Great for rosacea on the cheeks; the redness is toned down for light makeup.
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“The Anua azelaic acid is great. I have rosacea on my cheeks and this helps.”
Latest treatments reviews
From users, and from around the web with the source linked.
Went through a whole jar of the Anua azelaic acid without changing their scars.
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“I've been looking up stuff about them for so long and went through a whole jar of anua azelaic acid but it didn't change anything and I dont usually see people with their scars like mine so idk”
Puts The Ordinary Azelaic Acid on fresh pimples at night and is amazed how much better they look by morning.
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“Azelaic acid might help, the one from the Ordinary is great on a fresh pimple—I’ve put it on at night and been staggered in the morning at how much better the pimple was.”
After four years of acne, the CeraVe Blemish Control (Acne Control) Gel is the only thing that has helped them.
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“I’ve found that the cerave blemish control works wonders! In the US it’s acne control gel”
Popular this week
most new reviewsA year on it has transformed their skin, after quitting tretinoin they couldn't tolerate.
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“I've currently been using the retinal for a year and it's transformed my skin.”
Helped with their oily skin and large pores.
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“Azelaic acid from the ordinary helped me with these”
Cleared up redness under their nose when a derm prescription didn't.
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“Anua azalaic acid seemed to clear it up.”
The Acne Control Gel seemed to work at first, then less so, so they moved to something else.
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“sometimes i use the acne control gel it seemed like it worked at first but now i feel like maybe not as much so i switched to something else.”
Two years with the Drying Lotion: shrinks deep painful pimples overnight about 70% of the time.
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“I've been using that Mario Badescu for maybe 2 years now.”
Has been great for their skin, alongside glycolic toner.
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“The azelaic acid booster and 5 or 10% glycolic acid toner from Paula's Choice have both been great for my skin.”
Tried it before going on prescription and calls it a trash product.
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“I tried the ordinary AA before going on prescription myself and it really is a trash product”
Their clear skin started breaking out, so they stopped it immediately.
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“So I have tried anua azelaic acid and my perfect skin started getting pimples.”
Cannot recommend the resurfacing retinol serum enough after never noticing a huge acne improvement before.
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“Can’t recommend the resurfacing retinol serum enough!! Best of luck”
A newly postpartum user has loved The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension through pregnancy and since.
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“Newly postpartum and I have been loving The Ordinary azaleic acid, Mad Hippie vitamin c, and a glycolic acid face maskthrough my pregnancy and now!”
Twice daily for 1–3 weeks slowly made their milia disappear.
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“I've had a lot of luck with just using over-the-counter 1% retinol over 1-3 weeks 2x a day”
After adding several actives at once their skin broke out; reintroducing one drop of the Granactive Retinoid brought a big bump two days later.
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“On friday I used the retinoid, 1 drop, two days after got a huge bump on my forehead and right cheek.”
Has used Paula's Choice azelaic acid for quite a while and finds it awesome.
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“I’ve been using the azeliac acid for quite a while and it is awesome.”
Found the Anua azelaic acid too sticky.
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“I agree about the Anua one. I found it too sticky on my skin too.”
Paula's Choice azelaic acid irritated them every time.
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“I tried Paula’s choice but I think my skin disagreed with its formula (maybe the added salicylic acid?) Irritated me every single time”
An oily/combination user found the Anua azelaic acid serum didn't do much for their hyperpigmentation.
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“I used to use the Anua azelaic acid serum but it wasn’t doing much for me.”
Saw no changes with Paula's Choice azelaic acid and found prescription azelaic much more effective.
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“I’ll also add I tried Paula’s Choice as well and saw no changes. It’s not strong enough.”
On very sensitive, acne-prone skin, Anua azelaic acid was well tolerated and improved things by about 30–40%; slow, but they finished a bottle and bought another.
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“My skin tolerated it well and improved by about 30 to 40%. It worked slowly, but I finished one bottle and bought another.”
Three months into Paula's Choice azelaic acid for post-acne marks, they haven't noticed any change.
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“i started using the paula’s choice one like 3 months-ish ago but i don’t know if it’s doing anything to my skin, i haven’t really noticed anything”
Anua azelaic acid only helped brighten PIH/PIE for them, not their rosacea redness and bumps.
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“I have used anua azelic acid and it only ever helps with brightening PIH / PIE, not the redness and bumps”
An oily, acne-prone user found the Anua azelaic acid serum very good.
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“I used anua azelic acid and it was very good but I am on a budget for now.”
The Ordinary's azelaic acid worked for them.
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“This worked for me! Paula's choice broke me out like crazy”
Paula's Choice azelaic acid broke them out badly, likely from the added salicylic acid.
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“Paula's choice broke me out like crazy because it also has salicylic acid and my skin freaked with the combo.”
On oily, sensitive skin the Anua azelaic serum felt sticky and oily when layered.
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“The Anua serum felt sticky/oily when layered with other products”
Loves The Ordinary azelaic acid's matte finish on their sweaty, oily skin.
