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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Product score: 02

Data Availability:

Limited

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% (2019 formulation)

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% (2019 formulation)

WHERE TO BUY

CATEGORY

Facial Moisturizer/Treatment
Serums & Essences

BRAND

The Ordinary

DATA LAST UPDATED

July 2019

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • MODERATE
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

Ingredient score: 05
TRIETHANOLAMINE
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster, surfactant - emulsifying agent, buffering, emulsifying, masking, surfactant
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Use restrictions (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 04
PHENOXYETHANOL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, preservative
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Use restrictions (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
• Occupational hazards (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 03
DIMETHICONE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antifoaming agent, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin protectant, antifoaming, emollient, skin conditioning, skin protecting
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 03
ISOCETETH-20
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) surfactant - emulsifying agent, surfactant - solubilizing agent, emulsifying, surfactant
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 03
POLYSORBATE-60
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, surfactant - emulsifying agent, surfactant - solubilizing agent, emulsifying
CONCERNS • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 03
CHLORPHENESIN
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) cosmetic biocide, antimicrobial, preservative
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Use restrictions (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
ETHOXYDIGLYCOL
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, solvent, viscosity decreasing agent, humectant, perfuming
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
WATER
Appeared as: AQUA (WATER)
Data Availability: Robust
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ISODECYL NEOPENTANOATE
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - emollient, emollient, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
AZELAIC ACID
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster, buffering, masking
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
DIMETHICONE/ BIS ISOBUTYL PPG-20 CROSSPOLYMER
Data Availability: None
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Ingredient score: 01
DIMETHYL ISOSORBIDE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) solvent, viscosity decreasing agent, viscosity controlling
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/ SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) emulsion stabilizer, opacifying agent, suspending agent - nonsurfactant, viscosityincreasing agent - aqueous, emulsion stabilising, viscosity controlling
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Ingredient score: 01
POLYSILICONE-11
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) film former, film forming
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ISOHEXADECANE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - emollient, solvent, emollient, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
TOCOPHEROL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous;skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin conditioning
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM SALT ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE
Appeared as: TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) chelating agent, chelating
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Aqua (Water), Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Azelaic Acid, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Triethanolamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Directions from packaging:

Apply to face AM and/or PM to improve visible brightness and the appearance of skin texture. Avoid contact with eyes and mouth. Use sun protection during the day. If irritation occurs, cease use and consult a physician. Use only as directed on unbroken skin. Patch testing prior to use is advised. Refer to our in-depth guide to patch testing.

Warnings from packaging:

Keep out of reach of children.

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.


Unknown

Leading international certifiers PETA and Leaping Bunny have no information concerning this company’s use of animal testing.

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED™ mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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