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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% versus The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment .

Last updated on August 16, 2023. Published on February 24, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum Canadian Brand Canada
Facial Treatment British Brand United Kingdom

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Price

Shop

Buy Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Starts at $11.10
Shop

Buy Succinic Acid Acne Treatment

Starts at $9.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Irritating (2)

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains this as ingredient number 1.

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Disliked

This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.

It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains this as ingredient number 7.

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment contains this as ingredient number 9.

3
What it does:
Community Rating: Liked

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains this as ingredient number 11.

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment contains this as ingredient number 21.

4
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.

Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.

In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.

Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.

Learn more about Polysorbate 60

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains this as ingredient number 13.

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment contains this as ingredient number 15.

5
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% contains this as ingredient number 16.

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment contains this as ingredient number 11.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

24% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
53% are disliked or very disliked
12% have no rating yet
41% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
41% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% 17 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 12 reviews
TimWizard's Avatar'
Feb 21, 2024

This stuff does burn like hot pepper cream (I can still sleep through it) and it does pill hella. But my skin looks so much better since using it. It doesn’t take long to see results.

This stuff does burn like hot pepper cream (I can still sleep through it) and it does pill hella. But my skin looks so much better since using it. It doesn’t take long to see results.

Great Value
Irritating
Pilling
Works Well
fyr's Avatar'
Nov 29, 2023

really really good, helped with my skin texture and closed comedones!! only downside is the extreme pilling so i would recommend using it as the last step of ur night routine

really really good, helped with my skin texture and closed comedones!! only downside is the extreme pilling so i would recommend using it as the last step of ur night routine

Great Value
Pilling
Works Well
Virago's Avatar'
Apr 5, 2024

I noticed improvements in my skin texture almost immediately. This is the first exfoliant that doesn’t dry me out yet is still effective - fewer breakouts, quicker healing, and less hyperpigmentation and redness. Overall, a great product...

I noticed improvements in my skin texture almost immediately. This is the first exfoliant that doesn’t dry me out yet is still effective - fewer breakouts, quicker healing, and less hyperpigmentation and redness. Overall, a great product to have on standby!

No Scent
Works Well
Pilling

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment 22 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 6 reviews
Daisyfrd's Avatar'
Jul 27, 2023

The only product that has made a significant difference within 24 hours, decreases redness and texture quickly

The only product that has made a significant difference within 24 hours, decreases redness and texture quickly

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 6 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%.

See 6 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 21 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment.

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