Sesderma Azelac RU Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Liposomal Azelaic Acid
4-Butylresorcinol
Tranexamic Acid
Niacinamide
RetinolAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin due to the presence of azelaic acid and niacin with seboregulation and anti-inflammatory actions, this serum offers excellent brightening and evening of skin tone by inhibiting melanin production.
- While BHA and retinol provide moderate exfoliation beneficial for acne, blemishes, and breakouts, their concentrations are primarily supportive rather than targeted for your primary concerns.
- The formulation is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers report this serum effectively brightens the complexion and fades post-acne marks and sunspots, often showing visible results within a few weeks. It is praised for its lightweight texture and ability to control mild acne, though some users note it requires patience for older, deeper pigmentation and can be slightly drying.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “faded my post-acne marks”
- “removed stains from my face”
- “huge difference in pigmentation”
- “sunspots were barely there”
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “skin looked brighter”
- “leaves skin really glowy”
- “face acquires a natural glow”
- “less dull”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs fast”
- “not at all oily”
- “feels luxe going on”
- “non-greasy formula”
High price Often Mentioned
- “it is expensive”
- “pricey”
- “not very accessible”
- “worth it but expensive”
Controls acne Sometimes Noted
- “kept breakouts at bay”
- “smaller pimples heal faster”
- “anti-bacterial properties”
- “no big breakouts”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “suitable for sensitive skin”
- “no irritation”
- “gentle formulation”
- “tolerates this depigmenting treatment”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “not gonna erase years-old pigmentation in a month”
- “hoped for more dramatic fading”
- “oldest PIH is still there”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “can dry you out”
- “cheeks felt tight”
- “need to moisturize to avoid dryness”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “feels a little bit sticky at first”
- “slight tacky feel”
- “sticky texture”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, flipkart.com, notino.ie, lyskin.com, perfumesclub.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sesderma Azelac RU work for oily acne-prone skin?
Sesderma Azelac RU Serum works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as its azelaic acid, niacinamide, and retinol help calm blemishes and brighten tone, though its exfoliation is only supportive rather than targeted. A treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C that control excess oil and target acne directly, combined with soothing and hydrating agents for daily comfort.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Liposomal azelaic acid, niacinamide, retinol, and 4-butylresorcinol make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin by calming redness, brightening dark spots, and supporting breakout care. To fit this skin type best, a treatment of this type needs targeted acne-fighting ingredients alongside soothing extracts and oil-controlling agents that keep the skin comfortable without causing breakouts.
What does Azelaic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Azelaic acid helps calm angry blemishes and clears clogged pores for oily, acne-prone skin. It targets multiple causes of breakouts by reducing swelling and fighting bacteria. To properly care for oily, acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and oil-balancing benefits.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2023
What does 4-Butylresorcinol do for oily acne-prone skin?
4-Butylresorcinol is used to fade dark spots and uneven skin tone, but it does not treat breakouts or oiliness. Oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients that clear pores and calm redness, such as salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine. Applying it at night helps keep things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this serum with AHAs by alternating nights to keep your oily skin calm and avoid irritation. Because this formula contains retinol, adding another strong exfoliant at the same time may cause dryness.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in your evening routine once a week to start, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. This product is safe for your oily skin and helps brighten tone, but an average fit for this skin needs stronger targeted acne-fighting ingredients like higher levels of salicylic acid or specialized retinoids alongside azelaic acid and niacinamide.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is safe for your oily skin and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it contains ingredients that help calm the skin and control oil. An acne-prone skin type needs a targeted treatment with higher concentrations of exfoliating acids to thoroughly clear breakouts.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
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, 2024Azelaic 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, 2023Azelaic 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, 2015The 4-n-butylresorcinol dissolving microneedle patch demonstrated safety and was more than two times more effective than the control patch in skin depigmentation among 45 subjects over 8 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 20164-n-butylresorcinol inhibits human tyrosinase and melanin production more potently than hydroquinone, arbutin, and kojic acid, and visibly reduces age spots within 8 weeks.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2013Combined application of dissolving microneedle patches on serum-treated skin successfully delivered more 4-n-butylresorcinol and showed higher efficacy in reducing patients' melanin index and hyperpigmented regions compared to traditional DMN-only and serum-only applications.
Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2017Topical 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 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Peg Ppg-20 6 Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 4-Butylresorcinol, Azelaic Acid, Retinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Niacin, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Diacetyl Boldine, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Sodium Oxalate, Parfum, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Bht, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Chloride, Bha, Hydrochloric Acid
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
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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