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The Ordinary

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 2% + Niacinamide 2% Solution.

About this product

A lightweight serum combining 2% azelaic acid and 2% niacinamide designed to fade post-acne marks, hyperpigmentation, and calm irritated skin.

More from The Ordinary 89 products · Guru Score 84% →

Guru Score

84%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What the gurus are saying

Fading post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation is where this serum excels, with reviewers consistently recommending it for those lingering red and dark spots from past breakouts. The niacinamide (specifically N-acetyl glucosamine) fades the post-acne marks while the azelaic acid keeps skin hydrated and calm throughout. Expect patience, as results take weeks of consistent use, but at roughly $8, it's well worth adding to your routine.
Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take January 2025

What they liked

  • Calms and soothes inflamed skin
  • Fades hyperpigmentation and post-acne dark spots
  • Affordable and accessible

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    Type

    SerumsLiquid

    Where to buy

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    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
    "What makes this one kind of unique aside from the price is the fact that it also has snail mucin in here. It also has centella asiatica in here, so it has some other nice calming ingredients aside from the azelaic acid, but I think the fact that they have snail mucin in here is what really makes me love it. It's got kind of that goopy texture to it that snail mucin has. It has bergamot extract in here, so I want to mention that if you're super sensitive to bergamot, keep that in mind."
    ✓Yay
    "This is one of their newest launches this year and this is actually really lovely, one of a kind. I haven't found anything like this. This was actually designed for those that have post acne marks, so you know when we have a blemish and it's healed we're usually left with that pinky red dark area. Sometimes it can take several weeks or months for that area to fade. This product will help to speed things up a little bit and help to give your skin more of that brighter even skin tone in time."
    ✓Yay
    "Let me tell you, these zits that I had, these would have broken out so much more and scarred so much more if I wasn't using this. It's almost like a preventative step. We all break out, we all have reasons, sometimes it's time of the month, sometimes it's as a result of some more sun exposure, in my case it's acne-based. We all will experience hyperpigmentation, and I would recommend including this as like a defense mechanism to prevent it and minimize its overall appearance. Definitely works."
    Sponsored
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    "It'll calm and soothe like no other and honestly I think it makes as big a difference to anti-aging as your high potency actives such as your retinoids. [...] It's been a game changer in my routine and I cannot sing its praises enough. Such a great new launch from the Ordinary. I'm quite lavish with it, I use a lot, but I think for that price point I don't mind that. [...] My skin drinks it up, feels so so so good."
    TOP 5 SKINCARE SERUMS 2023 - My Anti-Aging Favourites
    "It's of course being The Ordinary, super affordable and drugstore, and I genuinely came in with this as a total skeptic and I've been completely won over. This is amazing and I think I'm on bottle like six or seven now. My skin drinks it up and loves it. [...] This definitely for me was a product that I had low expectations for but exceeded every single one of them."
    ADVANCED ANTI AGING ROUTINE 2025 - Growth Factors, VT Reedle Shot & Vitamin C
    "Let me tell you, these zits that I had, these would have broken out so much more and scarred so much more if I wasn't using this. It's almost like a preventative step. We all break out, we all have reasons, sometimes it's time of the month, sometimes it's as a result of some more sun exposure, in my case it's acne-based. We all will experience hyperpigmentation, and I would recommend including this as like a defense mechanism to prevent it and minimize its overall appearance. Definitely works."
    SKINCARE GRAVEYARD - Skincare I No Longer Use (And Why)
    "If I have a zit emerging, I'll pop this on and overnight, by the time the morning comes around, it's half the size it was before you applied it. This is game changing. It won't disappear it like that overnight, but it'll half the overall size of it, which means it's going to be easier to cover and disguise. If you don't have breakouts, use this all over the face. It's just a nice calming and soothing hydrating serum. It's universal, it's affordable, and I think it's a step up from the inky list."

    Frequently asked.

    What is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 2% + Niacinamide 2% Solution?

    A lightweight serum combining 2% azelaic acid and 2% niacinamide designed to fade post-acne marks, hyperpigmentation, and calm irritated skin.

    Is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 2% + Niacinamide 2% Solution worth it?

    Yes. All 3 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 84%.

    What is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 2% + Niacinamide 2% Solution's Guru Score?

    The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 2% + Niacinamide 2% Solution holds a Guru Score of 84%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 2% + Niacinamide 2% Solution best for?

    The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 2% + Niacinamide 2% Solution is generally suited to sensitive skin and acne-prone skin.

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