The Ordinary
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
The Ordinary
the-ordinary-azelaic-acid-suspension-10
Serum
10085014929701
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Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Suspension with 10% Azelaic Acid
FEATURES
Brightens skin tone, improves evenness of skin texture, reduces blemishes, effective antioxidant, lightweight cream-gel system
BEST FOR
sensitive
CHECKS
Alcohol, Oil, Nuts, Gluten
Who Is It For?
All Genders No Specific Age Range MentionedWhat Does It Help With?
Anti-blemish Congestion Acne-prone Rosacea-prone HyperpigmentationBudget
Affordable (under $30)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What The Ordinary Says
Product Description:
Multifunctional brightening formula. Found in grains, Azelaic Acid is produced naturally by yeast that lives on normal skin. It brightens the skin tone while visibly improving the evenness of skin texture and reducing the look of blemishes. It is a multi-functional support ingredient for all skin types and also acts as an effective antioxidant. This formula offers a very high 10% concentration of high-purity Azelaic Acid in a lightweight cream-gel system.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Aqua-(Water),Isodecyl-Neopentanoate,Dimethicone,Azelaic-Acid,Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl-Ppg-20-Crosspolymer,Dimethyl-Isosorbide,Hydroxyethyl-Acrylate/Sodium-Acryloyldimethyl-Taurate-Copolymer,Polysilicone-11,Isohexadecane,Tocopherol,Trisodium-Ethylenediamine-Disuccinate,Isoceteth-20,Polysorbate-60,Triethanolamine,Ethoxydiglycol,Phenoxyethanol,Chlorphenesin
Key Ingredients
Azelaic Acid
Ingredients Details
Chlorphenesin
Common Name(s): 3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-1,2-propanediol,globacid
CAS Number: 104-29-0
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides gram-negative focused preservation complementary to phenoxyethanol for comprehensive spectrum coverage.
Why It's Used: Phenoxyethanol complement โ chlorphenesin's gram-negative and antifungal coverage complements phenoxyethanol's gram-positive activity for full-spectrum preservation at lower individual concentrations.
How It Works: 4-chlorophenol ether glycol disrupts bacterial and fungal membranes. strong gram-negative activity (pseudomonas, e. coli). good candida antifungal activity. used with phenoxyethanol for synergistic broad-spectrum coverage. ph stable 3-9.
Typically Found In: Comprehensive preservation systems,baby products (low concentration)
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ glycerol ether preservative
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ0.3%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Eu max 0.3% cosmetics. good safety profile. synergistic combination with phenoxyethanol (0.3% pe + 0.1% chlorphenesin often equivalent to 1% pe alone).
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Chlorphenesin + phenoxyethanol synergy operates through a classic spectrum-filling combination: phenoxyethanol provides strong gram-positive antimicrobial activity while chlorphenesin provides gram-negative and antifungal coverage. the combination's minimum inhibitory concentration sum is subadditive (provides equivalent preservation at combined concentrations below what either alone would require) โ textbook pharmacological synergy enabling lower total preservative load.
Last Verified: Cosing database,eu preservative annex v,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Dimethicone
Common Name(s): Pdms,polydimethylsiloxane,silicone fluid
CAS Number: 9006-65-9
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides silicone-characteristic silky feel and skin protection with adjustable viscosity.
Why It's Used: The benchmark cosmetic silicone โ sets the gold standard for silky application feel, spreadability, and skin protection in virtually all skin care categories.
How It Works: Polydimethylsiloxane chain flexibility provides extremely low surface tension and high spreadability. inert si-o backbone provides chemical stability and excellent skin tolerance. occlusive film formation reduces tewl. higher viscosity grades provide more intense conditioning.
Typically Found In: Moisturizers,foundations,primers,sunscreens โ nearly universal
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ polydimethylsiloxane
Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ30%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 โ low; formulation-dependent
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Dimethicone's exceptional silky feel arises from its very low intermolecular attractive forces (weak van der waals forces due to non-polar methyl groups) that allow silicone chains to slide freely over skin. the coefficient of kinetic friction for pdms against skin (~0.04) is among the lowest of any cosmetic material โ explaining why even small amounts transform product feel.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Ethoxydiglycol
Common Name(s): Ethoxydiglycol,glycol co-solvent,humectant formulation aid
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides co-solvent and penetration enhancer in cosmetic formulations, improving active ingredient dissolution and product texture while delivering mild skin conditioning.
Why It's Used: Glycol solvents are essential for dissolving actives with limited water or oil solubility โ the intermediate polarity of glycol ethers provides access to the wider solubility parameter space between pure water and oil phases.
How It Works: Hydroxyl and ether groups provide h-bonding for water miscibility; the organic chain provides compatibility with lipophilic actives. medium-chain glycols (c3โc6) provide the optimal balance of water compatibility, lipophilic active dissolution, and skin-compatible humectancy.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations,co-solvent systems
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ30%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Glycol ether co-solvents enhance sc penetration of co-applied actives by increasing their thermodynamic activity in the sc lipid phase โ high thermodynamic activity (near saturation) drives diffusion by concentration gradient even when absolute concentration is low.
Last Verified: Cosing database,ethoxydiglycol glycol solvent review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Isoceteth-20
Common Name(s): Isoceteth-20,cosmetic active,functional ingredient
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.
Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.
How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class โ physicochemical or biological interaction with skin proteins, lipids, or receptors as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Isoceteth-20 has an established safety and efficacy profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.
Last Verified: Cosing database,isoceteth-20 technical literature
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12