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Anua

Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum.

Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum
Serums

About this product

A lightweight serum containing 10% azelaic acid and hyaluronic acid designed to calm redness, soothe irritation, and support clearer skin for sensitive and acne-prone complexions.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

65%

Mixed

11 experts · Strong agreement
11Gurus
8Yay
0Mixed
3Nay

What they liked

  • Lightweight, non-gritty texture
  • Calms redness and soothes irritation
  • Works for sensitive, acne-prone skin

What they flagged

  • May feel drying on some skin types
  • Higher pH may limit azelaic acid effectiveness

What the gurus are saying

This serum's lightweight, non-gritty texture earns consistent praise, especially compared to other azelaic acid products that can feel chalky or heavy. Most gurus prize the 10% concentration for calming redness and soothing irritation rather than treating active acne, and highlight the formula's gentleness for sensitive skin. However, a few note the formulation may deliver less active azelaic acid than the label suggests, and one flags a slightly higher pH that could limit the ingredient's effectiveness; those already using prescription-strength azelaic acid or needing strong acne treatment may find it a gentler starting point rather than a powerhouse option. One person felt it slightly drying, though most report good hydration without stickiness.
Synthesized from 11 expert reviews · most recent take September 2026

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Yay
"I went in with my Anua azelaic acid 10 drops as part of my skin prep. This is pretty much what I've been using to prep my skin recently, it's been my basically go-to daytime skin care."
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"I went in with my Anua azelaic acid 10 drops as part of my skin prep. This is pretty much what I've been using to prep my skin recently, it's been my basically go-to daytime skin care."
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"My skin prep hasn't changed. I'm using Anua azelaic acid 10 drops and then the inisfree camide milky toner."
~Nay
"I won't be using the Anua azelaic acid serum and I won't be shopping with Anua at all, because I think there are deeper issues with the brand rather than just this azelaic acid serum. They used a salt form of azelaic acid at a much higher pH than traditional azelaic acid, and they hid that reformulation until a cosmetic formulator called them out on it, which tells me they didn't actually believe it was a superior product. I don't think it's completely worthless, I think it will still deliver some results, especially when it comes to brightening the skin, but I think those results are limited compared to traditional forms of azelaic acid that have decades of studies behind them for hyperpigmentation, dark spots, melasma, redness, and acne scarring. It comes down to trust for me, and Anua have blown it by not being transparent about their formula, so I don't have faith in them to deliver quality and I personally won't be buying from them."
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"I think a lot of it is probably not going to get to where it needs to be in order to deliver benefit. [...] Formulation is really, really important in order to get the dose that it's said in terms of that concentration. I don't think you're going to get that from this one. Is it a nice serum? Absolutely. Will it calm, soothe, and hydrate? Completely. But I think it's probably more like a 5% actual azelaic acid when it gets onto the skin in terms of the results you're going to get. [...] It's a nice beginner strength. [...] If you're new to azelaic acid, [...] you will love it. If you're an established azelaic acid user like I am, I think this is going to be a step down from other 10% azelaic acids on the market. [...] It's lightweight, but I don't think it's ever going to be one of my favorite azelaic acid treatments."
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"Anua's azelaic acid 10% went through a reformulation about six months ago that they never advertised or announced. They changed the azelaic acid from its pure form to an azelaic acid salt, which still delivers some calming and soothing benefit but has very little impact on fading hyperpigmentation and evening out skin tone, the main reason most people reach for an azelaic acid serum. The salt form has no data behind it and there are real question marks over whether it will ever perform the way the original form of acid did, making it far less bioavailable and less effective than the original formulation, even though it's still technically 10% azelaic acid. Anua should have done better here. If they wanted to make the switch they should have advertised it, or honestly just left the product alone. It's a firm pass."
