The INKEY List CA Azelaic Acid Serum

The INKEY List CA Azelaic Acid Serum

Efficacy100/100IrritancyLow·100% recommend (1 review)

Works for

Evens skin tone
Azelaic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“The unique formula of 10% Azelaic Acid & 0.4% patented clinically proven Polylysine complex helps to even skin tone & texture, reduces blemishes & redness.”
Source: The Inkey list

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: azelaic acid

Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.

Azelaic acidKey activeEffect: HighIs produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals~6.4–9.6%
Anti-blemish
Azelaic acid, Allantoin
Works well
What the product description says
“The unique formula of 10% Azelaic Acid & 0.4% patented clinically proven Polylysine complex helps to even skin tone & texture, reduces blemishes & redness.”
Source: The Inkey list

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: azelaic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

Azelaic acidHeroEffect: HighIs produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals~6.4–9.6%
AllantoinEffect: LowHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~1.3–2%
Anti-oxidation
Side benefit · Azelaic acid
Works well

This product contains antioxidants (azelaic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).

Azelaic acidKey activeEffect: HighIs produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals~6.4–9.6%
Anti-aging
Side benefit · No ingredient credited for this claim
May help

This product contains azelaic acid. This ingredient help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they might be able to prevent early signs of aging (like fine lines and wrinkles), at least to some extent. These ingredients will not be able to "reverse" signs of aging.

Moisturizing
Side benefit · Allantoin, Glycerin
Works

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": allantoin, glycerin.

When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

AllantoinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~1.3–2%
GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~1.1–1.7%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
4 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 4 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymerA gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finishMedium~2.7–4.1%est.
Acacia senegal gumHelps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product textureMedium~0.8–1.25%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.3–0.75%est.
Polysorbate 60Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.15–0.55%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

User reviews

Would you recommend?
100%·yes

1 of 1 community members would buy it again.

100% would0% wouldn't
What reviewers noticed
Marker shows the average response

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Azelaic acid~6.4–9.6%
Hero · Anti-blemish
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-blemishAnti-oxidationEvens skin toneExfoliation

Is produced by a yeast that lives on normal human skin. It is used in medicine as a topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. It has a mild exfoliating effect. It can also help reduce hyperpigmentation, helps calm down inflammation and can help neutralize free radicals

More about Azelaic acid
Propanediol~3.7–5.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin

More about Propanediol
Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer~2.7–4.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A gelling agent that thickens the product consistency and leaves the skin with a velvety finish

More about Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Allantoin~1.3–2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryMoisturizingAnti-blemishReduces rednessReduces irritationExfoliation

Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated

More about Allantoin
Glycerin~1.1–1.7%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Acacia senegal gum~0.8–1.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product texture

More about Acacia senegal gum
Xanthan gum~0.45–1.05%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.3–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Polysorbate 60~0.15–0.55%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 60
Sorbitan isostearate~0.1–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sorbitan isostearate
Sodium hydroxide~0.05–0.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Polylysine~0.05–0.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Polylysine
Ingredient list view

Water, Azelaic acid, Propanediol, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Glycerin, Acacia senegal gum, Xanthan gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan isostearate, Sodium hydroxide, Polylysine

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
The INKEY List CAAzelaic Acid SerumYOUR PRODUCTTulaAcne Clearing + Tone Correcting GelISANAAzelain SerumProactivClean Azelaic Pore Perfector | Dermatologist-developed | Proactiv
Match—92%90%87%
Price——$7.39$17.53
Shared key ingredients—3 of 33 of 33 of 3
Key difference—NiacinamidePanthenolBisabolol
Irritancy Low Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
View product Shop Shop Shop

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Product summary

"The INKEY List CA - Azelaic Acid Serum" is effective for: Evens skin tone and Anti-blemish

This product could be helpful for: Anti-aging and Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

  • Azelaic Acid (6.40% - 9.60%). This active can reduce hyperpigmentation. It also works helps against acne and clogged pores. Please note that Azelaic Acid is most effective against acne in concentrations between 10% and 20%.
  • In addition, this product contains Allantoin (1.30% - 2.00%). Allantoin is helpful in wound-healing and can help restore the skin barrier faster. It might also be able to improve scars, but the evidence is not very strong for this.
  • Humectants (glycerin 1.10% - 1.70% and allantoin 1.30% - 2.00%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

What our users say

Based on 1 review 100% recommend this product
  • When it comes to comedogenicity, the reviewer found that it does not clog pores.
  • When it comes to using this sunscreen under makeup, the user found that it pills under a foundation.
They find the product's texture to be heavy - light and In terms of the smell, our users report that light fragrance.

About the brand

According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "The INKEY List CA" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 2 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
The INKEY List CA Azelaic Acid Serum
The INKEY List CAAzelaic Acid Serum

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