Azelaic acid is a fantastic topical skincare ingredient used to target many different skin concerns such as acne, acne scars, dark spots, and redness and inflammation of rosacea.
Azelaic acid is also widely used in vegan skincare. Derived from a variety of grains and yeast, azelaic acid is a vegan-friendly ingredient. See our best vegan azelaic acid skincare for 2024.
PS all products below are vegan and cruelty-free, meaning they are free of animal-derived ingredients and have not been tested on animals. 💚
Best Vegan Azelaic Acid Skincare
From The Ordinary to Paula’s Choice, these are the best vegan azelaic acid skincare products for 2024. Improve your skin with these vegan skincare products.
- Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
- The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- Skinfix 2% BHA and Azelaic Acid Acne Spot Treatment
- Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10%
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster is the best vegan azelaic acid skincare product. It brightens the skin tone, reduces redness, and lightens dark spots with a combination of azelaic acid and licorice root extract. Salicylic acid provides the skin with some light exfoliation.
While the 10% of azelaic may seem high but it’s still mild enough for most skin types, including dry and sensitive skin. The results of this vegan serum won’t show overnight but it does work well when used consistently.
- What we like: lightweight consistency, improves skin texture
- What we don’t like: takes time to see results
- What reviews say: great to combine with other skincare, makes the overall complexion brighter
Key ingredients: azelaic acid 10%, licorice root, salicylic acid | Main benefits: soothing, smoothening, brightening | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, mineral oil-free, gluten-free, recyclable packaging, made in the USA
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is great for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone. The vegan azelaic acid moisturizer is mild and gentle but helpful in reducing acne, inflammation, and rosacea symptoms. This vegan moisturizer also improves skin texture.
- What we like: works great for sensitive skin, dark spots will get less visible
- What we don’t like: can feel a little itchy at first
- What reviews say: reduces rosacea and sun damage, feels soothing on the skin
Key ingredients: azelaic acid 10% | Main benefits: brightening, smoothening | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, artificial fragrance-free, gluten-free, alcohol-free, nut-free, made in Canada
Skinfix 2% BHA and Azelaic Acid Acne Spot Treatment
This vegan azelaic acid spot treatment is a fast and effective way to get rid of blemishes. Coupled with different exfoliating acids, this treatment helps exfoliate and clarify the skin. When used consistently, it can also reduce old acne scars and post-inflammatory pigmentation.
From the same collection, we also recommend Skinfix’s vegan azelaic acid cleanser. The vegan cleanser reduces acne and redness while not harming the skin’s moisture barrier. Similar to the spot treatment, both vegan azelaic acid skincare products also brighten the skin tone.
- What we like: unclogs pores, does not dry out the skin
- What we don’t like: specific smell
- What reviews say: reduces acne and scarring, works great with other skincare products
Key ingredients: azelaic acid 10%, salicylic acid (BHA), niacinamide 2% | Main benefits: soothing, smoothening | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, artificial fragrance-free, recyclable packaging, non-comedogenic, made in Canada
Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10%
Naturium Azelaic Topical Acid 10% is perfect for acne-prone skin. It’s not too drying and harsh on the skin but it effectively reduces acne and blemishes. Vitamin C and coffee seed extract are also great for brightening up the skin and reducing fine lines.
- What we like: reduces acne scars, unclogs pores
- What we don’t like: specific smell
- What reviews say: helps with hormonal acne, works great for anti-aging skin
Key ingredients: azelaic acid 10%, niacinamide, vitamin C & coffee seed extract | Main benefits: exfoliating, brightening, soothing | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, artificial fragrance-free, made in the USA
The Inkey List 10% Azelaic Serum Redness Relief Solution
This vegan azelaic acid serum is best for reducing redness. 10% azelaic acid is not too harsh even for sensitive skin and combined with allantoin, it helps to soothe and relieve irritated skin. We recommend it for rosacea-prone skin and for reducing puffiness and inflammation.
- What we like: relieves irritations, reduces puffiness
- What we don’t like: takes time to see results
- What reviews say: reduces redness, works great with other skincare, soothes the skin
Key ingredients: azelaic acid 10%, allantoin 0.3% | Main benefits: soothing, calming | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, artificial fragrance-free, gluten-free, recyclable packaging, made in the UK
Eva Naturals 10% Azelaic Acid Serum
Eva Naturals 10% Azelaic Acid Serum makes the skin tone overall healthier and brighter. It also includes retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to improve skin tone, hydrate the skin, and reduce redness.
The serum can be used by all skin types. But as it’s quite a cocktail of different ingredients, sensitive and dry skin should be careful and pair it with a rich moisturizer.
- What we like: fast absorbing, makes the skin glow
- What we don’t like: might not be moisturizing enough for dry skin
- What reviews say: reduces acne and redness, works great for different skin types
Key ingredients: azelaic acid 10%, retinol (vitamin A), vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Main benefits: nourishing, soothing, brightening | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, artificial fragrance-free, made in the USA
Is Azelaic Acid Vegan?
Azelaic acid in skincare is vegan. It’s a natural dicarboxylic acid that is derived from yeast and grains. Even though azelaic acid can be found in animal products and occurs naturally in our own skin, the skincare industry uses the plant-based version.
While azelaic acid is a vegan-friendly ingredient, you should still be careful when buying azelaic acid skincare. To make sure azelaic acid products do not include any other animal ingredients such as beeswax, prefer products with a certified vegan label.
What To Look For In Vegan Azelaic Acid Skincare?
When choosing vegan azelaic acid skincare, first make sure the concentration of azelaic acid is high enough in the product. Unless you have very dry skin or sensitive skin, we even suggest going for the highest possible over-the-counter azelaic acid concentration of 10%.
Studies show that azelaic acid is most effective at 20% for treating acne and hyperpigmentation and 15% for treating inflammation from rosacea. So if you have any of these concerns, there is no point in using azelaic acid that is too mild.
Another thing to pay attention to in vegan azelaic skincare is the choice of other ingredients in the formula. While azelaic acid pairs well with salicylic acid for acne, this pair will be way too harsh for rosacea-prone skin. With rosacea, go for as clean formulas as possible.
FAQ About Vegan Azelaic Acid Skincare
Yes. Azelaic acid is vegan.
The best vegan azelaic acid skincare product is The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%.
You will find the best selection of vegan azelaic acid skincare online, especially on Amazon, Ulta, and Sephora.
Summary
Azelaic acid is a great ingredient to help with skin tone irregularities, acne scars, blemishes, and even rosacea. What’s best, azelaic acid is also vegan and cruelty-free.
From vegan azelaic acid skincare, we above all recommend trying The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid Suspension and Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster.
Once we find more good-quality vegan azelaic acid skincare products, we will make sure they will end up on our top list.
See also: Vegan Skincare For Rosacea
Update on May 04 (2023): Fact checked and medically reviewed by MD Shimona Garg
Update on February 19 (2023): Added more references