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"I won't be using the Anua azelaic acid serum and I won't be shopping with Anua at all, because I think there are deeper issues with the brand rather than just this azelaic acid serum. They used a salt form of azelaic acid at a much higher pH than traditional azelaic acid, and they hid that reformulation until a cosmetic formulator called them out on it, which tells me they didn't actually believe it was a superior product. I don't think it's completely worthless, I think it will still deliver some results, especially when it comes to brightening the skin, but I think those results are limited compared to traditional forms of azelaic acid that have decades of studies behind them for hyperpigmentation, dark spots, melasma, redness, and acne scarring. It comes down to trust for me, and Anua have blown it by not being transparent about their formula, so I don't have faith in them to deliver quality and I personally won't be buying from them."
~Nay
"Azelaic acid has traditionally been a difficult ingredient for me, and potentially the reason this didn't work out for me at all could be the propylene glycol they use to make the formula so watery, though it also could be something else. Even though I don't feel the Anua is for me, it seems like something wonky might be going on with this particular product."
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"This is the serum I was talking about when I said I was quitting azelaic acid. I put kind of a lot of it on one night, went to bed, and the next morning I woke up with one of the worst reactions I've ever had. That said, I don't think Anua is lying about this being a 10% azelaic acid, I truly do think it's a 10% azelaic acid in a new format, it was just anecdotally too much for my skin."
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"Azelaic acid has traditionally been a difficult ingredient for me, and potentially the reason this didn't work out for me at all could be the propylene glycol they use to make the formula so watery, though it also could be something else. Even though I don't feel the Anua is for me, it seems like something wonky might be going on with this particular product."
~Yay
"Anua's Azelaic Acid serum is a super viral product I've been using for a long time and love. It has the maximum 10% azelaic acid [...] you can get over the counter, which is great if you have sensitive, redness prone skin, even acne or post acne dark marks, it brightens the skin, can improve acne, and cuts down redness while staying gentle. [...] It also has niacinamide, panthenol and ceramides in it, an overall multitasking, really gentle, great formulation. It's right around $15 for Prime Day."
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"[Azelaic] acid is extensively researched and has been shown to help treat conditions like acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation, all with very little risk of irritation. This serum from Anua is a great example of a well-formulated option. This is the one that I have used to help improve the redness of my rosacea prone skin. This has the highest percentage of [azelaic] acid that you can get over the counter."
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"Anua's Azelaic Acid serum is a super viral product I've been using for a long time and love. It has the maximum 10% azelaic acid [...] you can get over the counter, which is great if you have sensitive, redness prone skin, even acne or post acne dark marks, it brightens the skin, can improve acne, and cuts down redness while staying gentle. [...] It also has niacinamide, panthenol and ceramides in it, an overall multitasking, really gentle, great formulation. It's right around $15 for Prime Day."
~Yay
"The Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Redness Soothing Serum also has licorice root, green tea, and beta glucan. It's super watery, so you're probably going to be easy to fit into any routine without having to change anything else around, which is nice. These are mostly nice because they're fragrance-free and I've tolerated them all well."
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"The Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Redness Soothing Serum also has licorice root, green tea, and beta glucan. It's super watery, so you're probably going to be easy to fit into any routine without having to change anything else around, which is nice. These are mostly nice because they're fragrance-free and I've tolerated them all well."
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"There's nothing wrong with it, but it's a little bit on the almost drying side. I'm not exactly sure why, but when I use this in my routine, it ends up making my skin feel just a little bit dry. That being said, it's got such a light texture it can easily fit into most people's routines. So that's a nice thing, but maybe it's just not necessarily geared towards drier skin types, but I think it would work better for oilier or acne prone skin types. It's affordable and it hits all my main points, but I just don't love it the same way I review other azelaic acid products."
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"This serum, it's really nice from Anua. [...] So, okay, 22 bucks. It's a little more than most K beauty. Like, typically I would expect this product from K beauty to be like 11 or 12 bucks. Not that much."
~Yay