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“i used it and i love it”
Had great results with the Paula's Choice AA booster before moving to prescription Finacea.
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“I had great results with the Paula's Choice AA booster before switching to prescription strength Finacea a few months ago.”
A solid fan of the Anua azelaic acid.
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“I'm a solid Anua fan but if the texture doesn't work for you try The Ordinary version.”
Finds The Ordinary azelaic acid unpleasantly gritty.
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“The Ordinary is gritty in a really unpleasant way.”
On their 5th or 6th tube: their very reactive skin has improved a lot.
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“I have crazy reactive sensitive skin and I’ve seen such improvement since using it and I’m on at least my 5th or 6th tube.”
After 2-3 months nightly, breakouts and whiteheads are going away and skin is smoother.
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“My current routine is Morning Wash Moisturize Spf Night Wash Anua azelaic acid Moisturize Ive been running it for a 2-3 months now and the breakouts and whiteheads have definitely been going away and my skin has been”
Loved it with good results on oily, acne-prone skin, unlike another brand that broke them out.
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“Anua is the first azelaic acid I have ever tried and I loved it. I've had good results from using it.”
Keeps their skin clear and bright when used consistently.
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“I really like the ordinary. So far (!) the formula hasn’t changed since they were bought out”
Liked it; the silicone base even helped smooth out makeup.
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“I first tried The Ordinary based on this sub's suggestion. I liked it”
Finally started clearing up their redness; gentle and inexpensive.
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“What's finally started working for me in clearing up redness is azelaic acid—The Ordinary has a 10% azelaic acid that's pretty gentle & helpfully not expensive!”
Started on the 0.3% Retinol + Bakuchiol twice a week before working up to tret, never had the retinol uglies, and their skin got glowier.
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“I started with the Paula’s Choice 0.3 retinol and bakuchiol twice a week and *very* gradually worked up to tret and now I’m on 0.1 and I have never had the retinol uglies.”
Their absolute favourite skincare product.
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“The Inkey List Azelaic Acid, my absolute favourite skincare product”
Out of 10+ azelaic acids tried, this is their favourite: thin, non-sticky, absorbs quickly and doesn't irritate.
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“There are lots of good ones, but Paula's Choice is my favorite. It is thin, non-sticky, absorbs quickly, and non-irritating.”
Three tubes in, a nice formula that clearly helps their very mild acne, and it's easy to buy cheaply at CVS.
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“I've only used Peach Slices but I've bought three tubes because it is a nice formula and definitely helps with (very mild/minor) acne.”
Calmed every spot for the first two nights but stopped helping with continued use.
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“I know the first time I used AA it was very good and calmed down every spot first two nights but then I tried to keep using it and obviously that didn’t work”
With mildly sensitive skin, eczema and rosacea, it didn't work for their redness.
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“Paula's Choice's Azelaic acid was one of the first actives I tried for redness and I remember it just seemed it did not work with my skin.”
It pilled badly on them, as did The Ordinary azelaic acid.
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“The ones I've tried (the ordinary and Paula's choice) both pilled badly on me”
Of several luxe retinols, A+ worked best for them: smoother texture, fewer imperfections and no irritation, until they moved to tret.
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“My skin responded best to the Sunday Riley. Visible results with improved texture, surface imperfections reduced, no irritation, skin calm and happy.”
Likes the azelaic and finds their skin tolerates the Anua one well.
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“I have been liking the azelaic, and am thinking of trying a new one here soon that's a higher percentage because my skin seems to tolerate the anua one well!”
On their third bottle, a user loved how gentle it was and how much it helped active hormonal acne.
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“I‘d say I loved it because it was gentle and helped a lot with the active hormonal acne.”
They get rosacea-like flare-ups on the cheek and have had very few issues since starting The Ordinary's azelaic acid.
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“Azelaic acid! I get it on my cheek like this and I’ve had very few issues since using azelaic acid. I use The Ordinary”
Their first azelaic acid, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%, doesn't play nicely with other products: its slick texture rolls up on the skin when layered over vitamin C or other first steps.
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“It has this slickeriness to it that rolls up on my skin if used on top of Vit C”
Before moving to a compounded azelaic cream they used the Peach Slices redness serum daily and loved it: it absorbed beautifully and layered well with other products.
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“I used Peach Slices redness reducing serum daily and loved it. Absorbed beautifully, played well with others.”
They hated The Ordinary's azelaic acid, finding the heavy silicone-primer base the problem, and recommend Peach Slices instead.
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“HATED IT. I don't understand why TO would put it in a heavy ass silicone primer.”
Gives a nicer glow than The Ordinary peel, used carefully a few nights a week.
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“Switch it for the retinol with squalene and start witha lower dose. I use .5 percent.”
Using it a few months without seeing much difference.
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“Also I have been using the azelaic acid for a few months now but not sure if I see much of a difference :(”
After years of hormonal acne and failed treatments, The Ordinary azelaic acid every other night (with a salicylic toner) is finally clearing their skin.
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“I use the toner twice a day and the azaelic acid every other night and I swear my acne is finally clearing up after years.”
