Azelaic Acid

Azelaic Acid is a cosmetic ingredient used as a buffering, fragrance agent. It appears in about 1% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 562 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameAZELAIC ACID
FunctionBUFFERING, FRAGRANCE
CAS number123-99-9
EC number204-669-1
Prevalence619 products (0.67% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies562 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches165,000

Used in

Serums 33%Facial Treatments 17.6%Prescription 14.2%General Moisturizers 8.9%Face Cleansers 4.5%Toners 4.5%

Frequently asked

What does Azelaic Acid do in skincare?
Azelaic Acid functions as a buffering, fragrance agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Azelaic Acid allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Azelaic Acid?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (33% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Azelaic Acid

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.