Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster for mature skin
Azelaic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Licorice Root Extract
Glycerin
AdenosineHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- This product offers excellent treatment for evening skin tone and reducing blemishes, with azelaic acid and salicylic acid effectively exfoliating and decongesting pores for your normal skin. These ingredients also provide relevant benefits for your wrinkles and fine lines by promoting collagen production and skin renewal.
- The inclusion of adenosine further supports skin renewal, while licorice root extract and bisabolol offer soothing properties beneficial for maintaining overall skin health.
- The formulation is safe for your normal skin, as it lacks any harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 6.6k+ reviewsMost find the lightweight texture effective for smoothing bumps and clearing breakouts, though some users find the small tube size expensive and the natural scent off-putting.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “acne scars faded”
- “hyperpigmentation is gone”
- “brightened dark spots”
- “marks disappearing quickly”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “calmed redness immediately”
- “soothed my cheeks”
- “less flushed look”
Expensive for size Often Mentioned
- “tiny tube”
- “pricey for amount”
- “runs out fast”
- “wish it was bigger”
Clears acne Sometimes Noted
- “stopped hormonal breakouts”
- “shrunk cystic acne”
- “cleared stubborn pimples”
- “prevented new zits”
Lightweight consistency Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs instantly”
- “layers well”
- “non-greasy finish”
- “lightweight gel-cream”
Smooths texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels softer”
- “smoothed bumpy texture”
- “glass skin results”
- “reduced sebaceous filaments”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “smells like grain”
- “earthy scent”
- “weird funk”
- “overpowering smell”
Breakouts/Purging Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “bad purging”
- “broke me out”
- “worsened my skin”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung my face”
- “caused dryness”
- “too strong”
- “damaged skin barrier”
Product pilling Rarely Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “balls up”
- “rolls off skin”
- “doesn't layer well”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, paulaschoice.co.uk, sephora.co.uk, dermstore.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster a great fit for mature skin?
This product is a great fit because azelaic acid and salicylic acid help smooth wrinkles and fine lines by promoting skin renewal and collagen production, while adenosine further supports this process. Licorice root extract and bisabolol also calm the skin, helping maintain a healthy, even tone.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for mature skin?
Azelaic acid and salicylic acid make this treatment a great fit by exfoliating and smoothing your skin while helping to fade dark spots and reduce fine lines. Adenosine, licorice root extract, and bisabolol further support skin renewal and keep your skin calm and healthy.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
What does Azelaic Acid do for mature skin?
Azelaic acid helps mature skin by targeting dark spots and uneven tone, while supporting smoother texture and a more youthful look. It provides antioxidant benefits that may reduce signs of aging and protect skin from environmental stress.
Frontiers in Medicine, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
What does Salicylic Acid do for mature skin?
Salicylic acid helps smooth and firm mature skin by boosting collagen and elasticity while reducing roughness and wrinkles. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used correctly, but this skin type also needs extra hydrating ingredients to stay soft and plump.
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by your moisturizer. Using it at night provides extra safety around sun exposure, and you can start by applying it once a week before slowly increasing frequency if your skin handles it well.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying your retinol product first and following with this treatment, or by using them on alternate nights to keep your skin calm. This formulation lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to irritate your skin when paired carefully, while helping to smooth fine lines and even out your skin tone.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
How often should I use this treatment?
Start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. The safe, gentle formula helps smooth fine lines and even out your skin tone without irritation.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on mature skin, as it uses salicylic acid and azelaic acid to gently clear pores and support skin renewal. It also features soothing ingredients like licorice root extract and bisabolol to help keep irritation low.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Azelaic acid nanocrystal hydrogel 10% achieved a higher success rate and greater lesion reduction than azelaic acid cream 20% in patients with mild to moderate facial acne.
Pharmaceutics, 2021Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches showed similar or better efficacy on skin wrinkles, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration compared to adenosine cream in 22 female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Horse oil-spread and adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches significantly improved skin elasticity, hydration, dermal density, and wrinkles compared with adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches in 20 women without causing adverse events.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Application of 15% azelaic acid gel significantly reduced post-inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation, decreased hemoglobin and melanin content, improved quality of life, and contributed to acne improvement in patients with mild to moderate acne compared to placebo.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2024Topical application of a dermocosmetic containing Myrtus communis extract and azelaic acid reduced acne relapses and helped maintain remission compared to a light moisturizing cream in adult females in the acne maintenance phase over 16 weeks.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023Topical administration of 20% azelaic acid cream and 5% tranexamic acid solution comparably improved acne-related postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with acne vulgaris, while tranexamic acid demonstrated a significantly better safety profile at week 4.
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2008Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021Adenosine treatment of dermal papilla cells upregulates fibroblast growth factor-7 expression via the A2b adenosine receptor and intracellular cAMP signaling, and fibroblast growth factor-7 significantly stimulates hair fiber elongation in human scalp hair follicle organ cultures.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
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 Licorice Root Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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