Latest user reviews

Great for rosacea on the cheeks; the redness is toned down for light makeup.

“The Anua azelaic acid is great. I have rosacea on my cheeks and this helps.”

Went through a whole jar of the Anua azelaic acid without changing their scars.

“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.

“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.

“I’ve found that the cerave blemish control works wonders! In the US it’s acne control gel”

A year on it has transformed their skin, after quitting tretinoin they couldn't tolerate.

“I've currently been using the retinal for a year and it's transformed my skin.”

Helped with their oily skin and large pores.

“Azelaic acid from the ordinary helped me with these”

Cleared up redness under their nose when a derm prescription didn't.

“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.

“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.

“I've been using that Mario Badescu for maybe 2 years now.”

Has been great for their skin, alongside glycolic toner.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“I’ve been using the azeliac acid for quite a while and it is awesome.”

Found the Anua azelaic acid too sticky.

“I agree about the Anua one. I found it too sticky on my skin too.”

Paula's Choice azelaic acid irritated them every time.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“The Anua serum felt sticky/oily when layered with other products”

Loves The Ordinary azelaic acid's matte finish on their sweaty, oily skin.

“i used it and i love it”

Had great results with the Paula's Choice AA booster before moving to prescription Finacea.

“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.

“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.

“The Ordinary is gritty in a really unpleasant way.”

On their 5th or 6th tube: their very reactive skin has improved a lot.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“I first tried The Ordinary based on this sub's suggestion. I liked it”

Finally started clearing up their redness; gentle and inexpensive.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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?”