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The Inkey List

Azelaic Acid Serum.

The Inkey List Azelaic Acid Serum
Serums

About this product

A 15% azelaic acid serum designed to address hyperpigmentation, redness, and acne-prone skin with a lightweight lotion texture.

Best for

Sensitive skinAcne-prone skin
Serums

The Guru Index verdict

79%

Approved

Approved · 79%
4Reviewers
3Approved
1Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus consistently praise this serum for its high azelaic acid concentration, smooth texture, and affordable price. The standout quality is its formulation: unlike many grainy azelaic acid products, this applies cleanly and blends easily, making it suitable for layering with other actives. Reviewers report visible reduction in redness, hyperpigmentation, and breakouts with consistent use. Minor note: it contains gardenia flora extract so is unscented rather than fragrance-free, though most users don't detect scent. No significant criticisms emerged.
Synthesized from 4 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Azelaic acidFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water/​Eau), Azelaic Acid, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/​Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Glycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polylysine

Every take, in full

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 Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"I recommend the Azelaic Acid Serum from The Inkey List all the time. This contains that 15% azelaic acid. It's one of my absolute favorites. But it also contains carnosine again in the required strength to deliver the results. So if you're already using the Azelaic Acid Serum, you can stop right now. You've got your carnosine fix in your skincare routine, you don't need to add anything else."
Top Pick: azelaic acid serum
All 3 takes from Mad About Skin
BREAKTHROUGH ANTI AGING DISCOVERY - New Ingredient 3x More Collagen
"I recommend the Azelaic Acid Serum from The Inkey List all the time. This contains that 15% azelaic acid. It's one of my absolute favorites. But it also contains carnosine again in the required strength to deliver the results. So if you're already using the Azelaic Acid Serum, you can stop right now. You've got your carnosine fix in your skincare routine, you don't need to add anything else."
Ultimate ANTI AGING SERUMS 2025 - Firmer Skin / Fewer Wrinkles FAST
"The Inkey List Azelaic Acid Serum is the very best of the best. It has an affordable price point and perfect strength of azelaic acid, and honestly, the nicest, smoothest formula you will ever try. Sometimes azelaic acids can be a little bit grainy and quite hard to formulate with, so they can come across a bit sandy on application. This is the smoothest azelaic acid you will ever try and it is a game changer. It fades hyperpigmentation, makes other actives apply so much easier, and it helps minimize acne-causing bacteria. This one is worthy of a place in your skincare routine."
Ultimate ANTI AGING SERUMS 2025 - Firmer Skin / Fewer Wrinkles FAST
"The Inkey List Azelaic Acid Serum is one of the best. Affordable price point, perfect strength of azelaic acid, and honestly, the nicest, smoothest formula you will ever try. Sometimes azelaic acids can be a little bit grainy and quite hard to formulate with, so they can come across a bit sandy on application, which we don't want. This is the smoothest azelaic acid you will ever try and trust me it is a game changer. I love it and this is the one having tried just about everyone on the market that I think I settle on most frequently when it comes to my own skincare routine. It fades my hyperpigmentation, makes my other actives apply so much easier, and it helps minimize any acne-causing bacteria."
~Mixed
"For example, Nutrium has come out, The Ordinary, The Inkey List have come out with azelaic acid serums, and I've talked about Ca de Ja, that's a K Beauty brand with azelaic acid up to 10%, 15% and up. I prescribe in clinic, but 10% the max you find over the counter. You can layer that with retinol, yes you can. You can apply say a serum or an emulsion of azelaic acid first and then your retinol over it. That's totally fine. If you do have sensitive skin, be very careful with that because the more actives you put on your skin, you can get an irritant contact dermatitis."
Approved
"This product is great for sensitive eczema and rosacea prone skin. It does contain a small amount of gardenia flora extract, so technically while this product is unscented it's not technically fragrance free, but you don't notice any scent and most people don't have an issue with the gardenia flora. This one's got 15% azelaic acid."
All 2 takes from No BS Beauty
The Best Redness Reducing Skincare Products- Serums & Treaments for Facial Redness & Rosacea
"This product is great for sensitive eczema and rosacea prone skin. It does contain a small amount of gardenia flora extract, so technically while this product is unscented it's not technically fragrance free, but you don't notice any scent and most people don't have an issue with the gardenia flora. This one's got 15% azelaic acid."
The Best Azelaic Acid Skincare Serums & Treatments & Why You Should Try Azelaic Acid!
"This one I love it's also got oatmeal in here and ceramides. It's fragrance free, it's got a wonderful lotion texture. This stuff is really wonderful and it's currently one of my absolute favorites."
Approved
"The Inkey List has an azelaic acid serum. I like a lot of different types of azelaic acids and you can find a lot of options over the counter. The one from The Inkey List is a serum, whereas The Ordinary's is a cream base. Since being consistent with azelaic acid, I have seen the biggest difference with my skin. I am somebody that has a little bit of redness to my skin naturally, and azelaic acid has really reduced a lot of that rosiness that I was experiencing on my cheeks and my chin. I am also breakout prone, and azelaic acid has really decreased my breakouts. This ingredient is going to really help soften those dark spots, it's going to give you that brighter complexion in time, and hopefully this will improve your redness as well."
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