Spoiler: I wouldn’t call The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% a dupe for Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster.
If you know The Ordinary (and who doesn’t?), you know they’re one-trick ponies. They give you one active per product – that’s how they keep the prices low.
Paula’s Choice takes the opposite approach. She packs her products with all the goodies she can find. But, of course, you’re going to pay more for that.
So why am I even writing this post? Well, Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster and The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% are the most popular Azelaic Acid products out there – and it’s not like they have much competition.
If you’re ready to try Azelaic Acid but don’t want to go down the prescription route yet, chances are you’re gonna buy one of these two. So, which one is worth your money?
- What Ingredients Do The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% A Dupe For Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Have In Common?
- What Else Is In The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% A Dupe For Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster?
- What’s The Texture Like?
- What’s The Packaging Like?
- How To Use Them
- Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
- Price & Availability
- Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% A Dupe For Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid Booster?
What Ingredients Do The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% A Dupe For Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster Have In Common?
AZELAIC ACID TO TREAT ACNE AND HYPERPIGMENTATION
Azelaic Acid is an acid your skin’s microbiome (the good bacteria and yeast that live on your skin) produces. It has several superpowers:
- Fades away hyperpigmentation: Research shows azelaic acid is more effective than 4% hydroquinone (the gold standard for hyperpigmentation) at reducing dark spots and Melasma. It’s also gentler on the skin.
- Fights acne: Azelaic Acid kills the bacteria that gives you acne, soothes the inflammation that contributes to its development and helps exfoliate skin so dead cells don’t end up clogging your pores. Studies shows high concentrations of Azelaic Acid (15-20%) are just as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide, Tretinoin and Accutane at treating acne – even the super inflamed, cystic kind. The best part? It’s also gentler and doesn’t dry out skin as much as these other acne treatments.
- Treats rosacea: 15% Azelaic gel reduces erythema and inflamed lesion of papulopustular rosacea over 6 months. Scientists haven’t figured out how it does this yet, but they think it’s due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
To sum it all up, Azelaic Acid exfoliates skin, unclogs pores, reduces inflammation and even kills bad bacteria.
If you’re tried everything to get rid of your dark spots, acne or rosacea, give Azelaic Acid one last go. You should see results pretty quickly.
Related: Battle Of The Skin-Lighteners: What Is The Best Alternative To Hydroquinone?
If you’ve experienced breakouts by using The Ordinary skincare then you need to enrol in Extraordinary Skin With The Ordinary and get started on module 3 now. It’s created by my scientist friend Cheryl Woodman – click here to check it out now.
What Else Is In The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% A Dupe For Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster?
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
THE ORDINARY AZELAIC ACID SUSPENSION 10%:
- Aqua (Water): The main solvent in the product, it helps to dissolve other ingredients.
- Isodecyl Neopentanoate: A synthetic emollient with silicone-like properties with a dry finish. It also helps oil-soluble ingredients better penetrate skin.
- Dimethicone: A popular silicone, it fills in fine lines and wrinkles, so they look smaller. It also helps the texture spreads more easily and makes your skin silky soft. It has a large molecular structure with big gaps in between each molecule. Translation? It doesn’t clog pores.
- Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer: Another silicone that enhances the texture of a product.
- Dimethyl Isosorbide: A solvent that helps dissolve other ingredients in the formula.
- Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: It stabilises the formula and helps create pleasant textures.
- Polysilicone-11: A silicone that creates a film on the skin to minimise imperfections. It also helps the formula spread effortlessly.
- Isohexadecane: It enhances texture and provides a silky soft feel.
- Tocopherol: A form of Vitamin E that helps prevent wrinkles.
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate: A chelating agent, i.e. a substance that binds to the trace metals found in water and neutralises them before they can spoil the formula.
- Isoceteth-20: It solubilises ingredients in water.
- Polysorbate 60: An emulsifier that helps the water-based and oil-based ingredients in a formula blend together seamlessly.
- Triethanolamine: A pH adjuster.
- Ethoxydiglycol: A solvent that helps active ingredients better penetrate skin.
- Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in skincare products.
- Chlorphenesin: A preservative that prevents bacteria from growing in your skincare products.
PAULA’S CHOICE 10% AZELAIC ACID BOOSTER
- Water (Aqua): The main solvent in the product, it helps to dissolve other ingredients.
- C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate: An emollient that imparts a silky soft feel to skin.
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Derived from coconut oil, it has the same moisturising benefits without clogging pores.
- Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Glycerin: It attracts and binds water to your skin, keeping it hydrated for hours.
- Cetearyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol, it makes skin softer and smoother.
- Glyceryl Stearate: It has moisturising properties that make skin softer.
- Dimethicone: A popular silicone, it fills in fine lines and wrinkles, so they look smaller. It also helps the texture spreads more easily and makes your skin silky soft. It has a large molecular structure with big gaps in between each molecule. Translation? It doesn’t clog pores.
- Salicylic acid: An exfoliant that gets inside the pores, removing whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. It also keeps them from coming back.
- Adenosine: A yeast-derived ingredient that soothes skin.
- Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract: A skin-lightener with antioxidant properties. It helps reduce dark spots and keep wrinkles at bay.
- Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract: A plant extract with soothing and antioxidant properties.
- Allantoin: It has soothing properties that calm down redness and irritations.
- Bisabolol: The ingredient that gives chamomile its legendary soothing properties.
