The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Reviews – Is It Worth Buying?

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is one of The Ordinary’s best-selling skincare products, and it’s easy to see why. Available in 30ml and 100ml, this multi-purpose treatment is loved for helping improve the appearance of redness, uneven skin tone, post-blemish marks, dullness and visible blemishes.

If you’re wondering whether The Ordinary Azelaic Acid is worth buying, you’re not alone. It’s one of the brand’s most searched-for products, and thousands of people use it as part of their daily skincare routine.

In the Deciem Chat Room community, 75% of the Deciem Addicts say they love The Ordinary Azelaic Acid, while 71% say it has improved the appearance of their skin. In this guide, you’ll find my review, community feedback, how to use it, layering advice, conflicts, FAQs and tips to help you decide whether it’s the right product for your skin.

⭐ Your 15-Second Guide to The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

⭐ 75% of the Deciem Addicts love it!

Best for: Redness, uneven skin tone, post-blemish marks, dullness and visible blemishes.

Texture: A lightweight cream-gel emulsion that leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.

Sizes: Available in 30ml and 100ml.

When to use: Morning and/or evening. Always wear SPF during the day.

How to layer: Apply after water-based serums and anhydrous/oil-based products, before your moisturiser.

Conflicts: Avoid using in the same routine as direct acids, pure/direct Vitamin C, retinoids, retinol, copper peptides, EUK 134 and Niacinamide Powder.

Value for money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The 100ml bottle offers excellent value if you use Azelaic Acid regularly, and it’s significantly cheaper than many comparable azelaic acid products from other skincare brands.

Try It Out

Does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Really Work?

If you’re wondering whether The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is worth buying, you’re in the right place. In this guide, you’ll discover what Azelaic Acid does, who it’s best for, how to use it, how to layer it with other The Ordinary products, real reviews from the Deciem Chat Room community, FAQs, photos, and unboxing videos to help you decide if it’s the right product for your skin.

Everything You Need to Know About The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

Unboxing The Ordinary Azelaic Acid – See the packaging, texture and consistency before you buy.
What is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid? – Learn what it does and the skin concerns it targets.
Benefits of Azelaic Acid – Discover how it can help with redness, uneven skin tone, blemishes, post-acne marks and dullness.
How to Use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid – When to apply it and where it fits into your skincare routine.
Azelaic Acid Conflicts – Which ingredients you should avoid using in the same routine.
Sizes & PAO – Available in 30ml and 100ml with a 12-month Period After Opening (12M).
Texture, Colour & Scent – What to expect before your first application.
Photos & Before You Buy – See the product up close.
Deciem Chat Room Polls & Reviews – Honest feedback from thousands of skincare lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions – Quick answers to the most common questions about The Ordinary Azelaic Acid.

Unboxing The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

I always find it much easier to understand a product when I can see the box, instructions, texture, ingredients and consistency before buying. If you’re wondering what The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% looks like, take a look at the photos and unboxing video below.ctions, ingredients, consistency and colour. See the product before you buy it.

What Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid & What Does It Do?

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is a multi-purpose skincare treatment that helps improve the appearance of redness, uneven skin tone, blemishes, post-acne marks and dull skin. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, Azelaic Acid is one of The Ordinary’s best-selling products because it targets several common skin concerns in one simple step.

Azelaic Acid is naturally produced by the skin’s microbiome and is also found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. It works as a powerful antioxidant while helping to visibly brighten the complexion, smooth skin texture and reduce the appearance of imperfections.

If you’re new to active skincare ingredients, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid is an excellent place to start because it is generally well tolerated by most skin types.

What Skin Concerns Does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Target?

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid is popular because one product can help improve several different skin concerns.

It may help with:

✔ Uneven skin tone

✔ Redness

✔ Dull skin

✔ Blemishes

✔ Post-blemish marks

✔ Rough skin texture

✔ Hyperpigmentation

✔ Melasma

✔ Rosacea-prone skin

✔ Acne-prone skin

Azelaic Acid is also known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties, making it a popular ingredient for people looking to calm the appearance of irritated or blemish-prone skin.

