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Makeup Artist's Choice
Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Versus

Proactiv
Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

Product category and function

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

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

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

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

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

No. of common ingredients = 0
Total Number of ingredients = 13	Total Number of ingredients = 20
Purified water, sd alcohol 40-b, propanediol, dimethicone, glycerin, azelaic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide, sodium hydroxide, ammonium acrylolyl dimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, licorice root extract, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin 5	Water, propanediol, glycerin, azelaic acid, squalane, dicaprylyl carbonate, sclerotium gum, pentylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, hydrogenated lecithin, allantoin, ethylhexylglycerin, glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer, xanthan gum, bisabolol, tocopheryl acetate, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, tocopherol, polylysine

Notable ingredients

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

Anti-acne: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Salicylic acid

Soothing: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid, Licorice root extract

Skin brightening: Niacinamide, Azelaic acid

Anti-acne: Azelaic acid

Soothing: Azelaic acid, Allantoin, Bisabolol

Skin brightening: Azelaic acid

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Ingredients with their functions

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

Purified 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.

Sd alcohol 40-b

Function: Viscosity controlling, Astringent, Solvent

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

Propanediol

Also-called: Zemea | Function: Viscosity controlling, Solvent

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

Dimethicone

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning

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.

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.

Salicylic acid

Function: Anti-acne, Skin conditioning, Preservative, Keratolytic, Exfoliant

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

Niacinamide

Also-called: Nicotinamide, Vitamin B3 | Function: Anti-acne, Soothing, Skin brightening, Cell-signaling ingredient

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a potent skincare ingredient renowned for its wide-ranging benefits.

It helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also effective in managing acne and reducing redness and inflammation.

Furthermore, it inhibits melanin production, thereby assisting in fading hyperpigmentation and evening out skin tone. Safe for almost all skin types, niacinamide is a versatile ingredient found in various skincare products.

Sodium hydroxide

Function: Buffering

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

Ammonium acrylolyl dimethyltaurate/vp copolymer

We don't have information about this ingredient yet.

Licorice root extract

Also-called: Licorice Root, Licorice Root Extract | Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Soothing, Skin conditioning

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

Phenoxyethanol

Function: Preservative, Anti-microbial

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

Ethylhexylglycerin

Function: Skin conditioning, Preservative, Deodorant

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

Propanediol

Also-called: Zemea | Function: Viscosity controlling, 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.

Azelaic acid

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

Squalane

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

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

Dicaprylyl carbonate

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning

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

Sclerotium gum

Function: Viscosity controlling, Skin conditioning, Emulsion stabilizing

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

Pentylene glycol

Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

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

Caprylyl glycol

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning, Deodorant

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

Hydrogenated lecithin

Function: Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning

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

Allantoin

Function: Skin protecting, Soothing, Skin conditioning

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

Ethylhexylglycerin

Function: Skin conditioning, Preservative, Deodorant

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

Glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer

Function: Viscosity controlling, Humectant/Moisturizer

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

Xanthan gum

Function: Viscosity controlling, Surfactant/Cleansing, Skin conditioning, Gel forming, Emulsion stabilizing

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

Bisabolol

Also-called: Alpha-bisabolol | Function: Soothing, Skin conditioning

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

Tocopheryl acetate

Also-called: Tocopherol acetate, Vitamin E Acetate | Function: Skin conditioning, Antioxidant

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

Hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate

Function: Skin conditioning

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

Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate

Function: Chelating

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

Tocopherol

Also-called: Vitamin E | Function: Occlusive/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning, Antioxidant

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

Polylysine

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

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Price range

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

less than $20

Where to buy

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

Near dupes

Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

Top alternatives are:

Facetheory Porebright Niacinamide 10% Refining Serum

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Facetheory Porebright Niacinamide 20% Refining Serum

See all the alternatives

Top alternatives are:

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Volition Beauty Skin Rhythm™ Balancing & Clearing Serum

Ducray Melascreen Anti-Spot Concentrate

See all the alternatives

Use the comparison tool to compare more products

Skincare Tools

Makeup Artist's Choice Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract Versus Proactiv Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector

Product category and function

Ingredient highlights

Full ingredient list

Notable ingredients

Ingredients with their functions

Price range

Where to buy

Near dupes

Use the comparison tool to compare more products

Makeup Artist's Choice
Azelaic Salicylic Gel W/Licorice Root Extract

Versus

Proactiv
Proactiv Clean Azelaic Pore Perfector