Product record / Treatments, Azelaic Acid
TreatmentThe Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin
- $12.20
- retail price
- 10%
- azelaic
- $0.41
- per mL
- 4.2 ★
- 2,509 ratings
- Data source
- Concentration disclosed in product name The Ordinary discloses 10% azelaic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
- Best for
- Brightening & dark spots · Acne & breakouts
- How it feels
- Treatment
- Value
- $12.20 for 30 mL · $0.41/mL
Bottom line The $12 azelaic acid that works if you learn to treat it like a primer — and a waste of money if you don't.
Editorial verdict / Social intelligence
The $12 azelaic acid that works if you learn to treat it like a primer — and a waste of money if you don't. 1
- Beauty benefit
- Fades post-acne marks, hyperpigmentation, and redness while smoothing textural irregularities — a genuine multi-tasker (antimicrobial + tyrosinase inhibitor + antioxidant + mild keratolytic) at under $15.
- Does it work
- Yes, with important caveats. 25,000+ reviews average 4.2 stars; 75% of users at the brand's own community love it, with 71% reporting improved skin. The formula includes dimethyl isosorbide (a glucose-derived penetration enhancer) that partially compensates for the 10% OTC ceiling by improving stratum corneum delivery — it punches above its price class. The non-negotiable catch: the silicone-heavy suspension texture is genuinely polarizing and pilling under makeup is the product's single biggest real-world failure mode. See the verified data below →
Consensus strength
StrongUlta 4.2 stars / 2,509 reviews; DermApproved 4.2 stars / 25,000+ reviews; DECIEM Chatroom community 75% love rate; deciemchatroom.com user analysis; lifepathdoc.com independent review 4.7/5; cindybeautyjournal.com 4.2/5; whatsinmyjar.com 88% recommend; Dr. Muneeb Shah (remedyskin.com) verdict: 'WORTH THE HYPE'; Dr. Shah and dermapproved.com both flag the OTC 10% vs Rx 15-20% gap.
01 / The key active
Azelaic Acid at 10%
This product discloses 10% azelaic acid — concentration disclosed in product name.
Concentration disclosed in product name. The Ordinary discloses 10% azelaic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
Other products with Azelaic Acid:
02 / The full ingredient list
Every ingredient, in label order
Exactly as printed, each token matched to the EU CosIng register and flagged where a CIR safety assessment exists. Highlighted rows are the key actives.
| # | Ingredient, as printed | CosIng functions | CIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Aqua (water) CosIng: AQUA |
| — |
| 02 | Isodecyl Neopentanoate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 03 | Dimethicone |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 04 | Azelaic Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 05 | Dimethicone/bis-isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 06 | Dimethyl Isosorbide |
| — |
| 07 | Hydroxyethyl Acryalte/sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer label typo → HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 08 | Polysilicone-11 |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 09 | Isohexadecane |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 10 | Tocopherol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 11 | Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 12 | Isoceteth-20 |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 13 | Polysorbate 60 |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 14 | Triethanolamine |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 15 | Ethoxydiglycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 16 | Phenoxyethanol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 17 | Chlorphenesin |
| ✓ reviewed |
17 ingredients as printed · 15 exact CosIng matches · 1 normalized spellings · 1 label typo, matched anyway · source: concentration disclosed in product name
03 / Where to buy
Where to buy Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin
Some links on this page earn us a commission. It never changes our analysis — the methodology is public.
04 / What people say
What buyers actually say
Aggregated from 27,535 verified reviews across 4 sources.