They've used Naturium's retinaldehyde on and off for years, working up through the strengths; a tube lasts long and is often on sale.
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“I've been using Naturium's retinaldehyde off and on for years.”
Azelaic acid did wonders for their redness and texture; alongside a prescription cream, the Anua azelaic acid serum is great over the counter.
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“the Anua azelaic acid serum is great OTC”
Using the Anua milky rice toner with the azelaic serum every morning for acne marks and calls the results incredible.
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“I’ve been using them together every morning and the results are incredible.”
Their orange-peel forehead texture cleared after 3 weeks of using Anua Azelaic Acid every morning.
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“I used Anua azaleic acid and one day it all just... Peeled off.”
Anua Azelaic Acid worked very well for them, reducing the look of their pores better than retinal did.
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“I've only tried the Anua Azelaic acid, a korean brand I got on amazon. It's worked very well for me though!”
Fixed their dark underarms and reduced odour.
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“Anua’s soothing azaleic acid FIXED my armpits. Plus it reduces smell immensely.”
A user's skin responded super well to the Anua serum, which helped lingering melasma after pregnancy.
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“My skin responded super well the the anua azelaic, really helped with lingering Melasma after pregnancy.”
Acne reduced a lot on adapalene plus Anua azelaic, but little change in spots and hyperpigmentation after a year.
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“My current routine includes the following actives: \- 0.1% adapalene + 2.5% bpo gel \- Anua 10% azelaic acid serum Although my acne has reduced alot, it's been more than a year and not much difference in spots”
Likes Paula's Choice azelaic acid but finds it more intense, with a thicker texture and salicylic acid, than Anua's.
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“I’ve used both Anua’s AA amd Paula’s Choice- I love Anua and like Paula’s choice.”
Loves Anua's azelaic acid: gentler and more hydrating than Paula's Choice, with a serum texture.
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“Anua is much gentler and more hydrating on my skin (even though they’re both 10%). Its texture is like a serum which I love.”
Oily, acne-prone user found the thick texture clogged their pores and thinks it suits dry skin better.
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“I used it on my oily acne skin and it clogged my pores because the texture is too thick, i think it suits people with dry better”
Hated Paula's Choice azelaic acid: disliked the texture and it pilled under any sunscreen or moisturizer.
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“I hated Paula’s Choice. Didn’t like the texture. And it pilled no matter what I put over it (spf or moisturizer).”
Really liked Anua's azelaic acid as an intro to azelaic acid before moving to prescription.
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“I really liked Anua’s azelaic acid. I loved it so much I ended up just getting an RX for azelaic acid.”
Has used Paula's Choice azelaic acid since 2018 and credits it with keeping hormonal breakouts away and improving texture on mature skin.
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“I've been using the Paula's Choice AA since 2018! It's the one thing in my routine that I've never changed.”
Anua's azelaic acid is one of the only products that helps all their acne, including cysts and closed comedones, and suits sensitive dry skin.
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“I love Anua's azelaic acid. It's been one of the only acne products that helps with everything, including cysts and closed comedones.”
Two weeks into The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 10% they are getting painful pus-filled pimples that last a week and leave marks.
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“I've been getting these pus filled pimples that feel painful when pressed on.”
Says it has been okay applied every other night as a low-strength starter retinol.
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“It’s been okay, I apply it every other night. I was told to start with something with very less retinol, but now I’m almost done with this and wanted to know what should I get next?”
Has applied it before tretinoin at night with no problems and loves the Anua one.
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“I’ve had success with putting it on before my tret at night with no problems. Love the anua one.”
A user saw no results from the Anua serum, compared with prescription 15% azelaic acid.
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“Anua azelaic acid did nothing for me.”
A user on their second bottle says it worked for them and layers quickly as a first step in the morning.
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“On my second Anua bottle (it worked for me!)”
After a few months with no side effects, a user finds it tones down mild redness and evens their face color.
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“I do normally have some mild redness on my face and it does tone it down and makes my whole face the same colour, so i assume its working.”
Loves it for hormonal breakouts after stopping the pill.
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“I would stick to a gentle cleanser and moisturizer (I love Vanicream) plus an SPF. I also love the Ordinary Azelaic Acid.”
Five months in and they don't feel it's doing anything.
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“been using the anua 10% for 5+ months now and i dont feel like its doing anything for me!”
Didn't work for them; prescription azelaic acid did.
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“I find the ordinary products are really hit or miss for me, and their azelaic acid didn’t work for me either.”
Just started and likes it much better than Anua's azelaic acid.
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“Just started using the naturium AA one and liked it much better than anua too.”
Faded most of their acne scars and darkness, though it tingles and itches at first.
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“I use Naturium Azelaic Acid (I think 10%), emulsion. It's very effective for my skin. But it does make my skin a but itchy and tingly at first application.”
A game changer for spot-treating acne along the hairline, especially caught early.
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“I just have The Ordinary for now, but it’s been a game changer for me.”
Works, but pills on their skin.
