🇸🇦Saudi Arabia

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% for dry sensitive skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 moderate treatment for acne and hyperpigmentation for your dry and sensitive skin, as azelaic acid helps reduce blemishes and even skin tone while dimethicone provides emollient action. Tocopherol offers supportive antioxidant benefits, contributing to general skincare for your dry or flaky skin.
  • The formula provides moderate suitability for dry skin due to dimethicone's emollient properties, though it lacks sufficient humectants for optimal hydration.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
  • Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviews

While many users report clearer and brighter skin within weeks, a significant portion of reviewers struggle with the formula's tendency to pill under makeup or other skincare layers. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should be definitely taken into account.

Highlights

  • Reduces redness Mostly Mentioned
    • “calms down the redness immediately”
    • “decreases both redness and acne-like bumps”
    • “saved my skin from constant flushing”
  • Pills under makeup Mostly Mentioned
    • “crumbles and piles under moisturizer”
    • “balls up immediately”
    • “cannot layer anything over it”
    • “pills hella bad”
    • “rolls off my face”
  • Clears acne Often Mentioned
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded”
    • “keeps acne at bay”
    • “cleared up my chin breakouts”
    • “stopped new pimples from forming”
    • “great for fungal acne”
  • Smoothes texture Often Mentioned
    • “skin looks smoother and brighter”
    • “tiny bumps are gone”
    • “texture feels much softer”
    • “got rid of closed comedones”
    • “face feels like glass”
  • Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
    • “helped lighten post-acne scars”
    • “hyperpigmentation is fading”
    • “acne marks are less visible”
    • “brightens dull skin tone”
    • “spots are much lighter”
  • Matte finish Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling matte”
    • “good for oily t-zone”
    • “dries down to a powder finish”
    • “controls oil production”
    • “non-greasy finish”
  • Causes stinging Sometimes Noted
    • “stings really bad upon application”
    • “itchy tingly feeling”
    • “burned my sensitive skin”
    • “felt like ants crawling”
    • “severe burning sensation”
  • Drying formula Sometimes Noted
    • “incredibly drying”
    • “made my skin flaky”
    • “sucked the moisture out”
    • “too drying for daily use”
    • “left dry patches”
  • Thick texture Sometimes Noted
    • “hard to spread”
    • “feels like a thick paste”
    • “heavy silicone feel”
    • “doesn't absorb well”
    • “sits on top of skin”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smell is unbearable”
    • “weird chemical smell”
    • “smells like glue”
    • “earthy scent is off-putting”
    • “has a funky odor”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.co.uk, theordinary.com, influenster.com, lookfantastic.ie, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension work for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment works moderately well for dry and sensitive skin, helping to clear blemishes and even skin tone while remaining very safe and unlikely to cause irritation. However, because it lacks sufficient hydrators, a product for this skin type needs extra moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and rich hydrators to lock in moisture and fully support the skin barrier.

Pharmaceutics, 2021Dermatology and Therapy, 2024

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Azelaic acid helps reduce blemishes and even your skin tone, while dimethicone smooths and softens dry skin. Tocopherol also offers supportive antioxidant benefits, though this skin type needs extra hydrating ingredients to feel fully comfortable.

Pharmaceutics, 2021Dermatology and Therapy, 2024

What does Azelaic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Azelaic acid is generally not an ideal fit for dry sensitive skin because it may cause stinging, irritation, or dryness, though it can help calm redness and soothe inflammation when formulated gently. To work well for dry sensitive skin, a product of this type needs calming plant extracts, rich moisturizers, and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep the skin soft and comfortable.

Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What does Dimethicone do for dry sensitive skin?

Dimethicone helps protect dry sensitive skin, though it may show varying performance compared to other protectants. This type of product needs gentle, hydrating ingredients that support the skin barrier without causing irritation.

Ostomy/wound Management, 2005

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer. This product works for dry sensitive skin, though it lacks sufficient water-attracting ingredients for optimal hydration, so dry skin of this type needs added hydrating ingredients and rich moisturizers to stay soft and smooth.

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with this cream, or by using them on alternate nights to keep your skin calm and comfortable. Because your skin is dry, pairing these active products with a rich moisturizing cream helps prevent dryness and flaking.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this treatment in your evening routine once a week to start, and carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results. The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin, as it has a very safe formula without harsh ingredients. However, it can sometimes feel drying or pill under makeup, so this skin type needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture.

Is this cream 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

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.

    Ostomy/wound Management, 2005

  • 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 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

  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024

  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000

  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021

  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Why other serums fit dry sensitive skin better

  • A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.

    Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017

  • In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026

Ingredients

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

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play