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Paula's Choice
10% Azelaic Acid Booster
A spot treatment built around Azelaic acid and BHA, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 42.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · on the brand's site
From the brand
What the brand says about this product. Our ingredient analysis follows below.
The brand recommends it for
- Sensitive skin
- Acne & blemishes
- Redness & rosacea
- Dark spots & pigmentation
- Fine lines & wrinkles
- Dullness
- Uneven texture
How to use
STEP 4: TREATMENT - Clarify & Even Tone When To Apply After cleansing, toning & exfoliating, apply to face & neck. How To Apply Once or twice daily, apply to face and neck. May be used alone or added to your favorite moisturizer or serum. For daytime, always follow with sunscreen.
Caution
If you have a salicylate allergy, check with your physician before using any products that contain salicylic acid.
What's inside
Ingredients List
6 trigger at least one check · 15 trigger none
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Benefits
Hydrating5
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol
Barrier Repair11
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Reduces Irritation3
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Redness Reducing4
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Allantoin, Azelaic Acid, Bisabolol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Smoothing9
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Allantoin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Salicylic Acid
Anti-Pollution4
Helps defend against airborne pollutants.
Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Dimethicone, Glycerin
Concerns
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.
Ingredients Explained
Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Azelaic Acid
Buffering, Fragrance
Azelaic Acid is azelaic acid.
Learn more about Azelaic Acid →C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate →Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Fragrance, Perfuming, Occlusive, Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride →Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate →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 →Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling
Cetearyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →Salicylic Acid
Anti-seborrheic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Keratolytic, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid is a BHA.
Learn more about Salicylic Acid →
Dupes
- VT Cosmetics Garlic AC Reedle Shot Spot Cream67% match
- Purito Timeless Bloom Retinol Spot Cream62% match
- Skinfix 2% BHA Spot Treatment62% match
- Numbuzin No.0 Zero Blemish 3X Spot Correcting Cream62% match