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“For anyone wanting to try it, the ordinary version works but pills on me.”
Very happy with the results after a month and a half.
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“I've been using Paula's Choice 10% for about a month and a half and I'm very happy with the results”
A week in, their daily pimples stopped and post-acne marks are fading.
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“I’ve just hit one week of The Ordinary Azaleic Acid and I’ve now finally stopped getting pimples. It’s also slowly fixing PIH discoloration, which is wild.”
After 12 days of use it has helped with scarring.
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“also i have been using the anua azelaic acid for 12 days now and it has helped with scarring.”
A retinol beginner started the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol once a week, now twice, and finds it good for their skin.
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“I have been using the cerave resurfacing retinol and it’s been good for my skin”
Months of 2–3 times weekly use keep giving them cystic acne.
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“i’ve been using it since April but haven’t been the most consistent and it keeps giving me cystic acne.”
Nightly use for a few weeks completely cleared dark spots on their hand.
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“I fixed it with azelaic acid nightly for a few weeks. Spots went away entirely. I would definitely try that. I used the one from the Ordinary.”
Used on spots as needed by their very sensitive skin, now more sparingly.
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“if needed I use Mario Badescu drying lotion. I used to cover every minor imperfection with it but now I use it more sparingly”
A few days in: maybe slightly smoother and very non-irritating.
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“I've only used it for a few days I think my skin might be slightly smoother. It is very non-irritating to my skin however!”
A retinoid beginner had no flare-ups with The INKEY List 0.2% Retinal, quickly went to 3–4 times a week, and finds their skin smoother without whiteheads.
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“I didn’t notice any flare ups and sensitivity to it.”
They use The Ordinary azelaic acid and find the strength fine but dislike its silicone feel.
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“I currently use the ordinary but not a fan of the silicone feeling.”
They hated The Ordinary azelaic acid compared with the Nineless 10% they now prefer.
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“It also is the cheapest per ounce I have ever found besides the ordinary (which I also hated).”
Amazing results on sensitive skin after getting through a four-week purge.
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“I highly recommend it. Just beware, there is a skin purge period. If you can get through that…I’ve had amazing results!”
After two bottles, a user stopped the Anua Azelaic Acid serum as their skin wasn't getting clearer.
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“I also had the Anua Azelaic, and I felt the same. After two bottles, I decided not to move forward with it”
A sensitive, acne-prone user found the Anua Azelaic Acid serum worked at first but stopped helping their acne and redness over time.
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“It worked pretty nicely for me at the begging but after a while it kinda stopped working?”
The upgraded blue Starface salicylic acid patches don't stick and keep moving, so they can't even be worn for looks.
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“i got the upgraded version of the blue one and they advertise it as being an upgraded formula but it DOESNT STICK ON.”
Even once a week, sensitive skin wakes up with new red pimples and whiteheads.
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“by the next morning I have some new red pimples and maybe a 2-3 tiny white heads”
An avid patch user who rates COSRX's patches as one of the good ones.
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“I'm an avid user of pimple patches and they're definitely not all the same, but the cost doesn't always determine the quality either. Corsrx is good”
Keeps repurchasing The Retinol 0.1 above everything else.
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“Mine is cosrx 0.1 retinol. Out of everything I keep repurchasing this.”
Despite building it in slowly with SPF and moisturizer, this sensitive-skinned user's skin got worse overall on the INKEY 10% Azelaic Acid.
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“I use the Inkey list 10% which is supposed to be better for sensitive skin but I think it just doesn’t work for me.”
Cleared blackheads and sebaceous filaments that retinoids didn't, alongside The Ordinary's glycolic toner.
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“Tret and ret did nothing for my blackheads and sebaceous filaments, but glycolic acid and azelaic acid did! I use both from The Ordinary.”
Part of the Paula's Choice routine that keeps their sensitive skin clearest.
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“I currently use the BHA and the Azelaic Acid booster!”
Works very well on acne spots and dark marks with no purging; a thick cream that takes time to sink in.
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“It’s working so well on my acne spots and I had no purging whatsoever.”
At 39 with hormonal acne and sensitive skin, the Anua Azelaic Acid + Hyaluronic serum made the biggest change in a stripped-back routine: completely clear skin for the first time in years. It's gentler and absorbs faster than The Ordinary's azelaic acid.
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“Anua Azelaic Acid + Hyaluronic serum (this stuff has made the BIGGEST change)”
Their rosacea-prone skin reacted badly.
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“I tried the blue one and also have rosacea and my skin reacted badly.”
Currently trying the Anua azelaic serum; so far so good and it works as it should.
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“I’m currently trying that very same Anua azelaic acid serum —so far so good, seems to work as it should but I think NINELESS’s AC serum works a bit faster.”
Soothing and hydrating but did not move the needle on redness, so they bought something else after a month.
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“Love azelaic acid, but the anua one didn’t do much. It was still soothing and hydrating but didn’t move the needle enough on redness and I ended up buying something else after about a month.”
Has the redness soothing serum and feels it does not really do anything for them.