"The azelaic acid here, what that 10% is really doing is it's not really helping with hyperpigmentation but really helping to calm and soothe that skin. And this is really hydrating too, hyaluronic acid as well as this gentle calming complex that really contains a blend of antioxidants that just kind of reduces redness and inflammation at the same time. Even though this is more for those with redness, I actually think this is a great option if you have oily skin but maybe your barrier is temporarily compromised or you have that combination of oily and sensitive skin."
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"The azelaic acid here, what that 10% is really doing is it's not really helping with hyperpigmentation but really helping to calm and soothe that skin. And this is really hydrating too, hyaluronic acid as well as this gentle calming complex that really contains a blend of antioxidants that just kind of reduces redness and inflammation at the same time. Even though this is more for those with redness, I actually think this is a great option if you have oily skin but maybe your barrier is temporarily compromised or you have that combination of oily and sensitive skin."
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"This is a lightweight serum that contains 10% azelaic acid and hyaluronic acid to soothe and hydrate while reducing redness. It's really nice because it is lightweight. It's not sticky or tacky but also provides long-lasting hydration at the same time. Really ideal for those that are sensitive, maybe dehydrated and acne prone. It contains 10% azelaic acid to mostly calm redness. I don't feel like 10% azelaic acid is very effective for acne, may offer a little bit of it. [...] But 10% I do find it to be more helpful at calming and soothing the skin. And it also contains hyaluronic acid along with a gentle calming complex that contains blue tansy oil and ubiquinone that are basically antioxidants that help to calm and soothe the skin."
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"I love the fact that it provides hydration without feeling sticky, and it's suitable for sensitive and acne prone skin. It's got that 10% azelaic acid that is really best at calming irritation, reducing redness, along with hydrating ingredients. And then this gentle calming complex that includes flavonoids and antioxidants that really helps to further reduce and calm your irritation. So it's a great product to use alone, or if you are more sensitive and acne prone wanting something in addition to maybe combat some of the irritation from your acne treatment, this will be a lovely product to incorporate."
~Nay
"This new red serum has similar ingredients and comes in the same container as the older peach one, but the price has gone up. It has a similar texture, a bit sticky when applied, so I don't recommend it in summer, or if you have oily skin you won't like it, I'd only use it in the evening. It has a peach scent and a high percentage of niacinamide, but there's nothing particular about it besides the scent, so I'd pass on this one."
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"Anua came out with a new red serum that sold out even in Olive Young Korea so I bought it. They call it a serum but it's actually a gel cream, which is usually meant for oily or combination skin. When I put it on my skin it was very sticky, and even though I didn't use much, I felt like my pillow would get messed up, like the yellow dust we get in Korea would stick to my face if I went outside with it on, it felt stuffy. If you have oily or combination skin you'll hate it. For dry, mature skin in a humid summer it was okay, but I don't think I'm going to reach for this anymore, I'd rather just use another serum."
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"This new red serum has similar ingredients and comes in the same container as the older peach one, but the price has gone up. It has a similar texture, a bit sticky when applied, so I don't recommend it in summer, or if you have oily skin you won't like it, I'd only use it in the evening. It has a peach scent and a high percentage of niacinamide, but there's nothing particular about it besides the scent, so I'd pass on this one."
~Yay
"One of my favorite products here is the one from Anua, which is fully solubilized. Now, where this product falls short is that it does have propylene glycol, which in dermatology sometimes we avoid it because it can be an allergen for some of our patients, but this does feel incredible on the skin. It feels so good on the skin and it can't possibly be the same suspension as the ordinary one."
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"What I like about it is most azelaic acid serums are quite gritty and this one is not gritty, which is really nice. So it's a really nice 10% azelaic acid. Azelaic acid I like for multiple reasons. One, it's pregnancy safe and very few products are pregnancy safe in general. [...] The second thing is that it is [...] great for acne prone skin but it's also great for post-inflammatory dark marks. So that's another incredible thing about it. [...] Now the interesting thing about this is it does have a little bit of a higher pH, meaning it's about six. The pH of this product, and since azelaic acid is an organic acid, it means that [...] its hydrogen ions have already been given up at this point, [...] and so therefore [...] there's a question on whether or not you're going to get the full benefit of azelaic acid. Generally the pH is preferred to be around a five, five and a half, and this one is around six."