- Cyclopentasiloxane: A volatile silicone that makes the texture easier to spread.
- Xanthan Gum: It thickens the texture of skincare products.
- Sclerotium Gum: Another texture thickener.
- Propanediol: It hydrates skin.
- Butylene Glycol: It attracts and binds water to the skin, keeping it hydrated for longer.
- Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in skincare products.
WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?
There’s a reason why The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is way cheaper than Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster: the formula’s super basic. Azelaic Acid aside, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension only contains a bunch of silicones that make the thick texture easier to spread, keep skin soft and supple and reduce the appearance of fine lines and large pores.
I know what you’re going to say: “But Gio, don’t silicones suffocate skin?” No. Silicones have a particular molecular structure with big gaps between molecules. Skin can still perspire – and active ingredients reach the skin – through these gaps. The real con of silicones is they’re the skincare equivalent of foundations. They airbrush imperfections but don’t have any moisturising or antioxidant properties.
If you’re looking for an Azelaic Acid product that goes the extra mile, Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster is a much better choice.
Lower on silicones, it contains a bunch of skin-soothers to calm down redness and irritations, and a low concentration of Salicylic Acid to unclog pores and prevent acne.
Thanks to these extra goodies, it goes the extra mile: it helps with acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation, soothes irritations and moisturises skin.
Related: Are Silicones Bad For Skin?
Want more affordable dupes for expensive skincare products? Download your FREE “Skincare Dupes” cheatsheet and start saving money (without compromising on results) today:
What’s The Texture Like?
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster has a lighter texture than The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% (Azelaic Acid is heavy and hard to formulate with).
It has a heavier texture that can be a little hard to spread. Texture is where The Ordinary cuts a corner or two. But hey, at least they don’t compromise on effectiveness.
What’s The Packaging Like?
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster comes in a white tube with green accents for ease of use.
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% comes in a grey and white tube.
How To Use Them
Doesn’t matter which one you pick, you can use them the same way. Every other night, after cleansing, as close to clean skin as possible. If you have oily skin or severe acne, you can use them in the morning too.
Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
First things first: I recommend Azelaic Acid only when you’re dealing with stubborn acne, rosacea or hyperpigmentation that don’t go away.
Don’t go adding products you don’t need to your skincare routine because you’ve heard raves about them. That’s NOT going to help YOUR skin.
Now that’s out of the way, which of the two should you go for? It all depends on your budget.
If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind silicones, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% will do the job just fine.
If you can afford to spend a little more, Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster is worth every penny. Azelaic Acid doesn’t play solo, so you get more bang for your buck.
Price & Availability
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster ($39.00): Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% ($12.20): Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Sephora, SpaceNK and The Ordinary
Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% A Dupe For Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid Booster?
| THE ORDINARY | PAULA’S CHOICE | |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE INGREDIENTS | 10% Azelaic Acid | 10% Azelaic Acid and 1% Salicylic Acid. |
| OTHER INGREDIENTS | Silicones. | Antioxidants with soothing properties. |
| TEXTURE | Heavier. | Lighter. |
| PACKAGING | Tube. | Tube. |
| PERFORMANCE | Helps treat acne, fade away dark spots, and soothe irritations. | Helps treat acne, fade away dark spots, soothe irritations, and helps prevent wrinkles. Thanks to Salicylic Acid, it treats acne faster. |
| IRRITATING POTENTIAL | Low. | Slightly higher. |
Nope. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% isn’t a dupe for Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster. It’s a much more basic version. You only get the Azelaic Acid and little else. But if you’re on a tight budget, it’ll do.
Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid Booster Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Azelaic Acid (skin-brightening/tone-improving), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate (emollient), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (skin-replenishing), Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate (emollient), Glycerin (skin-replenishing), Cetearyl Alcohol (texture enhancer), Glyceryl Stearate (texture enhancer), Dimethicone (hydration/texture enhancer), Salicylic Acid (exfoliant), Adenosine (skin-restoring), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (skin-soothing), Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract (skin-soothing), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Bisabolol (skin-soothing), Cyclopentasiloxane (texture enhancer), Xanthan Gum (stabilizer), Sclerotium Gum (stabilizer), Propanediol (hydration), Butylene Glycol (hydration), Phenoxyethanol (preservative).
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Azelaic Acid, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Triethanolamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
I am planning to try several of The Ordinary products including the Azeliac Suspension. Right now, my regimen consists mainly of Paula’s Choice. But if you layer your products, can’t you get a similar blend of benefits with The Ordinary versus a single Paula’s Choice product?
Geo55, technically you can. Just make sure you don’t end up paying more. If you need to use 3/4 products to get the benefits of 1, that one expensive product may turn out to be cheaper. Also, it depends on your lifestyle. I personally don’t have the patience for a skincare routine that’s more than 3/4 steps but you may enjoy a pampering session with 7/8 products.
Makes sense! I’m about to try a TO regime and if I like some of the products I will substitute them for the more pricey boosters from PC. I’ll never give up my all time favorite day product – one of your faves: Paula’s Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum. Everything you need is right in there. Add sunscreen on top and your good to go.
Geo55, that’s a definitely a keeper!
Hi Gio I’m considering trying out the Azelaic Acid Booster from Paula’s Choice but would it substitute the salicylic acid from The Ordinary that I’m already using or would you use one in the morning and the other one evening?
Linnea, I would use one in the morning and the other one in the evening.