If this sounds like something you should add to your skincare routine – read more about it and buy direct from The Ordinary.

When & How Do You Use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid?

The Ordinary recommends using Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% once or twice daily.

Morning: Can be used before your moisturiser, followed by a broad-spectrum SPF.
Evening: Apply as part of your nighttime skincare routine after water-based serums.

Because Azelaic Acid can make your skin more sensitive, always wear a high SPF during the day, especially if you’re also using exfoliating acids or retinoids in other routines.

Where Does Azelaic Acid Fit in Your Routine?

Apply The Ordinary Azelaic Acid:

After cleansing
After water-based serums
Before your moisturiser (although some people prefer using it afterwards—see which works best for your skin)

Which Products Conflict With The Ordinary Azelaic Acid?

To minimise the risk of irritation, The Ordinary recommends avoiding the following ingredients in the same skincare routine as Azelaic Acid:

Direct Acids
Copper Peptides
EUK 134
Pure/Direct Vitamin C
Retinol & Retinoids

If you use any of these ingredients, simply alternate them between your morning and evening routines.

👉 You can also view my complete The Ordinary Conflicts Chart to see which products can and cannot be layered together.

Size, PAO & Texture

Sizes: 30ml and 100ml

Period After Opening (PAO): 12 months

The 100ml tube offers much better value if Azelaic Acid is part of your daily skincare routine.

Texture & Consistency

White cream
Silicone-based suspension
Thick but spreads easily
Very light scent

The texture is slightly different from a traditional moisturiser, so don’t be surprised if it feels more like a silky primer when first applied.

Photos of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

All of the photos below show The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% purchased directly from The Ordinary. Packaging may vary slightly depending on your country, so always buy from an authorised Deciem stockist to ensure your product is genuine.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Polls / Reviews

These polls featured on Instagram.

75% of the Deciem Addicts love it
71% say it has improved their skin
67% will repurchase it

Azelaic Acid

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Reviews

These reviews come from moderators and members of the Deciem Chat Room Facebook Group and from @deciemchatroom on Instagram. They’re from people who have bought, used and reviewed The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% themselves.

⭐ What People Love

“Azelaic Acid is probably my favourite product from The Ordinary. It’s made the biggest visible difference to my skin. It cleared the spots and uneven texture on my chin and improved the pigmentation on my forehead. This is the one product I never want to run out of!”
– Rachel (@beautyandtheballroom)

“My favourite discovery from The Ordinary. Nothing clears texture quite like this. I’ll never be without it.”
– Jess (@sk.insta.story)

“Gentle but incredibly effective. My skin looks smoother, brighter and my redness improves almost overnight. One of my ride-or-die products.” ★★★★★
– J.B.

“It has helped my years of acne scarring. I always use it at night. This is a must-have product.”
– T.H.G.

Things People Don’t Love

The most common criticism of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% isn’t the ingredient itself—it’s the silicone-based texture.

Some users find it can:

Pill when layered with other skincare
Feel slightly silicone-heavy
Be difficult to combine with certain products

“Love what it does for redness, but I need to wait before layering products because it can pill.”★★★★☆
– C.G.

“Great for texture and pigmentation, but I eventually switched to a silicone-free formula because it layered better in my routine.” ★★★★☆
– E.K.R.

“I’d love a higher percentage and less silicone.”
– S.M.

“I haven’t seen much improvement in my pigmentation after a couple of months, although I like the feel of it.” ★★★☆☆
– M.A.

FAQs About The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

What does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid do?

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% helps improve the appearance of:

Uneven skin tone
Redness
Blemishes
Post-acne marks
Rough texture
Hyperpigmentation
Dull skin

Azelaic Acid for Perioral Dermatitis

I suffer with PD and Azelaic Acid has really helped my skin. You can read all about it here and see incredible before and after photos.

Can I use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid with Niacinamide?