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"It's a solid product. It's 10% azelaic acid, very well solubilized. My only complaint with this one is it does have propylene glycol in it. They use propylene glycol to solubilize this ingredient because azelaic acid is a very gritty crystal. [...] The ordinary used to have a really gritty azelaic acid product and that's because the product is hard to solubilize, and so Anua used propylene glycol to really solubilize the crystals. But it can be an allergen in some people. The issue is it's very difficult to solubilize it otherwise. I [...] really like the one from Anua."
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"When it comes to azelaic acid, which is very difficult to solubilize in formula, this feels like a straight hydrating serum. It has zero grittiness to it. It blends in so nicely. I was quite frankly shocked at how well, how nice this product was. For an azelaic acid, it's incredible. The only thing I don't like is it's a little bit sticky, tacky. It doesn't have the body that I liked out of the glycerin from the other one. But it's very subtle. I think it's actually aesthetically very good. I did already apply it to this hand and it dried. So the tackiness completely goes away over time. So that was my only knock on this one."
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"I have a favorite product from Anua, which is their 10% azelaic acid serum. I've gone through about five bottles. I feel fatigued talking about it because I love it so much."
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"I really like the Anua azelaic acid. It's super nice texture, super lightweight, formulated at a slightly higher pH, but it's a really nice formula. I like it probably the most compared to the other azelaic acids on the market, which are grittier or more of a lotion base. Texturally it's a huge win and it has grown on me over time."
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"There's been a lot of debate online about whether the azelaic acid in Anua is even real, whether it's a scam that doesn't work because it's in a higher pH salt form. But when I look at the actual pharmaceutical literature, a higher pH solubilized version of azelaic acid actually shows better penetration, absorption, and flux into the skin, so it's more effective, not less. Once it hits your skin, which sits around a pH of five, it keeps shifting back and forth between its charged and uncharged forms, so it still works even at Anua's higher pH. It's also a really watery, aesthetically pleasing formula, probably the most visually pleasing version of azelaic acid on the market. So this isn't a scam, and honestly you might prefer Anua for the better texture."
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"One of my favorite products here is the one from Anua, which is fully solubilized. Now, where this product falls short is that it does have propylene glycol, which in dermatology sometimes we avoid it because it can be an allergen for some of our patients, but this does feel incredible on the skin. It feels so good on the skin and it can't possibly be the same suspension as the ordinary one."
~Yay
"There was some controversy around the Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Serum based on a TikTok video from a chemist pointing out a recent formulation change that affected the pH and the free acid value. I don't necessarily agree that this makes the product ineffective, because azelaic acid works primarily at the surface of the skin, so a pH change doesn't mean it stops working. I've widely promoted that serum across all my social media platforms for a while now. I've used multiple bottles of it, including some I recently got, and I didn't notice any difference personally. I think it's still just as good, I've always found it to be very effective, and I continue to recommend it."
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"The Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum is one I actually have been using for a while, and I recently brought it back into my AM routine, and I'm about 2/3 of the way finished with a bottle of it. Azelaic acid is great for calming down redness and irritation. It's helpful for people who have acne-prone skin, rosacea, and also for hyperpigmentation. It really hits a lot of concerns, and it's generally well tolerated. This is a cosmetic formulation, so it's not the same as a prescription azelaic acid medication. So [...] we can say things like it will help improve the appearance of and support the [...] needs of people with those issues, but it is an ingredient that is generally well tolerated as well."