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“I have the Anua redness soothing serum and I feel like it doesn't really do anything for me.”
Anua's azelaic acid didn't suit them, but The Ordinary azelaic acid worked very well.
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“However, Nineless Azelaic acid and TO azelaic acid worked very well”
The Anua azelaic serum was pretty good aside from being sticky.
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“Not the toner pads but I had a serum for the anua azelaic and it’s was pretty good, aside from it being sticky :,)”
After using the 0.05% Naturium retinal two nights in a row, this user broke out in small pimples on the chin, despite it feeling great at first.
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“Omg I think I'm currently purging from the naturium 0.05 retinal.”
A miracle overnight spot treatment for their hormonal acne.
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“it’s a miracle cure for my hormonal acne/bacne. I can Q-tip some onto a blemish, go to bed, and by the time I wake up the blemish is flat and losing its red color.”
Tried a Sephora sample: redness did not go away and they got the worst whitehead breakout on the chin.
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“I got a sephora sample to use the Anua Azelaic acid, to test if it really helps as the online reviews claim.”
Part of the only routine that helps their perioral dermatitis.
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“Spectro face wash, Paula's choice Azelaic Acid and lots of moisturizer is the only thing that helps mine.”
Helped their perioral dermatitis.
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“The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 10% helped mine and my dermatologist also recommended using a sulfur soap bar.”
A user says the Anua azelaic serum is vastly improving their skin clarity.
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“it's improving my clarity SO vastly!!”
Used for about three years; simple, unscented and gentle on acne-prone skin.
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“I am turning 32 this April and have been using the Cerave retinol product for about 3 years.”
They weren't keen on TO azelaic acid because it pilled with the rest of their routine.
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“I tried TO a while back and wasn’t too hot on it because in combination with the other things in my routine it pilled.”
Found it during pregnancy: less irritating than salicylic acid, calms redness and treats sensitive acne-prone skin.
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“It’s very similar to Salicylic as a chemical exfoliant, but is less irritating, targets redness (hello!!), and treats sensitive acne prone skin.”
Using the 10 percent daily for a while but not seeing much fading of PIE marks.
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“i have been using the anua 10% azelaic acid serum every day for a while now and i feel like i’m not seeing that much of a result in fading pie marks as i’d want to, i found”
Prefers it to CeraVe's purple retinol: better texture and does more for acne.
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“Having used both, I just personally don’t care for the texture of the stuff in the purple bottle and will be switching back to the blue one when I run out.”
Ten days in, a user with acne-prone skin had a significant purge and breakouts from the Anua serum.
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“I caved and got the Anua azelaic acid serum. Been using it for 10 days so far and the purge is purging.”
Really gentle yet effective for sensitive skin.
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“if u have sensitive skin tey using anua azelaic acid serum it’s really gentle but effective”
Painful, itchy cysts and whiteheads within days, leaving pigmentation marks.
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“My face got full of painful and itchy cysts, together with a bunch of small whiteheads, after a few days of starting to use the Cerave retinol.”
Worked alright but gave little acne control, so they moved to Differin two years ago.
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“the cerave retinol worked alright but i didn't see much results in terms of acne control.”
Six months cleared most of their fairly bad acne, with only an occasional spot.
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“I’ve been using the product for about 6 months now I had decently bad acne and it’s cleared most of it up.”
After 2.5 months they developed bad closed comedones on the jaw, chin and temples, which they suspect the squalane base worsened.
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“I've been using this product for 2.5 months and I developed pretty bad closed comedones on my jawline, chin, and temples.”
Used it for two years before prescription and loved how tight and glassy it made their skin.
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“This is the retinol I used for about 2 years before starting prescription and I absolutely loved it.”
First use left red bumps on forehead and around the mouth; they react to its niacinamide.
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“tried for the first time today and honestly no instant reaction but by the end of the day I had red bumps scattered on my forehead and perioral area”
Loves it, and it has no niacinamide.
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“The Ordinary makes an azelaic acid moisturizer that does not have niacinamide in it! (At least according to ingredients listed online currently.) I love it!”
Loves it, unlike The Ordinary's version.
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“I use the Inkey List one and love it.”
Honestly hated the base of this azelaic acid formula.
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“I see a lot of people rec'd The Ordinary AA but I honestly hated that base.”
A user in a hot climate who blots off the COSRX Retinol 0.5 Oil after an hour says it works slowly but their skin improves, with no reaction at all.
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“Personally the retinol does work slowly, I have no reaction whatsoever, my skin does improve”
The Drying Lotion worked like a dream the first time but now does nothing overnight.
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“The first time I used the drying lotion, it worked like a dream. But now I am having issues with it.”
On sensitive, dry skin they tolerate Paula's Choice azelaic acid every morning and saw results quickly.
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“I started using the Paula’s Choice AA every morning after trying a sample. I didn’t have a ton of redness, but I noticed results pretty quickly.”
Sees better results with the Resurfacing serum than past retinols, which gave only painfully slow results.