Yes. Niacinamide and Azelaic Acid can be used in the same skincare routine. Apply your Niacinamide serum first, followed by Azelaic Acid.

Can I use Azelaic Acid with Retinol?

The Ordinary recommends alternating Azelaic Acid and Retinol to reduce the risk of irritation.

Can I use Azelaic Acid with Glycolic Acid?

It’s best to alternate these in different routines, as combining exfoliating acids may increase irritation.

Can I use Azelaic Acid with Vitamin C?

Avoid using Azelaic Acid with direct Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid or Ethylated Ascorbic Acid) in the same routine.

However, Vitamin C derivatives, such as Magnesium Ascorbyl Glucoside, can be used alongside Azelaic Acid.

Can I use Azelaic Acid with Peptides?

Avoid using Azelaic Acid with Copper Peptides.

The Ordinary also recommends separating direct acids from peptides, although this advice mainly relates to preserving peptide stability rather than skin safety.

Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid good for rosacea?

Many people with redness or rosacea-prone skin enjoy Azelaic Acid, but The Ordinary recommends performing a patch test first because everyone’s skin reacts differently.

Does Azelaic Acid help with hyperpigmentation?

Yes. Azelaic Acid helps improve the appearance of post-acne marks, brown spots and uneven pigmentation with consistent use.

Should Azelaic Acid go before or after moisturiser?

The Ordinary generally recommends applying moisturiser after Azelaic Acid, but they also acknowledge that either order is acceptable if one works better for your skin.

Can I mix Azelaic Acid into my moisturiser?

The Ordinary suggests applying the two as separate layers rather than mixing them together.

Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid worth buying?

If your main concerns are redness, acne marks, uneven skin tone, rosacea-prone skin or dullness, then I’d say yes. It’s one of The Ordinary’s longest-standing best sellers and one of the products I recommend most often. The only real downside is the silicone-based texture, which some people love and others don’t.as a preventative measure to avoid any incompatibility between those combinations and also because skin tolerance is subjective.

Which The Ordinary Acid Is Right for You?

Not sure whether The Ordinary Azelaic Acid is the best choice? You’re not alone. The Ordinary has several acid-based treatments, each designed for different skin concerns.

Here’s a quick guide:

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% – Best for redness, rosacea-prone skin, post-acne marks, uneven skin tone and blemishes.
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner – Best for dull skin, rough texture and improving overall skin radiance.
Lactic Acid 5% + HA – A gentle exfoliating acid that’s ideal for beginners and sensitive skin.
Lactic Acid 10% + HA – A stronger option for uneven texture and dullness.
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA – A larger molecule that exfoliates more slowly, making it a great choice for sensitive or reactive skin.
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution – Best for oily skin, blackheads and clogged pores.
Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution – A gentler oil-based version for blemish-prone skin.
Salicylic Acid 2% Masque – Weekly treatment to deeply cleanse pores and reduce congestion.
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution – A powerful weekly exfoliating peel for experienced acid users.

👉 Still unsure? Compare every acid side by side in my The Ordinary Acids Guide to find the best one for your skin type and concerns.

Final Thoughts on The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

There’s a good reason The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% has remained one of the brand’s best-selling products for years.

In our Deciem Chat Room community:

⭐ 75% of Deciem Addicts say they love it.

💛 71% say it noticeably improved their skin.

👍 73% experienced no problems using it.

🔄 67% say they would buy it again.

If you’re dealing with redness, rosacea-prone skin, acne marks, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone or dullness, Azelaic Acid is one of the most versatile products in The Ordinary range.

If you’re trying it for the first time, I recommend starting with the 30ml tube. Once you know your skin loves it, the 100ml offers much better value for money.

Related guides you may find useful

Tell Us About Your Experience

Have you tried The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%?

I’d love to know whether it helped your redness, rosacea, acne, pigmentation or overall skin texture. Leave a comment below or join thousands of other skincare lovers in the Deciem Chat Room Facebook community to share your routine, ask questions and read real reviews from people who have actually used the products.