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"The lightweight texture is great if you're someone who's acne prone and very oily or you just have very oily skin in general and you're dealing with maybe some stubborn redness. It absorbs quickly but layers underneath the skin care basics like sunscreen and moisturizer just fine. It's hydrating but not the least bit drying. One of the reasons for this is it has three forms of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid helps to improve water content in the skin which ultimately can be a game changer for many of these skin issues. The outermost layers of your skin, your skin barrier, they need water in order to function optimally. When the water content in the skin drops, that's when you get a buildup of dry, rough skin texture, and you're more inclined to form blackheads and whiteheads. This serum helps to calm active breakouts and improve the appearance of post acne redness. It's suitable for sensitive, acne prone, and oily skin. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. If you've been avoiding azelaic acid because you tried a product and you just didn't care for how it felt, maybe it was gritty or pasty, try this one out. It's a really really nice option."
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"I put on the Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum this morning. It's one I just happen to like a lot. It dries down really quickly, which works well in my routine."
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"This is the one that I've been recommending a lot. [...] It's a liquid. [...] I really like because it's very hydrating and sometimes azelaic acid can kind of itch in a lot of cosmetic products that I've tried and I don't get that with this one. Plus, it's pretty affordable, too."
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"This is one from Anua that I commonly recommend. It has azelaic acid, of course, 10% along with hyaluronic acid, so very moisturizing. I've used this one and finished one up in the past. It's nice because, at least for me personally, sometimes azelaic acid kind of feels a little itchy, and I've not gotten that with this product. It's a liquid, and therefore it's easy to apply and then apply other things on over without it feeling too heavy. So it's a great option for people who have more reactive, redness prone skin."
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"Some of my favorites include, well, the aelic acid serum, which I've talked about."
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"I finished a bottle of the Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum. This is a first step product after cleansing. It is thin, it is lightweight, it is hydrating, things will penetrate across this just fine. You don't have to worry about it limiting penetration of like a topical retinoid that you put on over it, which is something I really like about this because azelaic acid has so many benefits for the skin. It wears a lot of hats. You might want to pair it with your topical retinoid. It can be used alongside any ingredient. So having a lightweight fluid serum where you can put it on and then put things on over it and not worry about the formula of the azelaic acid limiting penetration is nice. This also has niacinamide in it which is going to work alongside the azelaic acid to not only address redness but also to address skin texture through improvement of the moisture barrier. And it's also helpful for dark spots as well. Azelaic acid versus niacinamide, they tackle dark spots in different ways. So having them together, complimenting each other, is a very logical approach. While this is not a heavy cream, it does have hyaluronic acid. So it's nice and hydrating. I really like it."
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"Another excellent option is azelaic acid. Especially for people who are acne prone, struggle with rosacea, or hyperpigmentation. Azelaic acid has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and it gently exfoliates the surface of the skin. A product I frequently recommend is the Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum. This is a lightweight liquid that can be layered morning and night underneath richer creams such as your sunscreen in the day and a moisturizing night cream. The cosmetic strength azelaic acid [...] that you can buy without a prescription from brands like Anua [...] can offer benefits for improving skin tone, skin texture, overall skin clarity. If prescription strength azelaic acid is not available to you, I do think that the cosmetic strengths can still offer some benefits."
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"My go-to recommendation is actually the Anua Azelaic Acid 10% serum. I really like it because it's very lightweight. It's a fluid formula, so it layers underneath sunscreen and moisturizer just fine. It also has hyaluronic acid to help improve moisture content in the skin, which also is very beneficial for helping with better skin cell turnover, reducing rough skin texture, and reducing pore clogging, aka blackhead and whitehead formation. The reason I like this one in particular is the lightweight fluid formula layers underneath sunscreen and moisturizer really well. It's not gritty or chalky like some azelaic acid products can be."
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"This one is particularly good for those of you with acne prone skin because it's got 10% azelaic acid. Azelaic acid is actually a medication that could be prescribed, it's not an over-the-counter medication but it's one that can be prescribed for acne and can be quite effective. Also can be effective for rosacea and for hyperpigmentation. You can buy skincare, aka cosmetics, that have lower percentages of azelaic acid that may be helpful for reducing inflammation in the skin. In addition to that, this also has hyaluronic acid which is helpful for improving water content in the skin, ultimately that's going to aid in better barrier function, a really important part of acne management. And this also has niacinamide, that B vitamin that's soothing, anti-inflammatory, helps calm down redness and helps with the dark marks."
