PRODUCT REVIEW
Paula's choice Clear Skin Treatment with Azelaic Acid
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What can the product work for?
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
azelaic acid
5% -
7.5%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
salicylic acid
0.55% -
1.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
allantoin
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
adenosine
0.5% -
1.2%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Might help improve cell turnover and reduce inflammation in skin. One study shows that the ingredients might be able to help reduce dynamic wrinkles (for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead)
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
azelaic acid
5% -
7.5%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
0.3% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
salicylic acid
0.55% -
1.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
salicylic acid
0.55% -
1.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
azelaic acid
5% -
7.5%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
allantoin
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
glycerin
1.8% -
2.6%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
caprylic/capric triglyceride
2.9% -
4.3%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
dimethicone
1.2% -
1.7%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
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Anti-oxidation
azelaic acid
5% -
7.5%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
boerhavia diffusa root extract
0.4% -
0.9%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
A plant extract that might help reduce inflammation and neutralize free radicals
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
0.3% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Show more
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Anti-aging | |
Exfoliation | |
Evens skin tone | |
Anti-blemish | |
Moisturizing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
95/100.
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Can it cause trouble?
- Overall product irritation risk
- Acne & comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Potential irritants
salicylic acid
0.55% -
1.3%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-blemish,
Anti-inflammatory,
Exfoliation,
Antibacterial,
Evens skin tone
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
caprylic/capric triglyceride
2.9% -
4.3%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.5% -
2.2%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
User reviews (0)
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WIMJ similarity score |
60%
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80%
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80%
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78%
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75%
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74%
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71%
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71%
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70%
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68%
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68%
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Key ingredients |
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Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
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HIGH
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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LOW
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LOW
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LOW
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MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
| IRRITANCY
HIGH
| IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
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Potential Irritants |
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All ingredients |
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Ingredients & concentrations
All ingredients
Key Actives
allantoin
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Anti-inflammatory,
Reduces redness,
Reduces irritation,
Anti-blemish,
Exfoliation
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
salicylic acid
0.55% -
1.3%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-blemish,
Anti-inflammatory,
Exfoliation,
Antibacterial,
Evens skin tone
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
Show more
Potential irritants
salicylic acid
0.55% -
1.3%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-blemish,
Anti-inflammatory,
Exfoliation,
Antibacterial,
Evens skin tone
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
caprylic/capric triglyceride
2.9% -
4.3%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.5% -
2.2%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
All ingredients
azelaic acid
5% -
7.5%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Evens skin tone,
Anti-blemish,
Anti-oxidation,
Exfoliation
Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals
c12-15 alkyl benzoate
3.9% -
5.8%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Enhances the product texture and makes it more spreadable. Helps reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin. Extands the shelf life by preventing bacteria growth
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Ingredient list view
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
Sources
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medications
- Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyol
- Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review
- Beta Hydroxy Acids
- A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparations
- Glycolic Acid Peels Versus Salicylic–Mandelic Acid Peels in Active Acne Vulgaris and Post‐Acne Scarring and Hyperpigmentation: A Comparative Study
- Evaluation of anti-wrinkle efficacy of adenosine-containing products using the FOITS technique
- Use of boerhavia diffusa extract for skin relief
- Plant-Derived Immunomodulators
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin