Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy.

Kiehl's
Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Serum

Versus

Paula's Choice
10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Product category and function

Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Serums/Treatments	Serums/Treatments
Concentrated formulas for hydrating and addressing skin issues.	Concentrated formulas for hydrating and addressing skin issues.
----	----

Ingredient highlights

Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Ingredient info	Ingredient info
Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free	Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free

Full ingredient list

Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

No. of common ingredients = 0
Aqua (water), propylene glycol, glycerin, alcohol denat, peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin, hydroxypropyl tetrahydropyrantriol, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, ppg-6-decyltetradeceth-30, phenoxyethanol, salicylic acid, xanthan gum, hydroxyethylcellulose, potassium hydroxide, citric acid, sodium citrate, tocopheryl acetate, lavandula angustifolia oil (lavender oil), disodium edta, adenosine, linalool, butylene glycol, tocopherol, citrus aurantium tachibana peel extract, paeonia suffruticosa root extract. 7	Water, azelaic acid, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, methyl glucose sesquistearate, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, dimethicone, salicylic acid, adenosine, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, boerhavia diffusa root extract, allantoin, bisabolol, cyclopentasiloxane, xanthan gum, sclerotium gum, propanediol, butylene glycol, phenoxyethanol

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 24

Total Number of ingredients = 21

Aqua (water), propylene glycol, glycerin, alcohol denat, peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin, hydroxypropyl tetrahydropyrantriol, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, ppg-6-decyltetradeceth-30, phenoxyethanol, salicylic acid, xanthan gum, hydroxyethylcellulose, potassium hydroxide, citric acid, sodium citrate, tocopheryl acetate, lavandula angustifolia oil (lavender oil), disodium edta, adenosine, linalool, butylene glycol, tocopherol, citrus aurantium tachibana peel extract, paeonia suffruticosa root extract.

Water, azelaic acid, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, methyl glucose sesquistearate, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, dimethicone, salicylic acid, adenosine, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, boerhavia diffusa root extract, allantoin, bisabolol, cyclopentasiloxane, xanthan gum, sclerotium gum, propanediol, butylene glycol, phenoxyethanol

Notable ingredients

Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Anti-acne: Salicylic acid

Skin brightening: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid

Antioxidant: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl acetate

Anti-acne: Azelaic acid, Salicylic acid

Soothing: Azelaic acid, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract

Skin brightening: Azelaic acid

Load all

Ingredients with their functions

Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Aqua (water)

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Water serves as a fundamental component in skincare products, often listed as the first ingredient, which means it's the most abundant. It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and facilitate the application and absorption of products.

Propylene glycol

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Glycerin

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent

We don’t have a detailed description of this ingredient yet.

Water

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Azelaic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Buffering, Skin brightening, Antioxidant

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in fungi and certain grains. It offers several benefits for the skin, including reducing inflammation, decreasing redness, killing acne-causing bacteria, fading dark spots, improving skin texture, protecting against free radicals, and reducing sensitivity over time. It can be easily incorporated into skincare routines and works well with other ingredients.

For acne, azelaic acid prevents the thickening of the top layer of dead skin cells, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for treating inflammatory acne.