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“Whereas when I use the Cerave Resurfacing serum, I can see better results and I’ve recently incorporated the Celimax retinol shot which faded a stubborn spot on the first night.”
Two to three weeks in on oily skin it's causing a mild purge.
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“this product is definitely making me purge. Nothing crazy - just more pimples than usual”
A user who stepped up from a 0.1% retinol to the COSRX Retinol 0.5 Oil was happy with it and used it every night before looking for a stronger option.
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“After using the 0.1% from Some by Mi, I switched to the 0.5% retinol from Cosrx. I was happy with it, I use it every night”
With fungal-acne-prone skin, they find the Peach Slices azelaic acid serum works pretty well, and say it's the strongest azelaic acid they can get at its price.
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“I’m fungal, acne prone and this works pretty well for me!”
Two years on Paula's Choice 1% Retinol and overall happy, though fine lines are starting to show.
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“I’ve been using Paula’s choice 1% retinol for two years, started at 28 yo. I am now 30, and while I am overall happy with my skin”
A user who started retinol with the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol says it has treated them well.
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“I started retinol with the Cerave Resurfacing Retinol and it's been treating me pretty good.”
Working really well with no purging; acne scars lighter with each use.
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“It's working really well for me and (knock on wood) no "purging" thus far. Each time I use it, I notice my acne scars get lighter.”
Noticed way more acne, some cystic, after about a month and a half of using it.
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“I'm a 26 M and I just started using Anua's AA serum about a month and a half ago.”
After breaking out from the Anua heartleaf oil cleanser, a user found The Ordinary's azelaic acid the only thing that worked: their holy grail.
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“Honestly the only thing that worked and is my holy grail is the azelaic acid by the ordinary!!”
Says the Anua azelaic acid wrecked their skin.
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“And that anua azelaic acid wrecked my skin, maybe try skipping that and see if you notice any improvements.”
After two years on Paula's Choice 1% Retinol they love what it's done for their skin, but the price is hard to sustain.
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“i’ve been using it for two years now, but the costs are eating me up”
Working like a charm so far with no irritation.
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“I started using this recently and so far it’s worked like a charm, and caused no irritation.”
The U.F.O. oil is their holy grail for breakouts.
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“It’s my holy grail for breakouts.”
Pregnant with brown skin and pregnancy acne and melasma, the Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster saved them when retinoids were off-limits.
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“until I found the Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster. It truly saved my sanity.”
Noticed less puffiness, better makeup wear and more hydrated, smoother skin on the new routine with the Anua serum.
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“The biggest change I’ve noticed is the reduction in puffiness! I read somewhere that aloe (in the Anua serum) can do that, but I do wonder if it’s lifestyle related.”
Switching from Skinoren, which dried them out, an oily-skinned user finds the Anua serum nice used twice a week.
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“So since then I've been using the Anua Serum and even though it's not the 20% from Skinoren it's still nice”
This user adores the Naturium Retinaldehyde but it gives them horrible dry eyes.
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“I adore the naturium retinaldehyde but it gives me horrible dry eyes”
Before a prescription, The Ordinary AA 10% alone made a big difference for them.
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“I used The Ordinary AA 10% before getting a script from my derm and I was able to see a big difference from that alone.”
The Ordinary's azelaic acid works best of any for their rosacea, but its thick texture sometimes pills, so they use it only at night.
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“The Ordinary's AA works best for me, but the thick texture sometimes pills so I still use it but only at night.”
A heavy TO user rates The Ordinary azelaic acid the worst product they've tried from the line, 0/10.
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“I use a lot of TO products but their AA is the worst product I tried from their line, 0/10 definitely don’t recommend.”
Used it for about 1.5 years without it ever bothering their skin but wants something stronger that works better.
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“I’ve been using CeraVe Retinol Resurfacing serum for about 1.5 yrs. Nothing about it has ever bothered my skin.”
Used the 10 and 15 percent for 3 months: hydrating and helps redness, but sticky, grainy and weak on PIH.
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“Anua Azelaic 10%/15%: 5/10 I used the 15% and 10% for 3 months over the last summer.”
Anua products, including the azelaic acid, did not work for them and broke them out.
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“Anua products break me out =( I've tried their Quercetinol cleanser and the azelaic acid and both didn't work for me.”
A few months into Paula's Choice 1% Retinol they aren't seeing much difference.
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“Been using Paula Choice Retinol 1% for a few months and not seeing much difference?”
Four months in, the purge has not stopped and they still get a new pimple every two days with only tiny texture improvement.
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“I started using the Cerave Resurfacing Retinol 4 months ago and the purge has not stopped.”
After a week small whiteheads appeared on random parts of their face.
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“I've started using anua's 10% azelaic acid about 2 weeks and after a week I started seeing very small whitehead breakouts appear on random parts of my face (not really where i get whiteheads) that disappear fairly quickly”
Two weeks in, used every other day, the serum brightened skin and calmed redness but did little for active breakouts.
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“I would say the Anua serum has defiantly brightened my skin and calmed down my redness. However, it hasn’t done much to help my active breakouts.”