What works
-
Within an hour or so of using this, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% can tone down a lot of redness Editorial
-
Visibly fades hyperpigmentation with consistent use Editorial
- Common Exceptional value — sub-$15 OTC azelaic acid with a penetration-enhanced formula that outperforms its price tier 73
Excellent value at $7.90/30ml Editorial
- Common Pregnancy-safe and gentle enough for rosacea and sensitive skin — no bleaching, no bacterial resistance risk 47
Safe during pregnancy (FDA Category B) Dermatologist
- Some Works well as a makeup primer on oily skin — the silicone base fills pores and smooths texture 74
Works well as a makeup primer Editorial
What to know
- Common Pilling is the #1 real-world failure mode — silicone base balls up under sunscreen, makeup, or water-based moisturizers 576
Pilled when rubbed in excessively or when moisturizer was applied immediately after Editorial
- Common Thick, waxy, silicone-heavy texture that feels heavy and gritty — makes daytime wear and layering difficult 543
Pasty-thick with a powdery finish — feels heavy and silicone-y Editorial
- Some Some users with deeper skin tones report it is less effective on PIH than on redness 6
Less effective on deeper skin tones for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation Reviews
- Some Strict ingredient incompatibility list — cannot be used with retinoids, peptides, direct vitamin C, or strong acids in the same routine 211
Do not use with: Copper Peptides, Direct Acids, Direct Vitamin C, EUK, Niacinamide Powder, Peptides, Retinoids brand
- Some A meaningful minority see no results — 'I really don't see any difference after months of use' 1112
I really don't see any difference after months of use Editorial
What you'd only know from the reviews
-
The formula includes dimethyl isosorbide — a glucose-derived penetration enhancer that carries azelaic acid deeper into the stratum corneum, partially offsetting the lower 10% OTC concentration. Most budget azelaic acid products skip this. The three silicones (dimethicone, dimethicone/bis-isobutyl PPG-20 crosspolymer, polysilicone-11) act as a slow-release film that keeps the active in contact with skin rather than evaporating — which is exactly why pilling happens when you disturb that film with other products. 4
-
OTC 10% vs Rx 15-20%: clinical studies supporting azelaic acid's full efficacy for acne and rosacea were conducted at 15-20% (Finacea, Azelex). A 2021 study showed 10% gel achieved a 36.51% success rate for mild-to-moderate acne vs 30.37% for 20% cream — so 10% is not useless, but for resistant PIH or rosacea, a derm can prescribe higher-concentration options. This product suits mild-to-moderate concerns; severe cases should ask about Rx. 134
-
Counterintuitively, Paula's Choice beats The Ordinary for rosacea in some head-to-head comparisons — but The Ordinary beats Paula's Choice for pure redness reduction in others. One direct comparison found The Ordinary dramatically more effective for sensitivity/redness while Paula's Choice triggered irritation due to its salicylic acid. Skin concern should drive choice: The Ordinary for rosacea/redness, Paula's Choice for acne + PIH combo. 8
vs. SkinCeuticals
Consensus is positive but pragmatic: the product works for redness, PIH, and texture at an unbeatable price, but the silicone-suspension texture creates a real application tax that eliminates it as a daytime option for many users. The 10% OTC ceiling is widely acknowledged — derms and power users who need more reach for prescription Finacea or Skinoren. For budget-first buyers or those new to azelaic acid, this is the standard recommendation. The DermApproved aggregated verdict (25,000+ reviews, 4.2 stars) and the DECIEM Chatroom community's 75% love rate represent the clearest signal: most people are satisfied, but the minority who pill badly and give up are also real.
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05 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What's in The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin?
- The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin lists 17 ingredients. Key active: 10% Azelaic Acid. The Ordinary discloses 10% azelaic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page. The full ingredient list, matched to EU CosIng, is on this page.
- Does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin work?
- Yes, with important caveats. 25,000+ reviews average 4.2 stars; 75% of users at the brand's own community love it, with 71% reporting improved skin. The formula includes dimethyl isosorbide (a glucose-derived penetration enhancer) that partially compensates for the 10% OTC ceiling by improving stratum corneum delivery — it punches above its price class. The non-negotiable catch: the silicone-heavy suspension texture is genuinely polarizing and pilling under makeup is the product's single biggest real-world failure mode.
- How much Azelaic Acid is in The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin?
- 10% Azelaic Acid. The Ordinary discloses 10% azelaic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
- Where can I buy The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin?
- $12.20 on Amazon (price recorded as of the date shown). The Ordinary discloses 10% azelaic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.