Review: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% – Everything You Need to Know

Azelaic Acid is one of those skincare ingredients’ hidden gems. It is one of the under-the-radar components, and you will be shocked how magical Azelaic Acid is to most common skin concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and more!

If you’re looking for Azelaic Acid products, you’re on the right track as this article will walk you through everything you need to know about The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%. Check out its key ingredients, benefits, what to expect, and a complete review if this is worth a try or not.

Key Takeaways

  • Azelaic Acid is a versatile skincare ingredient with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, which are very good for the skin.
  • Azelaic Acid and Tocopherol (Vitamin C) are the key ingredients of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%. 
  • This Azelaic Acid from The Ordinary is helpful to many skin concerns such as acne, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea.
  • The Ordinary Azelaic Suspension is vegan, alcohol-free, oil-free, nut-free, and gluten-free and does not test on animals.
  • However, some with sensitive and dry skin may experience mild effects like dryness and irritation.

What is Azelaic Acid?

In case you don’t know, Azelaic Acid is an organic compound naturally produced in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. Dicarboxylic acid, another term for Azelaic Acid, is a versatile and multi-functional support ingredient. It can serve as a gentle exfoliant for all skin types, whether normal skin, combination skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, or acne-prone skin.

Source: depositphotos.com
Source: depositphotos.com

Known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, Azelaic Acid is used to treat acne, rosacea, and prevent breakouts from happening as it cleans the bacteria in your pores. Furthermore, it serves as an effective antioxidant, too! This promising skincare ingredient can also treat melasma, improve skin texture, skin tone, and reduce the appearance of blemishes and dark spots. Azelaic Acid encourages faster skin cells turnover, which helps your skin heal faster and minimize acne scarring

Comparing Azelaic Acid with the more popular skincare key ingredients, Azelaic Acid may take some time before you’ll see improved visible results. Studies show that it works more gently than other direct acids like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). In addition, it’s usually prescribed for acne treatments and is much more effective than tretinoin.

Related: The Ordinary lactic acid products

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Review

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No products found. has a lightweight cream-gel system that caters to a lot of skin benefits. This formula offers a 10% concentration of high purity Azelaic Acid. As the product packaging says, the Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension has a multifunctional brightening formula. True enough, it is known for its skin brightening features. Just like mentioned above, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% formula is perfect for lightening hyperpigmentation, reducing blemishes, treating melasma and rosacea, preventing acne breakouts and improving skin tone and uneven skin texture.

Source: depositphotos.com
Source: depositphotos.com

This Azelaic Acid product from The Ordinary is 100% cruelty-free. It is vegan and does not test on animals. Aside from that, it is suitable for all skin types, but slight irritation may occur for those with sensitive skin. It can also be used while you’re pregnant. This Azelaic Acid cream-gel can be absorbed by the skin quickly and can serve as a light primer before applying make-up. Note that The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is not silicone-free and fragrance-free.

Related: The Ordinary Buffet review

Key Ingredients

1. Azelaic Acid

Azelaic Acid is the main key ingredient of this product. It’s naturally produced in grains and has a lot of skincare benefits. Unlike other exfoliants, it’s a lot more gentle and fights acne breakouts as it helps unclog pores and clear out bacteria on your skin. In addition, Azelaic Acid brightens skin tone, improves skin texture, and reduces the appearance of blemishes and dark spots.

2. Tocopherol

More popularly known as Vitamin C, Tocopherol is a powerful antioxidant that balances out the effects of Azelaic Acid. It is an effective skincare ingredient that nourishes and protects one’s skin from harmful UV rays and skin damage caused by free radicals. 

How to Use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Apply a pea-sized amount of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid on your entire face, neck, and chest after cleansing your face and before moisturizing. It can be done twice a day – in your morning and evening skincare routine for visible results. Use the product only as advised on unbroken skin. Do avoid contact with your eyes and mouth. Also, do not forget to apply sunscreen to have an extra layer of sun protection from the harmful UV rays during the daytime.

Kindly note that it’s best to conduct patch testing prior to using the product. This ensures that your skin is compatible with the product and won’t incur any adverse reactions. Follow these steps on how to do your patch test:

  • Place a small amount of the product on a clean area of your arm’s skin.
  • Let the product be absorbed and keep the area dry.
  • Check if the product has a prescribed duration of use. If yes, rinse off that area after the prescribed period. If not, rinse it off after 24 hours.
  • Should there be any irritation, redness, itchiness, blisters, or burning sensation, the product is incompatible with your skin.

Benefits of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

If you’re still unsure if The Ordinary Azelaic Acid will work for you, we have listed all the benefits below:

  • True to its claim, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% brightens and evens out your skin tone
  • The Ordinary Azelaic Acid improves skin’s textural irregularities
  • Azelaic Acid from The Ordinary can treat acne, reduce blemishes, and lighten hyperpigmentation
  • It is a gentle exfoliant that unclogs pores and removes bacteria and dirt on your skin, avoiding future breakouts.

What We Love About This Product

  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Cruelty-free, vegan and pregnancy-safe
  • A multifunctional product that targets many skin concerns like uneven skin tone, skin texture, acne, rosacea, blemishes, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation

What We Don’t Like About This Product

  • Contains silicones
  • It may cause mild side effects such as dryness and irritation for dry and sensitive skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Azelaic Acid have side effects?

Although Azelaic Acid is suitable for all skin types, reviews show that some experienced irritation for those with sensitive skin.  Some may also experience mild side effects like dry, itchy, or burning sensations. If irritation occurs, it’s best to apply moisturizer after using The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension cream. 

What is the difference between over-the-counter (OTC) Azelaic Acid vs. prescription cream ones?

Over-the-counter Azelaic Acids usually have lower concentrations, around 10%, just like The Ordinary. Whereas prescription-strength ones typically have 15-20% concentration. Since OTC Azelaic Acid products have lower strength concentrations, you can use them daily, and the only downside is it may take a while before you see visible results.

Is it essential to apply sunscreen when using Azelaic Acid?

Yes, it is a must. Having The Ordinary Azelaic Acid can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. This is also applicable to products having direct acids such as alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA). 

What ingredients should I avoid when using Azelaic Acid?

It’s best to avoid other direct acids like AHAs and BHAs, salicylic acid, as well as strong exfoliants. You should also avoid using retinol, peptides, and copper peptides products.  

Does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid work well with niacinamide?

Absolutely! Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide have similar skin benefits. They both target reducing acne and treating hyperpigmentation. You may use both products in the same routine. Go check out our article about using Azelaic Acid and Niacinamide simultaneously to know more. 

Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% good for acne?

Of course! This article has widely shared that Azelaic Acid is a perfect skincare ingredient for treating acne. It also cures acne scars, removes blackheads, and prevents future breakouts from happening. If you’re looking for other The Ordinary products for acne, head on to this article.

Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% cruelty-free and vegan?

Yes, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%, and all products from The Ordinary brand are vegan and do not test on animals. 

Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% pregnancy safe?

Yes, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension is safe to use while pregnant. It does not contain any ingredient that may harm your skin. 

Final Verdict

After sharing The Ordinary Acid Suspension 10% review, you will realize that Azelaic Acid is a promising ingredient you can use on your skin. Acne, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea are just a few of the skin problems The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension fix! 

Although one skin varies from another, just make sure to apply a thin layer of the product followed by your moisturizer and sunscreen, and you’re all set. 

I hope this round-up review helped you learn more about Azelaic Acid. You may also want to check out The Ordinary Skincare Routine guide on which products go well with The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% cream. I can’t wait for you to pamper your skin with these The Ordinary products!

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