A user says the Anua azelaic acid helped a lot with their dark spots.
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“what helped sooo much was alzeastic acid from anua”
A user with dry sensitive skin didn't like it and suspects the added fragrance and dyes.
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“I used this as well, I have dry sensitive skin. I didn’t really like it.”
Good results for mild rosacea, but every moisturizer pills over it.
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“I have a handful of different moisturizers and they all pill over The Ordinary's Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%. I am using the AA for mild rosacea and I see good results with it”
A user found the regular COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches barely stuck and didn't work as well as other patches, though they like the COSRX Intensive ones.
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“I have some of the COSRX regular patches and I used them the other day and felt the same. They barely stuck”
A user found the COSRX pimple patches utterly useless compared with a generic sheet of hydrocolloid patches.
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“I bought them 3 years ago and they were utterly useless compared to a generic sheet of hydrocolloid patches I got from a random store.”
A longtime user says the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch used to clear a whitehead overnight, but since 2024 it takes about four days and spots sometimes turn cystic.
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“Back in 2021–2022, they used to draw out all the gunk from a whitehead overnight. But now that I’ve been using them again since 2024, it takes about four days of constant wear”
A user moving up to the COSRX Retinol 0.5 Oil got breakouts in congested areas after two days and suspects the squalane in it rather than a retinol purge.
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“So, after two days, I have some purging or breakouts, I'm not sure which.”
This user finds the 0.1% Naturium retinal great and plans to move up to the 0.15%.
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“I use the naturium .1% retinal. It's been great.”
This user with sensitive, acne-prone combination skin finds the Naturium Retinol Complex Serum very gentle and wants something stronger next.
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“I'm currently using the Naturium Retinol Complex Serum and find it to be very gentle.”
Within a month, deep breakouts stopped and mild scarring faded; their skin has never been healthier.
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“Deep acne breakouts ceased, mild scarring diminished, and my skin looks like it did when I was 18 (now 38).”
Six months in: good value to test, but thick and pills a lot.
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“I will say, it's thick, and it pills a lot.. so I'm looking for a different brand”
Did not change their PIE but helps their acne after about two months.
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“I personally only used anua, and while it didn't change much about my pie, it does help with my acne.”
Disliked it: the serum made their face red and pilled with moisturizer, unlike the thick Ordinary suspension.
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“I tried the Anua one and I didn’t like it.”
This user saw no results from the INKEY Azelaic Acid and recommends a prescription 15% instead.
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“I used the Inkey List and saw no results.”
Uses the U.F.O. oil between tretinoin days when skin is peeling or clogged, though it doesn't always clear all dead skin.
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“I normally use UFO in between tret days when my skin is peeling or feels clogged”
This user with rosacea prefers the INKEY Azelaic Acid to prescription 15%: very absorbent, soothing and easy to use.
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“Inkey list is very absorbabt and I prefer this to prescription 15%.”
Using the INKEY 10% Azelaic Acid up to twice a week, this user finds it peels their skin more intensely than The Ordinary's red peel.
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“I’ve just accepted that azelaic acid peels the skin more intensely than, for example, The Ordinary’s red peel, so I treat it accordingly.”
Finds the Drying Lotion awesome for breakouts.
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“The drying lotions is awesome if you have breakouts.”
After a week on very sensitive, dry skin, a user found it painless, calming for redness and a little extra hydration.
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“my skin is very sensitive and it doesn’t hurt whatsoever, the most noticeable difference i’ve seen in calming of redness”
They hated the formulation of TO's azelaic acid and saw results much faster after switching to another 10% product.
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“I hated the formulation of TO's AzA, and switched to another product that was also 10% and saw results much faster.”
With super dry skin coming off a tretinoin purge, a user found the Anua serum non-irritating enough to use three times a day, unlike The Ordinary's azelaic acid.
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“It's not irritating to me, and I legit use it like 3 times a day”
After finishing a bottle used morning and night, a user with super dry skin says it never stung even on a compromised barrier, but leaves a tacky finish.
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“Overall, it's a good serum that helps with calming & soothing for the skin & acne.”
After years of acne, the retinol resurfacing serum took about three months but their skin is almost clear.
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“I use the cerave retinol resurfacing serum, and it took a while to work (~3 months) but my skin is almost clear now!”
Their preferred azelaic acid for the morning.
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“I use it at night but The Ordinary Azelaic Acid matt formula is what I like in the morning.”
Used the Peach Slices azelaic acid serum for a few months as a spot treatment on the red marks left by cystic pimples (from a sunscreen sensitivity). The marks faded noticeably faster, one of the few products where they've seen quick results.
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“l've been using this as a spot treatment for a few months and have seen improvement very quickly.”
After switching away and breaking out in closed comedones, a week back on it (with a new cleanser) has them clearing.
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“After a week using the Ordinary retinol again (and a new cleanser) they've been disapearing.”
Bought the AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment after reading a positive review and it didn't work for them.
