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

Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Detailed comparison of Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster. This acne treatment is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Azelaic Acid to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores. This calming treatment is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to calm redness and fade the look of dark spots. Salicylic Acid 2% Water Azelaic Acid 10% Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Kaolin Propanediol Stearyl Alcohol C14-22 Alcohols Niacinamide 2% Bentonite Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root 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 Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Azelaic Acid 10%, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Kaolin, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Niacinamide 2%, Bentonite, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root 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 Azelaic Acid C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate Cetearyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Dimethicone Salicylic Acid Adenosine Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Allantoin Bisabolol Cyclopentasiloxane Sclerotium Gum Butylene Glycol 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. 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. 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 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