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"Azelaic acid is a treatment for melasma and it's a treatment for rosacea. It's generally a well tolerated ingredient. It also can be helpful for perioral dermatitis. So Anua, this is their Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron, and this is fantastic as far as an azelaic acid option. Years ago, azelaic acid in the US market was not something you commonly encountered unless you were getting stuff prescribed to you. Now we have a lot of great options. This is fantastic. The thing about azelaic acid is it's primarily used twice a day and technically can even be used three times a day. So it's nice to have it in a lightweight fluid formula that you can easily put on and layer things on over without this peeling issue. That is fantastic. It's very hydrating too, which I want to point out. The thing about hydrating your skin and improving water content can benefit those of you who have blackheads, whiteheads, aka comedones, because what's happening is that you're getting epidermal maturation issues. Those cells aren't quite maturing within the pore at a reasonable rate. They're getting stuck together into that little plug."
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"There was some controversy around the Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Serum based on a TikTok video from a chemist pointing out a recent formulation change that affected the pH and the free acid value. I don't necessarily agree that this makes the product ineffective, because azelaic acid works primarily at the surface of the skin, so a pH change doesn't mean it stops working. I've widely promoted that serum across all my social media platforms for a while now. I've used multiple bottles of it, including some I recently got, and I didn't notice any difference personally. I think it's still just as good, I've always found it to be very effective, and I continue to recommend it."
~Yay
"I'm currently using the Anua azelaic acid 10%. It's one of the most elegant formulations for that super sensitive redness prone skin. It targets acne, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and overall skin tone while also being really well tolerated. It's a super lightweight serum, less silicone heavy-ish than The Ordinary serum. [...] It layers easily under other skin care. The key ingredient is the 10% azelaic acid."
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"I'm currently using the Anua azelaic acid 10%. It's one of the most elegant formulations for that super sensitive redness prone skin. It targets acne, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and overall skin tone while also being really well tolerated. It's a super lightweight serum, less silicone heavy-ish than The Ordinary serum. [...] It layers easily under other skin care. The key ingredient is the 10% azelaic acid."
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"It contains 10% azelaic acid along with multiple forms of hyaluronic acid for hydration and panthenol and ceramides to support the skin barrier. The texture is lightweight, watery, which is different from many azelaic acid products that can feel heavy, sometimes chalky. It's suitable for acne prone and sensitive skin. This is the exact type of formula I recommend when someone wants acne control without compromising their skin barrier."
~Yay
"Honestly using the anua azelaic acid gave me some great results while I was traveling"
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"Honestly using the anua azelaic acid gave me some great results while I was traveling"
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"And that is the azelaic acid by Anua. Their 10% azelaic acid has hyaluronic acid and Cica. Cica meaning Centella Asiatica which is itself a skin calming ingredient."
Translated from the guru's original language.

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Azelaic acid

Azelaic acid has clinical evidence for both acne and rosacea, and it is one of the gentler options for calming redness while also working on marks left behind.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum?

A lightweight serum containing 10% azelaic acid and hyaluronic acid designed to calm redness, soothe irritation, and support clearer skin for sensitive and acne-prone complexions.

Is Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum worth it?

The gurus are split. 8 of the 11 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 3 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 65%.

What is Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum's Guru Score?

Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum holds a Guru Score of 65%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 11 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum best for?

Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum is generally suited to sensitive skin and acne-prone skin.

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