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“i also got this same blemish treatment after reading THIS same review and it did not work for me”
Keeps their skin fairly clear, though they think a stronger azelaic acid could do more.
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“I currently use The Inkey List version and it keeps my skin pretty clear but I think a higher % could help me even more.”
This user tried the INKEY Azelaic Acid to save money and thinks it's trash compared with Paula's Choice.
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“I tried inkey list to see if I liked it and to save some cash and I think it’s trash.”
A month in with no noticeable difference to their acne.
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“I bought the serum and I have been using it for a month now.”
A retinoid beginner noticed pimples drying and some chin purging right away with Paula's Choice 1% Retinol.
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“I will say from just the first use i think Paula’s Choice is a stronger product. I’ve already noticed my pimples drying out in places and some purging around my chin”
After 1.5 years on combination-sensitive skin it has helped hugely with texture and minor acne flares, used three nights a week.
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“I prefer this aqua over the purple aging one. I've used it for 1.5 years I think. I am combo sensitive.”
Patch-testing the Naturium retinal on hormonal acne marks along the jaw, this user saw a visible difference overnight.
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“I tried a patch test for naturium retinal around my jaw which had some hormonal acne marks around my chin. I woke up with a visible difference on the mark”
This user liked the Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion, as well as Naturium's azelaic serum.
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“I liked both this one and the emulsion from Naturium”
After two and a half months the purging has been really bad, sometimes lasting a week straight.
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“I’ve been using the CeraVe Retinol for 2 and a half months now and the purging has been really bad.”
Never had purging with the CeraVe retinol, or at least nothing bad.
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“I never had purging with the Cerave retinol. And if I did, it wasn’t bad.”
Using it nightly after cleansing, they quickly noticed what looked like purging and, a week in, wondered whether they should have introduced it more slowly.
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“I started using it once a day every day before bed after washing my face. I started to notice pretty quickly what I thought might be skin purging.”
Uses the retinol serum with the CeraVe acne cleanser because they are the only products that do not make them break out.
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“Currently I use Cerave Acne Control Cleanser and using Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum because they are the only products I've found that don't cause me to break out.”
Uses the blue Starface salicylic acid stars mostly for looks; the salicylic acid usually works, just slowly.
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“the blue star face are super cute and the SA usually works for me (it just takes a while)”
This user loved the INKEY Azelaic Acid, reacted to The Ordinary's when they switched, and is going straight back to INKEY.
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“I have been having a reaction to TO which I bought because I LOVED the Inkey List one”
After one night with the Naturium retinal serum, their first retinal, this user's skin looked noticeably more glowy.
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“I tried the Naturium serum for the first time last nite and I felt like my skin was noticeably more glowy today.”
After more than a year, including during pregnancy, this user finds the Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion smooth and moisturizing, though their latest bottle feels grainy.
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“I've been using the azelaic emulsion for over a year now (I also began using it while pregnant) and I didn't have the grainy issue at all until my current bottle.”
Uses Paula's Choice azelaic acid with no reaction, though it's a bit drying on their already dry skin.
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“I use Paula’s Choice and have not had any reaction. It’s a bit drying on my skin and I already have dry skin but it’s manageable.”
Uses the INKEY List 10% azelaic acid after The Ordinary's pilled and irritated them.
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“I use the INKEY List’s redness relief solution which is 10% azelaic acid.”
Hated The Ordinary's azelaic acid: it pilled badly and caused dry, red patches in creases.
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“I tried The Ordinary’s 10% azelaic acid cream but I hated it. It pilled really badly even though I only wear sunscreen on top of my skincare.”
After 3 months at night it does not seem very effective on PIH, and they wonder if they need a stronger retinoid.
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“At the moment my routine is very simple AM: avene cleneance hydra + byoma moisturizer 30 spf PM: double cleaning with mesauda back to bare oil in gel makeup remover + cerave SA smoothing cleanser + ozoceutica face”
Used Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane all over the face on dry-leaning skin with no irritation and wants something stronger next.
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“I did not have any issues with either of these and can apply them all over my face without any irritation.”
Used the Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane all over the face with no irritation and is now looking for a stronger retinoid.
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“I did not have any issues with either of these and can apply them all over my face without any irritation.”
Had a horrible breakout and reaction to CeraVe retinol last year, leaving their cheeks full of holes.
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“I had a horrible breakout/reaction last year to cerave's retinol, and now my cheeks are full of holes, and its making me really insecure.”
An oily, acne-prone user who built up to daily use of the COSRX Retinol 0.5 Oil started breaking out badly after six weeks and is almost certain the oil is the cause.
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“Recently I started breaking out really bad, it has been a month and a half of me using this product so I didn’t expect it.”
This pregnant user, off tretinoin, found the Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion grainy on application.
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“I just received Naturiums emulsion but it feels so grainy when I apply it.”
RetrinAL 0.1 made their skin flush immediately and feel dry the next morning, so they dropped to 0.05%.
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“I tried the .1% but my skin looked very flush immediately after and felt dry the next morning, so I went down to the .05%”