Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% — Reddit Reviews
by The Ordinary
Updated July 29, 2026
Affordable 10% OTC azelaic acid option
What the community says
The 10% azelaic acid cream suspension offers a budget-friendly start for tackling redness, clogged pores, and hyperpigmentation, but its silicone-heavy formula widely irritates sensitive skin and tends to pill under moisturizers and makeup.
What this means for you
Backed by 26 threads from r/AsianBeauty, r/SkincareAddiction and 5 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
- Affordable 10% OTC azelaic acid option
- Effective for reducing redness and some acne/rosacea symptoms
- Anti-inflammatory and helps fade post-acne marks and discoloration
Watch out for
- Silicone-heavy suspension causes widespread pilling with most moisturizers and makeup
- Commonly irritates sensitive and dry skin, leading to stinging and burning sensations
- Some users experience initial breakouts, flare-ups, or worsening closed comedones likely from the formulation rather than azelaic acid itself
Product details
Use caution
Skin Type
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
Where to buy
Real Reddit threads
26 threads from r/AsianBeauty, r/SkincareAddiction +5 more
“PM: The Ordinary Azelaic acid 3x/wk”
Positive
“Yeah the texture is a little odd.”
Positive
“the way that it mattifies and pills up if you move it too much”
Positive
“after sampling the Ordinary's in-store and not liking the texture.”
Cautionary
“I also definitely agree with the TO azelaic being very sensorially and cosmetically unpleasant 🤣.”
Cautionary
“they managed to botch the formulation so badly.”
Cautionary
“The Ordinary Azelaic acid has done wonders to calm my skin and give me a more even tone. And it’s very gentle.”
Positive
“I was layering niacinamide from TO and then AZ but I realized it wasn’t getting down to my skin so I switched the order and it’s evening out much better.”
Positive
“Paula’s choice Azelaic Acid booster is great and the Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid works well too and is pretty inexpensive.”
Positive
“On non tret days I use the ordinary azelaic acid.”
Positive
“Been using Estée Lauder products, Origins and The ordinary.”
Positive
“I swear by The ordinary products. I use them on non tret days”
Positive
“I did try a 10% one from The Ordinary the other year which did definitely work for my rosacea and acne”
Positive
“my skin was lovely a clear for a while when I was using it then!”
Positive
“Unfortunately the silicone base constantly pilled under my other skincare and makeup”
Positive
“I used The Ordinary 10% the other year and could start with that daily”
Mentioned
“it did help my rosacea and acne for sure!”
Mentioned
“The Ordinary one was fine, but was a silicone base, so pilled under SPF, moisturiser, makeup, etc.”
Mentioned
Dupes & Alternatives
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Better for Texture / Pores
8 shared traits
560 mentions
