Sesderma Azelac RU Serum for oily skin
Liposomal Azelaic Acid
4-Butylresorcinol
Tranexamic Acid
Niacinamide
RetinolAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 brightening and evening of skin tone for your oily skin due to the presence of 4-butylresorcinol and azelaic acid, which help address hyperpigmentation. Niacin and glycyrrhetinic acid provide supportive hydration and soothing benefits, addressing oily shine concerns.
- The formulation is highly suitable for oily skin, with azelaic acid and niacin offering seboregulation and anti-inflammatory actions.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
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 Serum work for oily skin?
Sesderma Azelac RU Serum works moderately well for oily skin by helping even out skin tone and calm oily shine through ingredients like azelaic acid and niacin. It is unlikely to irritate, but a treatment of this type needs ingredients that control oil and strengthen the skin barrier while offering soothing hydration.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Liposomal Azelaic Acid, 4-Butylresorcinol, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, and Retinol make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping manage shine, dark spots, and uneven texture. To work best for oily skin, a product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide that control excess oil and enhance skin radiance without causing irritation, along with light hydrators and soothing extracts that keep the face comfortable for daily use.
What does Azelaic Acid do for oily skin?
Azelaic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and calming redness and blemishes. It also works to clear clogged pores and prevent new acne spots from forming. This ingredient targets multiple causes of acne while keeping your skin calm and clear.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2014
What does 4-Butylresorcinol do for oily skin?
4-Butylresorcinol helps fade dark spots and uneven skin tone by slowing down the enzyme that creates pigment in the skin. Because it does not address oil control or breakouts, oily skin requires ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide alongside it to manage shine and keep pores clear.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2013
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine. Treatments with active ingredients are placed at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this serum with AHAs, but apply your AHA first and wait a few minutes before putting on this treatment to keep your oily skin calm and smooth. This product works for your oily skin, though other products fit it better; an ideal choice for this skin type needs soothing ingredients like niacin and azelaic acid to balance oil and brighten dark spots without irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in the evening once a week to start, and if your skin feels calm and you like the results, you may carefully use it more often. Oily skin works well with a treatment like this when it balances oil and brightens tone with ingredients like azelaic acid and niacinamide.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has a very safe formula with no harsh or heavy ingredients. Azelaic acid and niacinamide help keep pores clear and calm, while retinol may occasionally cause mild initial purging.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (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, 2021Application 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, 2024Topical 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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