What Is Azelaic Acid?
Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid that can be found in a variety of grains, such as wheat, rye and barley! It’s known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and acne-fighting properties, making it a great option for those with rosacea and/or acne-prone skin. Azelaic acid is also very effective against fading different types of pigmentation, such as sun damage, dark spots and melasma.
Having struggled with rosacea and persistent redness for many years, I've experimented with countless products in an attempt to manage my redness. Among the many skincare ingredients I've tested, azelaic acid has been particularly helpful. In this blog post, I will go over 5 well-known azelaic acid products, highlighting both their positive and negative aspects. Enjoy!
Nineless 10% Azelaic Acid Serum
A 10% azelaic acid that brightens, evens out skin tone, addresses fine lines & reduces blemishes.
Also contains centella, lactic acid, niacinamide & snail secretion filtrate which help with gentle exfoliation, brightening & keeping skin calm.
This watery Korean serum is a top contender! Its fantastic texture layers perfectly with other products without any pilling. Upon application, there's a slight initial stickiness that quickly disappears as it absorbs. Surprisingly, I haven't experienced any irritation, which I've found can sometimes be an issue with azelaic acid. This serum works wonders, rapidly healing blemishes and fading redness. I can't recommend it enough!
Cos De Baha Azelaic Acid 10 Serum
A 10% azelaic acid serum that reduces redness, hyperpigmentation & blemishes while brightening & helping to repair damaged tissue.
Also contains aloe, panthenol, niacinamide, green tea leaf extract, bitter melon extract, elder flower extract & edelweiss extract.
This serum from Korean skincare brand Cos De Baha is another favorite of mine! It shares a similar texture with the Nineless serum, feeling watery and slightly sticky until fully absorbed. It layers seamlessly with the rest of my routine without any pilling. The results are also comparable, effectively calming blemishes and redness. For those with extra sensitive skin, Cos De Baha offers a 5% concentration!
Peach Slices Redness Relief Azelaic Acid Serum
10% azelaic acid serum that rapidly reduces blemishes as well as signs of irritation & inflammation
Also contains a blend of centella, panthenol, allantoin & green algae to keep skin soothed and calm.
I had high hopes for this serum and truly wanted to love it! Peach Slices, an American brand inspired by Korean skincare, seemed promising. While I appreciate the creamy, fast-absorbing formula, I encountered significant pilling issues when layering it with most of my other products. Thankfully, I found a few compatible products in my routine and found it to be very gentle and irritation-free. It effectively reduces blemishes and redness, but the pilling problem will unfortunately prevent me from repurchasing it.
Azclear Action Azelaic Acid 20%
A 20% azelaic acid cream that targets blackheads, acne and redness while helping to reduce hyperpigmentation.
This cream from Australian brand Azclear has the highest concentration of azelaic acid on this list, clocking in at 20%. Unlike the other serums, this is a heavier cream intended as a final moisturizing step. While I found it to be quite effective, I unfortunately experienced some irritation around my nose, eyes, and mouth. Given my sensitive skin, I cannot recommend this to those with similar skin types. However, if your skin can tolerate stronger actives, Azclear's azelaic acid treatment may give you impressive results.
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
A 10% azelaic acid water-free cream that addresses textural irregularities, dullness, redness and uneven skin tone.
The Ordinary's azelaic acid cream was my first foray into azelaic acid products. Previously unavailable in Canada due to Health Canada regulations, it's now accessible. Its unique texture, leaving an almost powdery finish, seemed to be very unpopular with a lot of people. While many disliked it, the lightweight finish was one of my favorite aspects of this one. Unfortunately, it did pill with many products, but I found it layered very well with Cerave's moisturizer in a tub. I used it for an extended period and was very happy with its effectiveness. However, it eventually caused irritation, forcing me to discontinue use. If your skin tolerates it, it's an affordable and effective option.
Both the Nineless and Cos De Baha serums can be found on Yesstyle! Feel free to use my discount code COZY1234 for an additional 5% off which can be stacked alongside the current discount. If you enjoyed my blog, shopping via my affiliate link is much appreciated: https://ystyle.co/Vrad
Nineless: https://www.yesstyle.com/en/nineless-a-control-10-azelaic-acid-serum-30ml/info.html/pid.1122266868
Cos De Baha: https://www.yesstyle.com/en/cos-de-baha-az-azelaic-acid-10-serum-30ml/info.html/pid.1103824132
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Disclaimer: Some products mentioned in this blog may have been provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. My priority is to provide authentic and unbiased feedback to help you make informed decisions.
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