Name: Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Brand: TheOrdinary
Rating: 4.24 (21 reviews)

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디오디너리

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Irritating

Pills on Skin

Feels Harsh on Skin

Causes Itching

Hard to Apply

Not Moisturizing

Not Easily Absorbed

Boosts Radiance

Clears Breakouts

Exfoliates Well

Silky Smooth

Improves Skin Texture

Improves Skin Tone

Manages Pores

The most important thing to consider when buying this product is whether it's authentic or not.
Given the irritation I experienced, I think the one I bought might be genuine (I saw reviews on a certain platform where people said they felt no irritation at all, suggesting those might be fake). That's my hope, anyway.
The slightly dull color of the product makes me suspect it might be counterfeit.
If anyone knows how to distinguish between real and fake, please leave a comment.

I bought mine through direct purchase on a popular Korean search engine.
Next time, I'll buy from the official website even if it takes longer.
Yes, even though I haven't seen results yet, I'm considering repurchasing.
If you check the official website, you'll see this product has some truly dramatic effects.

As for usage tips, beginners should start by applying about a pinky nail-sized amount to the entire face,
or apply it over another moisturizer,
or mix it with another product.
Alternatively, you can use it just as a spot treatment.

The irritation is no joke. At first, I tried to control the amount and applied just a little, but my face still flared up.

The worst part is that it can't be purchased in Korea, which increases the risk of getting a counterfeit product.

I've had this product for about a month, but haven't used it often.
The irritation is quite intense. After applying it all over my face, I experienced a severe burning sensation and pain, so I couldn't use it for a while.
Because of this, I can't really speak to its effectiveness yet.

I bought it because it's supposed to prevent blemishes and help with blemish marks. I tried applying it only on scarred areas as a spot treatment.
However, I haven't noticed any changes at all.

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% (아젤라익애시드서스펜션10%)

The texture isn't great, so I don't reach for it often. It feels grainy, almost powdery? That makes it hard to use consistently...

It's gentle on the skin, yet visibly exfoliates dead skin cells and brightens. I can even see some blemishes fading away.

You should start with a very small amount. Applying the product when there's still moisture on the skin can increase absorption. If you have sensitive skin, it's best to wait until the previous skincare step is fully absorbed before applying this.

The downside is that you have to purchase it from overseas. Also, it can leave a slightly dry feeling. When I apply makeup after using this, it seems to cause some pilling.

After my skin became super sensitive, I stopped exfoliating and my skin texture got rough. But since using this product, my skin texture has improved significantly. I applied a small amount mixed with my moisturizer after using a viscous toner. It stings a bit, but I think it's quite effective.

While it seems to be effective for small, millet-like blemishes, it doesn't appear to control larger pimples.

I decided to give this product a try since it contains Azelaic Acid, which I've had success with in the past.

Toner - Apply this
Hold breath and quickly rinse hands
Serum - Moisturizer

The serum has brightening and anti-wrinkle properties...
But I just use it for hydration and because it doesn't worsen my blemishes,
So I'm not sure about its effects on scars.
The moisturizer is an atopic-friendly product with no special functions, just pure hydration.

My skin used to look obviously troubled,
But as the scars have faded,
It now just looks like I have occasional blemishes.
I'm very satisfied with this level of improvement.

The smell...
I just hold my breath until I apply the next product.

This is absolutely incredible for scars!!!!!
I've never seen a product that gets rid of scars so quickly, I'm honestly amazed.

Usually, my skin breaks out terribly when I use exfoliating products daily.
I think it's because of over-exfoliation.
But everyone was saying it cleared their blemishes, and the price was reasonable, so I thought I'd give it a try.
Unfortunately, this also caused some major breakouts...
I decided to only apply it to my chin area, where I saw some improvement in smaller blemishes despite a few larger ones.
My chin had a lot of small blemishes that looked messy even with makeup on.
As they subsided, with makeup, it just looked like I had some minor blemish scars.
So I kept applying it to my chin area, ignoring any new breakouts, while treating larger ones with pimple patches or ointment if necessary.

After using it for about a week
The scars... are unbelievable.
My chin area had really severe, bumpy scars.
They've really faded a lot.
I was so shocked when I looked in the mirror today - how could they fade so much in just a week? That's why I'm writing this review.

I still get small bumps regularly (even though I use a separate exfoliating product once or twice a week, they won't go away),
And I still get larger blemishes... (This is just because daily exfoliation doesn't suit my skin type)
But the smaller blemishes have subsided a lot,
And the scars have really faded significantly, so I intend to keep using it.

