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Merle Norman
Brilliant C Brightening Serum

Versus

Paula's Choice
10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Product category and function

Brilliant C Brightening 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.
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Ingredient highlights

Brilliant C Brightening 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

Brilliant C Brightening Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

No. of common ingredients = 0
Cyclomethicone, water/aqua/eau, disiloxane, polyethylene, dimethicone, polysilicone-11, cyclopentasiloxane, ascorbyl glucoside, caprylic/capric triglyceride, butylene glycol, glycerin, vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, peg-10 dimethicone, titanium dioxide (ci 77891), glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, saxifraga sarmentosa extract, vitis vinifera (grape) fruit extract, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, morus bombycis root extract, diacetyl boldine, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, soluble collagen, sodium hyaluronate, centella asiatica extract, echinacea purpurea extract, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, bisabolol, isohexadecane, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40, nylon-12, xanthan gum, carbomer, citric acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium citrate, disodium edta, phenoxyethanol, silica, mica (ci 77019), tin oxide (ci 77861), fragrance (parfum) 10	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 = 45

Total Number of ingredients = 21

Cyclomethicone, water/aqua/eau, disiloxane, polyethylene, dimethicone, polysilicone-11, cyclopentasiloxane, ascorbyl glucoside, caprylic/capric triglyceride, butylene glycol, glycerin, vinyl dimethicone/methicone silsesquioxane crosspolymer, peg-10 dimethicone, titanium dioxide (ci 77891), glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, saxifraga sarmentosa extract, vitis vinifera (grape) fruit extract, scutellaria baicalensis root extract, morus bombycis root extract, diacetyl boldine, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, soluble collagen, sodium hyaluronate, centella asiatica extract, echinacea purpurea extract, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, bisabolol, isohexadecane, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40, nylon-12, xanthan gum, carbomer, citric acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium citrate, disodium edta, phenoxyethanol, silica, mica (ci 77019), tin oxide (ci 77861), fragrance (parfum)

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

Brilliant C Brightening Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Sunscreen/UV filter: Titanium dioxide (ci 77891)

Soothing: Bisabolol, Centella asiatica extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, Scutellaria baicalensis root extract

Antioxidant: Ascorbyl glucoside, Centella asiatica extract

Anti-acne: Azelaic acid, Salicylic acid

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

Skin brightening: Azelaic acid

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Ingredients with their functions

Brilliant C Brightening Serum

10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Cyclomethicone

Function: Emollient/Moisturizer, Skin conditioning, Solvent

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

Water/aqua/eau

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.

Disiloxane

Function: Skin conditioning

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.