Sesderma Azelac RU Serum for acne-prone skin
Liposomal Azelaic Acid
4-Butylresorcinol
Tranexamic Acid
Niacinamide
RetinolHigh
- 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
- Excellent brightening and evening of skin tone for your combination skin is provided by 4-butylresorcinol and azelaic acid, which effectively inhibit melanin production and offer seboregulation.
- Targeted benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts are delivered through azelaic acid and retinol, addressing hyperpigmentation and inflammation while niacinamide further soothes.
- The formulation is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients and carries no risk of irritation.
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
★4.4Overall 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
What makes Sesderma Azelac RU a great fit for acne-prone skin?
Sesderma Azelac RU Serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because azelaic acid and retinol target blemishes and breakouts while reducing inflammation and dark spots. Niacinamide further soothes the skin, and the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Liposomal Azelaic Acid, 4-Butylresorcinol, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, and Retinol make this serum a great fit for your acne-prone skin. Azelaic acid and retinol help target breakouts and blemishes while soothing inflammation, and 4-butylresorcinol effectively evens skin tone.
What does Azelaic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Azelaic acid helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing inflammation, clearing bacteria, and preventing clogged pores. It also may fade dark spots left behind by breakouts to keep your skin tone even and smooth.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2014Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2023
What does 4-Butylresorcinol do for acne-prone skin?
4-Butylresorcinol is not a direct fit for acne-prone skin, as it targets dark spots and uneven tone rather than breakouts or clogged pores. Skin prone to breakouts needs ingredients that clear pores, soothe redness, and gently remove dead skin cells.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine as a treatment step, used after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and avoids extra safety concerns around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this serum with AHAs, but it is best to use them on alternate nights to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation from combining strong ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in your evening routine, applying it once a week at first and slowly increasing the frequency as your skin feels comfortable. This helps your acne-prone skin receive the active ingredients safely while reducing the likelihood of irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Sesderma Azelac RU Serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because its ingredients target blemishes and inflammation while keeping irritation unlikely. Azelaic acid and retinol help clear breakouts, and niacinamide calms the skin without clogging pores.
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, 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, 2023Azelaic 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 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.