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Cos De BAHA Azelaic Acid 10% Serum for acne-prone skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers high suitability for your combination, acne-prone skin as azelaic acid and niacinamide effectively regulate sebum and reduce inflammation, targeting your acne and blemishes.
  • Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and panthenol provide soothing hydration, complementing the primary actives and enhancing overall skin comfort.
  • The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring beneficial soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
  • Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviews

It is highly effective for acne-prone and sensitive skin, though some users note a tacky finish and occasional crystallization.

Highlights

  • Reduces redness Mostly Mentioned
    • “redness vanished in weeks”
    • “soothes inflamed skin”
    • “best for facial erythema”
  • Affordable price Often Mentioned
    • “unbeatable value”
    • “cheap but effective”
    • “lasts a long time”
    • “budget-friendly skincare”
  • Fades scars Often Mentioned
    • “lightened dark spots”
    • “helped with PIE/PIH”
    • “acne marks fading faster”
    • “brightened overall complexion”
  • Gentle/non-irritating Often Mentioned
    • “no stinging or burning”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “didn't damage barrier”
    • “gentler than prescription”
  • Sticky/tacky finish Often Mentioned
    • “feels sticky after applying”
    • “takes time to dry”
    • “slightly tacky texture”
    • “leaves a film”
  • Controls acne Sometimes Noted
    • “keeps pimples at bay”
    • “reduced cystic acne”
    • “cleared up blackheads”
    • “skin has been pimple-free”
  • Crystallization/grittiness Sometimes Noted
    • “white powder residue”
    • “grainy texture on skin”
    • “crystallized around the rim”
    • “feels sandy sometimes”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts”
    • “caused small whiteheads”
    • “bad reaction/purging”
    • “clogged my pores”
  • Drying/tightness Rarely Noted
    • “dried out my skin”
    • “need heavy moisturizer after”
    • “felt tight upon drying”
    • “caused some peeling”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, skinsort.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, yesstyle.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Cos De BAHA Azelaic Acid 10% Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit because azelaic acid and niacinamide regulate oil and reduce inflammation to help clear acne and blemishes, while soothing ingredients like aloe and panthenol keep the skin comfortable. It has an excellent safety profile with no harsh components, making it very well suited for acne-prone skin.

Pharmaceutics, 2021Dermatology and Therapy, 2024

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Azelaic acid and niacinamide make this serum a great fit for acne-prone skin because they help regulate oil and reduce inflammation. Aloe vera and panthenol further support this by providing soothing hydration that keeps skin comfortable.

Pharmaceutics, 2021Dermatology and Therapy, 2024

What does Azelaic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Azelaic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by fighting bacteria and calming redness, while also fading dark spots left behind by breakouts. It targets multiple causes of acne at once to keep your skin smooth and even-toned.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2023

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.

Biomedicines, 2025Drug Delivery, 2017

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine as a treatment step after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening helps keep things simple and avoids any extra safety worries around sun exposure, while azelaic acid and niacinamide work overnight to help regulate oil and calm redness.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with retinol, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or use the retinol at night and this serum in the morning to keep your skin calm. Combining potent actives carefully helps prevent irritation while still targeting breakouts and blemishes.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

How often should I use this serum?

Use this serum in the evening once a week to start, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Azelaic acid helps calm acne and blemishes while soothing ingredients keep your skin comfortable.

Pharmaceutics, 2021Dermatology and Therapy, 2024

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

Cos De BAHA Azelaic Acid 10% Serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as it uses azelaic acid and niacinamide to regulate oil and calm inflammation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, though a sticky finish is common.

Pharmaceutics, 2021Dermatology and Therapy, 2024

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Azelaic acid nanocrystal hydrogel 10% achieved a higher success rate and greater lesion reduction than azelaic acid cream 20% in patients with mild to moderate facial acne.

    Pharmaceutics, 2021
  • Application of 15% azelaic acid gel significantly reduced post-inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation, decreased hemoglobin and melanin content, improved quality of life, and contributed to acne improvement in patients with mild to moderate acne compared to placebo.

    Dermatology and Therapy, 2024
  • Topical application of a dermocosmetic containing Myrtus communis extract and azelaic acid reduced acne relapses and helped maintain remission compared to a light moisturizing cream in adult females in the acne maintenance phase over 16 weeks.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
  • Topical administration of 20% azelaic acid cream and 5% tranexamic acid solution comparably improved acne-related postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with acne vulgaris, while tranexamic acid demonstrated a significantly better safety profile at week 4.

    Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023
  • Azelaic acid 15% gel showed comparable efficacy to adapalene 0.1% gel in reducing lesions, severity, and Dermatology Life Quality Index in women with adult acne, with significantly lower dryness and scaling, and demonstrated superiority during maintenance compared to no further treatment.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2015
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
  • Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018
  • Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
  • Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2006

Ingredients

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract Rosemary Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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