PanOxyl Acne Clearing Spot Treatment vs Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

PanOxyl

Paula's Choice

A spot treatment built around Benzoyl peroxide and AHA, for barrier repair and hydration.

A spot treatment built around Azelaic acid and BHA, for barrier repair and smoothing.

Spot treatment

29 ingredients

21 ingredients

Brand price

Not recorded

Brand price

USD 42.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet

At a Glance

They come out differently on Oil-free; that row is shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Benzoyl peroxide1
An antibacterial acne treatment that kills C. acnes.
Benzoyl Peroxide
AHA1
Alpha hydroxy acids — water-soluble chemical exfoliants.
Citric Acid
Hyaluronic acid1
Hyaluronic acid and its salts; a humectant that binds water to the skin.
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide1
Vitamin B3 — supports the barrier and evens tone.
Niacinamide

Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Cetearyl Alcohol
Azelaic acid1
Works on acne, redness and pigmentation at once.
Azelaic Acid
BHA1
Beta hydroxy acid — oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid1
The BHA used in acne treatment.
Salicylic Acid

Hydrating6
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Barrier Repair7
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Glycerin, Isostearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide
Reduces Irritation2
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Bisabolol
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Allantoin, Bisabolol, Niacinamide

May Trigger Acne1
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Hexylene Glycol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Hydroxyethyl Behenamidopropyl Dimonium Chloride, Isostearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Hexylene Glycol
May Worsen Oily Skin1
May increase shine or excess oil.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

May Trigger Acne1
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis4
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol

Show highlights for:

Benzoyl Peroxide
Oxidising
0 / —
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Acne Fighting
Allantoin (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
0 / 0
- Reduces Irritation
- Smoothing
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
Cleansing
Carbomer
Gel Forming
1 / 0
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Occlusive
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Barrier Repair
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
0-1 / —
Citric Acid
Buffering
0 / —
- AHA
- Exfoliating
- Smoothing
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Silicones
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Smoothing

Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
- Azelaic acid
- Acne Fighting
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Redness Reducing
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Emollient
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Occlusive
1 / 1
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glycerin (in both products)
Humectant
0 / 0
- Possibly animal-derived
- Hydrating
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dimethicone (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Silicones
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Smoothing
Salicylic Acid
Preservative
- BHA
- Salicylic acid
- Acne Fighting
- Exfoliating
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →
Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →
Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Propanediol is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Propanediol →
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →
Bisabolol
Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing
(R*,R*)-.alpha.,4-dimethyl-.alpha.-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-methanol; 3-Cyclohexene-1-methanol, alpha,4-dimethyl-alpha-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-, (theta,theta)-(+/-)-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-methanol, alpha,4-dimethyl-alpha-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-, (S-(theta,theta))- (levomenol)
Learn more about Bisabolol →