NATURIUM Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% for skin with dark spots
Azelaiс Acid
Niacinamide
Bioactive Brightening Complex
Allantoin
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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
- Highly suitable for your normal skin and pigmentation concerns due to the synergistic action of azelaic acid and niacinamide, which effectively target hyperpigmentation and improve overall skin tone. Glycerin further supports your normal skin by providing essential hydration and strengthening the skin barrier.
- The inclusion of acetyl rheum rhaponticum root extract offers additional antioxidant benefits, complementing the primary actives for enhanced skin health.
- The product demonstrates a strong safety profile with no reported risks of irritation for normal skin, thanks to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this serum as part of your PM routine starting 3x/week and build up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute for it to absorb.
- Apply the serum on dry skin to help fade pigmentation effectively.
- Avoid the eye area and always use SPF 30+ during the day.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers with sensitive, redness-prone, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this emulsion for its ability to calm inflammation and fade post-acne marks. While most find it gentle and effective for smoothing texture and brightening skin tone, a small minority experienced purging or found it insufficiently hydrating for very dry skin.
Highlights
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “Good for sensitive skin”
- “Non-irritating formula”
- “Gentle enough for AM/PM”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin is so much glowy”
- “Smooths texture”
- “Minimizes uneven tone”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “Helped my redness”
- “Calms visible redness”
- “Soothes irritated skin”
Fades acne marks Sometimes Noted
- “Stubborn post-acne marks go away”
- “Great for hormonal acne”
- “Decongests pores”
Lightweight feel Sometimes Noted
- “Creamy, lightweight”
- “Absorbs rapidly”
- “Non-greasy finish”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like Elmer's glue”
- “Unpleasant smell”
- “Specific chemical scent”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Worst breakout ever”
- “Closed comedones”
- “Experienced purging”
Initial stinging Rarely Noted
- “Sting a bit at beginning”
- “Mild irritation”
- “Stinging sensation”
Not hydrating enough Rarely Noted
- “Need additional hydration”
- “Not for extremely dry skin”
- “Doesn't provide long-lasting moisture”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump several times to dispense”
- “Hard to prime”
- “Don't open or break vacuum”
Sources: lovi.care, naturium.com, gopicky.com, skinsort.com, thingtesting.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This treatment is a great fit for skin with dark spots because azelaic acid and niacinamide work together to fade dark spots and even out your skin tone. Glycerin adds essential moisture and strengthens your skin barrier while antioxidant-rich plant extracts help protect your skin. It has a very safe profile and is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatology and Therapy, 2024
Which ingredients make this emulsion a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% is a great fit for skin with dark spots because it combines azelaic acid and niacinamide, which effectively target hyperpigmentation and improve overall skin tone. Glycerin further supports your skin by providing essential hydration and strengthening the skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatology and Therapy, 2024
What does Azelaic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Azelaic acid helps fade dark spots and uneven pigmentation by calming inflammation and targeting the overactive pigment cells in the skin. Regular use may visibly clear stubborn spots and improve overall skin tone with a low risk of irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
What does Niacinamide do for skin with dark spots?
Niacinamide helps fade dark spots and uneven pigmentation by slowing down the transfer of pigment in the skin. It is generally well tolerated and may improve overall skin brightness with consistent use.
Where does this emulsion go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this emulsion with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this emulsion with retinol by applying the emulsion first and following it with your retinol, or by using them on alternating nights to keep your skin calm. Using both together helps target dark spots effectively, but watch for any dryness and space them out if your skin feels sensitive.
How often should I use this emulsion?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine for skin with dark spots. It is very safe and gentle for normal skin, so you can gradually use it more often if your skin tolerates it well.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatology and Therapy, 2024
Can this emulsion clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This emulsion is unlikely to cause breakouts, as reviewers rarely report them and the formula avoids harsh ingredients. It helps improve dark spots safely without clogging pores.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Dermatology and Therapy, 2024
Is this emulsion fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Application 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, 2024A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Azelaic 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, 2021Topical 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, 2023Topical 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, 2023Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Topical 5% Jucá ethanolic extract formulations in Carbopol and Astrocaryum murumuru butter improved wound retraction and fibroplasia in dermal wounds of dogs compared to a commercial ointment control.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Isostearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Sebacic Acid, Acetyl Rheum Rhaponticum Root Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenyl Triacetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylcellulose, Squalane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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