So recently I heard about this new cult product from Deciem called The Ordinary that sells serums with active ingredients for less than $10. I was dying to try it, but since my skin had been breaking out from an acne rosacea flare up, I was wary about putting anything new on my face. I’d been having decent luck with CeraVe and Vaseline, but my cheeks kept breaking out after I thought they’d healed. In my experience going overboard on products when you have rosacea is bad news. Then I heard they had a product with the ingredient azaleic acid in it, which is a rare unicorn of an ingredient…one that works with rosacea instead of against it. I was still a little leery because this kick ass ingredient comes in a base of silicones, which can sometimes cause break outs. I’m not very sensitive to silicones on my skin though, so I figured I’d give it a shot. If it didn’t work, I’d only be out $8. I bought that and the Hyaluronic Acid with B5 to help with barrier repair.
Exercising self control by taking a pic before putting it on
When I got my package I was dying to slather it all over my face, but wanted to be cautious. I put on the HA (water based products first, always) and really liked the consistency. It’s slightly viscous, but not greasy, and sinks into the skin well. I gently patted the Azaleic onto one cheek, the one with the worst breakouts, and stared at it for a bit, waiting for it to work. No really, I did this. Then I remembered that products don’t work like that, so I walked away. I put some on again before bed, following up with CeraVe, but leaving off the Vaseline because I wanted to see how it would work on its own. Woke up the next day with my skin feeling softer and looking less irritated.
Fast forward to seven days later, and my skin was completely healed. And I mean completely. There was still some hyperpigmentation left over, but the break outs were gone. I had started using the Azaleic on my whole face by day three and was shocked at how fast it worked. I’ve been using it for the last month and my skin is clear, glowy and more resilient, so I’ve added other products from the Ordinary, plus Deciem’s other line Hylamide. I’ll go into those products later, but first lets talk about these two ingredients and why they’re so good.
Simple, clean design for your hoard…I mean, collection
I’ve written about HA before, an ingredient that—say it with me!—holds a thousand times its own weight in water. What makes this brand different from others besides the price? The HA, which is a naturally occurring substance found in your body to keep your joints healthy, has varying sizes of molecules, which explains why all HA doesn’t feel the same. The lower the molecule, the better for it to penetrate the skin and provide the hydration and anti-aging benefits it is known for. Products that have a HA with larger molecules can plump up the skin, but can ultimately make it feel drier, and probably also explains the tacky feel so many products have. So yes, it’s now not enough for you to look at products that have HA…you now have to inquire about the molecular weight as well.
Azaleic acid is something you might not have heard of before, probably because it’s an ingredient you can usually only get from a dermatologist. The Ordinary is the only line in the US that sells it to the public. This is a shame because it’s a powerhouse, great from acneic skin, but gentle enough for sensitive rosacea types. Studies have shown that it matches AHAs/BHAs and retinols for clearing up the skin, but without the irritating side effects.
As with any product, YMMV. If your skin doesn’t like silicones, it might still react to the base that the Azaleic is in. There are other options if you want to try this ingredient. If you have a dermatologist, you can talk to him/her about it, or check out Curology, which hooks you up with a dermatologist through an app so you don’t have to go anywhere. But even if you try the Ordinary and don’t care for it, you’re only out $10.
Have you tried the Ordinary yet? What were the results? If not, what active ingredients are you using right now that you’re in love with? Leave me a comment!