Both are 10% azelaic acid. What surrounds it is the difference.
Azelaic acid fades post-breakout marks, calms redness and helps keep pores clear. Anua and The Ordinary both use it at 10%, so the choice comes down to the base and the cost.
Anua is a watery serum with a soothing base: panthenol, allantoin, centella, licorice extract, niacinamide and a little ceramide. The Ordinary is a plain, silicone-rich cream with almost nothing else in it, at roughly half the cost. Sensitive or dry skin should start with Anua. Oily skin and tight budgets do fine with The Ordinary.
| Gentler serum Anua Azelaic Acid Serum for Redness-Prone Skin | VS | Best value The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension |
|---|---|---|
10% | Azelaic acid |
10% |
Watery serum | Texture |
Silicone-rich cream suspension |
Panthenol, allantoin, centella, licorice | Soothing extras |
None |
Niacinamide, zinc PCA, betaine salicylate (mild BHA) | Other actives |
None |
None | Added fragrance |
None |
About twice as much | Relative cost |
Lower |
| View | View |
How to choose between them
- How sensitive your skin is
Both use 10% azelaic acid, which tingles on some skin at first. Anua surrounds it with panthenol, allantoin, centella and licorice extract. The Ordinary has none of that. If your skin reddens easily, start with Anua.
Look forSoothing ingredients alongside the acid if you're reactive.AvoidStarting any new acid on skin that's already irritated. - Texture and layering
Anua is watery and goes on like a serum. The Ordinary is a silicone-rich cream that goes after watery layers, in a thin coat. If your routine has several layers, Anua is easier to fit in.
Look forA texture that suits the rest of your routine.AvoidPiling serums on top of The Ordinary's cream. - Other acids in your routine
Anua contains betaine salicylate, a mild BHA. If you already use a salicylic or glycolic acid product, The Ordinary’s plainer formula avoids stacking another exfoliant. Neither belongs on the same night as a new retinoid.
Look forOne exfoliating product per routine.AvoidStarting azelaic acid and a retinoid in the same week. - Cost
For the same 30 ml, The Ordinary costs roughly half as much. If your skin handles actives well, the extra spend on Anua buys comfort, not more azelaic acid.
Look forPaying only for extras your skin needs.AvoidAssuming the pricier bottle works better.
Anua Azelaic Acid 10: azelaic acid with a soothing base
10% azelaic acid with panthenol, centella and niacinamide.
Anua puts 10% azelaic acid in a watery serum rather than a cream, so it spreads easily and layers under anything.
The rest of the list is built around calming skin: panthenol, allantoin, dipotassium glycyrrhizate (from licorice root), aloe, beta-glucan and four centella compounds including madecassoside. Niacinamide, zinc PCA, sodium hyaluronate, squalane and ceramide NP round it out. There’s no added fragrance.
One thing to know: it contains betaine salicylate, a mild BHA. That helps with clogged pores, but count it as an acid if you already use another exfoliant.
- 10% azelaic acid in a watery serum that layers easily
- Panthenol, allantoin, centella and dipotassium glycyrrhizate to calm skin
- Niacinamide, zinc PCA, squalane and ceramide NP in the mix
- No added fragrance
- Costs about twice as much as The Ordinary for the same size
- Contains betaine salicylate, a mild BHA that adds up with other acids
- Long ingredient list means more to patch-test
For red, sensitive or dry skin, yes. Panthenol, allantoin, centella and licorice-derived dipotassium glycyrrhizate make 10% azelaic acid easier to live with, and the watery texture layers under anything. If your skin tolerates actives well, The Ordinary does the core job for less.
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 10%: the plain, low-cost option
Plain 10% azelaic acid in a smooth, silicone-rich cream.
The Ordinary suspends 10% azelaic acid in a silicone-rich cream. Isodecyl neopentanoate and dimethicone sit ahead of the azelaic acid on the list, which is why it feels smooth and slippy rather than watery. Beyond that the formula is short: thickeners, a little vitamin E and preservatives, with no fragrance or plant extracts.
That plainness is the point. You get the same 10% azelaic acid as Anua for roughly half the cost, with fewer extra ingredients to react to. The trade-off is texture. Apply it after watery serums and keep the layer thin, since a cream this silicone-heavy can pill under several products.
- 10% azelaic acid for roughly half the cost of Anua
- Short list with no fragrance or plant extracts
- Also comes in a 100 ml tube
- Cream texture can pill over many layers
- No hydrating or soothing extras
- Best kept away from retinoids and strong acids in the same routine
Yes, if your skin is oily or normal and you want plain 10% azelaic acid for the least money. It costs roughly half what Anua does for the same 30 ml. If your skin is dry or easily irritated, Anua’s soothing base is worth the extra.
Using azelaic acid in your routine
Where does each formula fit?
Both go after cleansing and before moisturizer. Anua is watery, so it goes on first like any serum. The Ordinary is a cream, so apply your watery layers first, then a thin layer of the suspension. Our guide on how to use azelaic acid walks through the full routine order.
Does morning or evening matter?
Either works. Many people use azelaic acid at night, but morning use is fine too. Wear sunscreen every morning, especially if you’re fading dark marks.
Can it be introduced with other actives?
Start azelaic acid on its own for two weeks before adding anything else. If you use a retinoid, put them on alternate nights at first. Anua also contains betaine salicylate, a mild BHA, so go easy layering it with another exfoliating acid.
How should either product be patch-tested?
Apply a small amount along your jawline every night for three or four nights. A mild tingle for the first minute is common with azelaic acid. Lasting burning, redness or a rash means stop. If you’re treating rosacea, acne or melasma, a dermatologist can tell you whether prescription-strength azelaic acid makes more sense.
Which azelaic acid should you buy?
Choose Anua if your skin is red, sensitive or dry. It pairs 10% azelaic acid with panthenol, allantoin, centella, niacinamide and a little ceramide in a watery serum that layers under anything.
Choose The Ordinary if your skin is oily or you want the cheapest way to try azelaic acid. Same 10%, roughly half the cost for the same 30 ml, in a plain, silicone-rich cream.
With either one, start every other night and wear sunscreen every morning.
