Looking for smoother, calmer skin? I review The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension and explain why azelaic acid is one of my favourite skin care ingredients.
It’s no secret that The Ordinary has changed the affordable skin care game forever. It’s one of my most favourite skin care brands for the simplicity, yet effectiveness of its products.
There are a number of Deciem’s The Ordinary products that I have re-ordered again and again and the Azelaic Acid falls into this group, because it can calm and smooth skin with no irritation.
Find out what this suspension can do for your skin and how to use it in your skin care routine in this article.
*this post contains affiliate links*
What Does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Do For Skin?
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension is an acid product formulated in a cream “suspension” that causes little to no irritation in the skin. Azelaic acid itself is an ingredient that is naturally produced by the skin’s microbiome and is obtained from grains.
Azelaic has the following benefits when applied topically to the skin:
- brightens skin tone
- smooths skin texture and minimizes pores
- reduces redness and irritation, especially for rosacea
- can be effective to treat melasma and hyper-pigmentation
- can reduce blemishes
- acts as an effective antioxidant
- is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory
If you haven’t guessed it yet, azelaic acid can do A LOT to benefit your skin and isn’t a skin care ingredient that should be overlooked.
BUY IT: SEPHORA
What’s In The Ordinary Azelaic Acid?
The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid is oil free, alcohol free, cruelty free, fragrance free, vegan and gluten free. It has a pH level of 4 – 5 and the inclusion of dimethicone in the formulation gives this suspension a smoothing effect on the skin, which makes it great underneath makeup as a skin prep.
This product comes in a 30mL and 100mL size and retails for $12.90CAD and $32.40CAD respectively and should be used within 12 months after opening. The full ingredient list for this suspension is below:
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
The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% | Do You Need It?
Want healthier, plumper skin? I review The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% serum and reveal how this serum has long term benefits for skin.
When & How To Use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid can be used every day in the morning or the evening as desired and is gentle enough for all skin types. Being a thick cream formula, this product is best applied after water-based products, but before moisturizer and facial oils in your skin care routine.
As this is still considered an acid product, it is advised that you avoid the inner eye area to avoid irritation.
Tip: Always remember to patch test new products on your skin before applying to avoid potential allergic reactions. See below for how to perform a patch test on your skin.
What Should Not Be Mixed With The Ordinary Azelaic Acid?
The Ordinary also recommends that azelaic acid not be used in the same application with the following actives to avoid conflicts or the potential for irritation:
- Copper Peptides
- Direct Acids
- Direct Vitamin C
- Niacinamide Powder
- Peptides
- Retinoids
- EUK134
Want to read more of my reviews on The Ordinary skin care? Click here to browse them all!
What Did Azelaic Acid Do For My Skin?
When I first used this product several years ago, I was in the process of updating my skin care routine for a more hydrating, gentler one. I suffered from flaky spots and redness around my nose, mouth and forehead, which I later realized was because I was using too many harsh products on my skin (excess acids and scrubs) and not nourishing and hydrating it enough.
Once I added the azelaic acid into my skin care routine, along with several more gentle skin care practices, I noticed that my skin had less redness and that my pores appeared smaller, while overall, my skin looked smoother. I didn’t reorder this suspension for a while because it was not available in Canada on Deciem’s website, but when I recently went back to reorder some favourites – there it was again! So I quickly added it onto my order.
If you suffer from redness, uneven skin texture, enlarged pores, blemishes or discolouration, please consider adding The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid into your skin care routine!
BUY IT: SEPHORA
5 Ways To Manage Facial Redness
Learn how to minimize facial redness with these skin care tips, as well as how to cover facial redness with the right makeup.