The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Review

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
2.8
/ 10
Moisturizing
0.3 Humectancy icon Humectancy
5.2 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
Rich Skin Soothing icon
in Skin Soothers
Review

Does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% has to offer:
 
  • Light moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 2.8 out of 10.
  • Soothing: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains a high concentration of soothing ingredients, which may help to reduce irritation and calm the skin.

Key Benefits of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%:
 

Moisturizer with the Right Occlusivity for Normal Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is lightly moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 2.8 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? Rather occlusive. It has a low humectancy of 0.3 out of 10 and a moderate occlusivity of 5.2 out of 10, primarily due to the high content of Dimethicone (est. ≈10.1%).

This type of product, when used as a standalone moisturizer, may provide some occlusive moisturizing that is adequate for normal skin.

 

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Skin Soothing and Calming Potential

Based on the ingredient list analysis, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is rich (> 5%) in soothing ingredients, particularly Azelaic Acid (est. ≈10.0%).

When applied to the skin, compounds of soothing ingredients, such as triglycerides, phospholipids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants, work together to soothe the skin through various mechanisms: reducing inflammation, promoting wound healing, repairing the skin barrier, and providing antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% to your skincare routine:
 

Needs to Be Paired with Extra Humectants for Optimal Moisturizing Efficacy

An ideal moisturizer for any skin type should balance the right level of occlusivity (depending on skin type) with a significant amount of humectants, while The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains a low level of humectants.

People with normal skin would definitely benefit from adding more humectants to their moisturizing routine beyond what this product offers. If this is your only moisturizer, it may be worth including a humectant-rich product, such as a serum, in your skincare routine.

Pros & Cons of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

Pros:

  • Provides the right level of occlusivity to moisturize normal skin
  • Balanced texture, neither too light nor too heavy
  • Potentially soothing, as it contains a high concentration of soothing Azelaic Acid

Cons: 

  • Ideally needs to be paired with extra humectants for optimal moisturizing efficacy

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
60
10.2
10.1
10
2
1.5
1.3
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
Function:
Origin:
Dimethicone
Function:
Origin:
Azelaic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Function:
Origin:
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Function:
Origin:
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Function:
Origin:
Polysilicone-11
Function:
Origin:
Isohexadecane
Function:
Origin:
Tocopherol
Function:
Origin:
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Function:
Origin:
Isoceteth-20
Function:
Origin:
Polysorbate 60
Function:
Origin:
Triethanolamine
Function:
Origin:
Ethoxydiglycol
Function:
Origin:
Phenoxyethanol
Function:
Origin:
Chlorphenesin
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
10.4
10.1
0.3
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
2.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 0.3 10
0.3
0.3
Occlusivity All occlusives 10.4 20
5.2
10.1
0.3
Moisturizing rating
2.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
0.3
All humectants 0.3 10
0.3
All humectants
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
10.1
0.3
All occlusives 10.4 20
5.2
All occlusives
10.4
10.1
0.3
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
None
Total
0
None
Anti-wrinkle rating
0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
0.3
All antioxidants 0.3 3 No
All antioxidants
0.3
Tocopherol
0.3
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
10
All soothing 10 5 Rich in soothing
All soothing
10
10
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %60
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
Est. %10.2
Function
Origin
Isodecyl NeopentanoateA super lightweight ester that softens the appearance of skin.
Dimethicone
Est. %10.1
Function
Origin
DimethiconeThe most common silicone in skincare. It forms a silky, smooth film on the skin’s surface and can help to prevent water loss. It also aids in wound healing and can treat and soften scars. Dimethicone is considered to be very safe for use.
Azelaic Acid
Est. %10
Function
Origin
Azelaic AcidA powerful dermatological ingredient that helps to treat acne and various pigmentation issues. It appears both in medicated creams and regular skincare. It reduces redness and inflammation but can be irritating in high concentrations.
Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Est. %2
Function
Origin
Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
Dimethyl IsosorbideA solvent for active ingredients that is claimed to help them better penetrate the outer layer of skin. It also helps to reduce the thickness of a product.
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Est. %1.3
Function
Origin
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerAn emulsion stabilizer and thickener that helps to create a pleasant, satiny, and light formula texture. It works by forming a gel-like network within water or oil, which both stabilizes other ingredients and produces a thickening effect.
Polysilicone-11
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Polysilicone-11A synthetic rubber-like substance of the silicone family that has no color or distinct scent. These are large molecules that cannot penetrate the skin but instead create a thin silky film on the skin's surface.
Isohexadecane
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
IsohexadecaneA clear, colorless liquid that is commonly used as an emollient. It is made up of pure hydrocarbons and leaves a dry feeling on the skin upon application. It also increases the spreadability of a product.
Tocopherol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Tocopherol

Simply another name for vitamin E. Tocopherol is a fantastic ingredient and especially beneficial for dry and inflamed skin. It has occlusive moisturizing, emollient, antioxidant, and photoprotective properties.

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Trisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateA chelating agent that disables harmful heavy metal ions present in skincare.
Isoceteth-20
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Isoceteth-20A synthetically produced emulsifier and surfactant. It can create foam for mild cleansing or help stabilize oil-in-water emulsions.
Polysorbate 60
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Polysorbate 60An ester based on sorbitan. It is good for emulsifying water and oils together – specifically making oil-in-water emulsions. Polysorbate 60 is also said to give a product a notable fragrance.
Triethanolamine
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
TriethanolamineA clear, colorless, and highly viscous liquid, this ingredient is an excellent pH adjuster. When it is necessary to neutralize an acidic solution or to generally increase the pH of a product, triethanolamine is a common choice.
Ethoxydiglycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
EthoxydiglycolA type of alcohol with humectant moisturizing properties. It also acts as a solvent, since it mixes well with a variety of other compounds, including water and even some oils.
Phenoxyethanol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
PhenoxyethanolThe most frequently used preservative in skincare. It is a clear, oil-like liquid synthetic substance that protects products from harmful bacteria and yeast, whilst still leaving skin microflora unharmed. It is confirmed by research to be harmless.
Chlorphenesin
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
ChlorphenesinA preservative and broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that protects products from a wide range of bacteria and fungi.