If you can't control the amount, you might experience stinging similar to tretinoin. Gradually increase usage and consider application methods similar to tretinoin - mix with a moisturizer, apply after thorough hydration, or use it locally. If you don't have severe blemishes or are using it purely for brightening, don't use it too frequently. It inhibits dead skin cell formation, which can backfire for those with thin skin. While its mechanism differs, the visible effects are similar to tretinoin, so moisturize well after use to avoid dryness the next day. It doesn't cause photosensitivity, so morning use is fine, and it can be combined with other antioxidant products (except retinol!). However, it can be irritating, so know your skin's limits. Some mention concerns about potentially harmful ingredients, but if your skin tolerates it well, you shouldn't worry too much. Phenoxyethanol is a stable preservative. Without emulsifiers like dimethicone or triethanolamine, azelaic acid creams can be very dry. If you dislike small amounts of emulsifiers but are okay with preservatives in medications, that's a bit contradictory, isn't it?

The downside is having to buy it from overseas. It's fine when it's in stock on Coupang Global, but if you're trying to buy just this from the official site, the shipping costs can be a pain. Seems like I'm not the only one with this issue - it keeps selling out quickly after restocking. Might need to stock up whenever it's available. If this annoys you too, Leo Pharma should at least make Azelex more accessible, those jerks.

For those with oily skin, large pores, and thick dead skin cells that lead to acne-prone skin, azelaic acid can be incredibly beneficial. It's fantastic at removing excess dead skin cells, inhibiting their formation, and reducing inflammation - making it a godsend for those pesky blackheads. It also helps fade discoloration, quickly improving acne scars and was widely used for brightening, though it's now banned in cosmetic formulations in Korea. The Ordinary's gel-cream formula is easy to dose visually and applies smoothly. I prefer this cream form over essence-type products. I keep a stock of various acne treatments, but since azelaic acid became harder to obtain after changing hands from Bayer to Leo Pharma, I finally resorted to buying it overseas. It's frustrating that even large pharmacies in my area don't stock it anymore - what's the deal, Leo Pharma? Pressure from the FDA? I'm particularly annoyed because I'm allergic to isotretinoin and can't take it orally. My go-to products weren't cutting it (even had to buy salicylic acid overseas due to low concentrations here), and there's only so much physical treatments at dermatology clinics can do. Despite following a rigorous skincare routine, without completely destroying my sebaceous glands, I'm left with just extractions and peeling. So, I waited a week, fuming, for this to arrive. Tretinoin is more hassle than it's worth, so this direct purchase was much cheaper than prescription fees. To my delight, the inflammation was reduced by half the very next day after application, leaving me both thrilled and doubly annoyed at the hassle.

○ The absorption isn't great. It feels more like it's coating the skin rather than being absorbed. I haven't tried applying makeup over it, but I suspect foundation might pill when applied on top.
○ It's difficult to purchase. The major drawback is that you need to buy it through international shipping or a purchasing service.

○ It works wonders for blemishes. Personally, I found it more effective than other brands' 0.5% salicylic acid products. After applying it morning and night on my forehead acne, the blemishes subsided completely in just 3-4 days.
○ It's less irritating than salicylic acid. I didn't experience any burning or tingling sensations.
○ When applied to oily areas, it leaves the skin feeling matte.

I recommend applying a thin layer on blemish-prone areas or acne scars, or using it as a spot treatment directly on pimples. Highly recommended!

If you apply too much, it can pill and potentially irritate your skin!

It's effective for blemishes and acne scars! The texture is creamy but lightweight, so it doesn't pill when layered with other skincare products.

For blemishes, I think other The Ordinary products might work better for me.

Incredibly drying and the smell is unbearable. I used to apply it all over my face, but now I can't stand it and only use it on problem areas when necessary. Honestly, I don't see much reason to use this product at all.

It seems to calm down my blemishes. While it's not an instant miracle, I feel like it helps reduce them over time.

After toner, I apply this cream and finish with an emulsion or moisturizer depending on my skin's condition. It effectively tackles deep dryness, and even when I don't have any blemishes, my skin texture becomes softer the next day!

For some reason, when I apply too much, my skin feels a bit tingly and itchy. I couldn't find it locally, so I ordered it from overseas. While the product itself is affordable, the shipping was quite expensive. Delivery also took almost a month, haha!

My skin has become smoother and I'm definitely getting fewer blemishes!

There's a tingling sensation for about 5 minutes after application, but it subsides if you can bear it. It can be a bit challenging to apply due to its dryness, and it might leave your skin feeling dry. I personally apply it right over my moisturizer.

My blemishes have cleared up and my skin texture has improved. I also feel like my complexion has become brighter.

Korean Reviews

Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

2 Reviews