Superdrug Me+ Salicylic Acid with Cica Booster Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Superdrug Me+ Salicylic Acid with Cica Booster Versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Detailed comparison of Superdrug Me+ Salicylic Acid with Cica Booster versus Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster. This acne serum is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract to clear breakouts and refine skin texture. This calming treatment is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid to calm redness and fade the look of dark spots. Water Alcohol Denat. Propylene Glycol Betaine Salicylic Acid Glycerin PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil PPG-26-Buteth-26 Phenoxyethanol Sodium Hydroxide Caprylyl Glycol Hydroxyethylcellulose Allantoin Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Citric Acid Bisabolol Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract Water, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Bisabolol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract Azelaic Acid C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate Cetearyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Dimethicone Adenosine Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract Cyclopentasiloxane Xanthan Gum Sclerotium Gum Propanediol 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 Be the first to review 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. 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. 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 thi