acid to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. 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, 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 C13-15 Alkane Hydrogenated Polyisobutene Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate Lauroyl Lysine 1,2-Hexanediol Disteardimonium Hectorite Magnesium Sulfate Panthenol Linoleic Acid Phospholipids Phytosterols Zingiber Officinale Root Extract Water, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Lauroyl Lysine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Panthenol, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Phytosterols, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient. It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation. A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin. In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum. You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%. Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel. While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns. Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source. This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out. This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%. 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