Garden of Wisdom's Azelaic Acid 8% Serum (Original Formula) Azelaic Acid is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid that works topically by gently exfoliating the skin, reducing inflammation, and normalizing the shedding of dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores. It has antibacterial properties, particularly effective against Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, making it beneficial for acne-prone skin. Azelaic acid also inhibits tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production, helping to fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma over time. It’s well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive skin, and is often used as a multi-tasking treatment for acne, rosacea, and uneven skin tone.
This version may have a grainy texture, but this is common and does not affect its efficacy. Many companies deal with this.
**Please Note: If you've never tried this before, try a sample size first. We don't want you to waste your hard-earned money. Ensuring your skin is not reactive with these (or any) serums is essential.
Method of Application Apply as needed during the treatment phase of your routine.
Shelf Life and Storage Information for Our Products and Ingredients
Finished Products - generally don't need to be refrigerated as they are preserved, but you can refrigerate them to extend their shelf life. The shelf life for most products is 9-12 months. Vitamin C Serum(s) and VitaResurface products should continually be refrigerated to extend their shelf life. Sample Sizes - do have a shorter shelf life (generally 3-6 months), and items in jars can dry up quicker than this if the lid is not tightened well enough (Vitamin C Serums - use within 90 days).
Please Keep Your Products Out of Humidity, Heat, Direct Light and in a Dark Cabinet When Possible
Exfoliating Acid - products have a shelf life of 9-12 months. The only things we don't suggest refrigerating are the Mandelic Acid Serums or Salicylic Acid Serums, as they can crystallize in the refrigerator. If this happens, you can set the product into a hot water bath to see if the crystals will dissolve.
Additional Items That Require Refrigeration and/or Kept in the Dark
Hydrosols and Distillates - remove 1 ounce of hydrosol and add it to a separate, sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator. Carrier and Exotic Oils - generally refrigerate all carrier oils, although some very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take the oil out, warm it up at room temperature, and it should liquefy. If not, set the bottle in a hot water bath and occasionally shake the bottle, which will hopefully turn into a liquid. Some oils, like coconut cream and jojoba oil, have a super long shelf life.
Refrigeration of The Following Ingredients is Not Necessary, But it Won't hurt
Essential Oils - essential oils are best stored in a cool, dark place. Co2 Extracts - these should continually be refrigerated. Butters - we suggest refrigerating our "skincare" butters. You can remove what you need and keep the rest in the fridge. Clays - keep in a dry, dark place. Shelf life is at least 2 years. Herbs All herbs <i>(whole or ground)</i> should be kept in a dark, cool, and dry location. Herbal (liquid) Extracts are created using grain alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents (properties) from each herb, root, trunk, leaf, and flower. They have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be stored in the refrigerator or a dark, dry place. Other Raw Ingredients - such as Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc., will all have different shelf lives.
Shipping Transit Note: Some customers have asked whether products can be affected by time in transit, especially during warmer months. Our products are formulated and preserved to remain stable during normal shipping times and should not spoil simply from being in transit.
That said, if you are concerned about heat exposure, you are welcome to add an ice pack to your order for extra peace of mind. Click here to add an ice pack.
This product has unclogged my pores and smoothed the bumps on my cheeks. I have very sensitive skin and this did not irritate my face. It does not work overnight, you need to stick with it for a while but it worked for me!
Kim
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with our Azelaic Acid 8% Serum!
We especially appreciate that you mentioned both the results and the patience it took to get there. Skincare can sometimes be a journey rather than an overnight transformation, and feedback like yours helps set realistic expectations for others considering this or any product.
We're delighted to hear that it helped unclog pores and smooth the bumps on your cheeks while still being gentle enough for your sensitive skin. Finding that balance between effectiveness and comfort is always something we strive for when formulating.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for allowing us to be part of your skincare routine. We love hearing success stories like yours! 😊
Your GoW Family
E
Erica J Mataconis
Works Great!
Very satisified with this product and this company's customer service is great! Will definitely be ordering from here again!
We’re so happy the Azelaic Acid Serum is working well for you, Erica! And Thank you😃for mentioning our customer service. There are real people behind every Garden of Wisdom order, so knowing you felt well cared for makes us very happy. We’ll be delighted to see you again!
Your GoW Family ᰔᩚ
B
Beans
works for my sensitive, allergy-prone skin
Got a full size! I need limited ingredient products due to my skin's Mystery Sensitivities. This serum doesn't aggravate my skin,yippee!
*ੈ✩༺༻*ੈ✩
Mystery sensitivities are no joke… I’m so glad this one didn’t stir anything up That’s always the goal.
Markey and the Crew at GoW
N
Nicole B
The BEST Azelaic Acid Product I've Tried
I've been using azelaic acid for a couple of years for my pustular rosacea. It is the one thing that helps my skin stay clear the most. I've tried so many different brands, and most contain ingredients that clog my pores or my skin can't tolerate (like silicones, glycols, and other acids). This product has been AMAZING--it smooths my skin and bumps, it isn't harsh, and gives me a nice glow without being oily or sticky. Also I've noticed azelaic acid works better for me than other derivatives. The slightly grainy texture of this product doesn't bother me and doesn't linger on my skin. Please don't stop making this version!!!
Nicole ❤️ and WOW WOW WOW, thank you so much!
Azelaic acid can be a lifeline for some skin types, and we’re very intentional about keeping this formula simple, focused, and free from common troublemakers that can overwhelm sensitive or reactive skin. We’re especially glad to hear that this version works well for you without feeling harsh, sticky, or pore-clogging. 😲
Your note about preferring azelaic acid itself, rather than derivatives, is exactly why this product exists in its current form. The texture is a deliberate trade-off to keep the formula gentle and effective, and it’s reassuring to know it hasn’t affected our experience.
We appreciate your being a part of the GoW family.
M
Mike
Finally a Azelic acid product with the perfect ingredients
I have extremely reactive rosacea + POD + seb derm and have never been able to tolerate other azelaic products (Finacea, The Ordinary, Cos De Baha, etc.). They all left me flushed, burning, slick-oily and “raw” the next morning – even at low %.
Wisdom’s azelaic serum is the complete opposite. The base is incredibly gentle: no sting, no burn, no delayed flare. I can apply it at night after just a water rinse, my skin might flush for a minute (vascular rosacea doing its thing), then it calms right down. I wake up with skin that looks calm, not cooked – still a bit oily (normal for me), but far less than before and without that angry, inflamed look.
It’s the first azelaic that actually works with my barrier instead of fighting it. If you have super sensitive, rosacea-prone, seb-derm-ish skin and thought azelaic just “isn’t for you,” this formula is honestly worth a try.
Please can you consult with your customers if you ever want to discontinue this product? will happily stock up if that ever happens.
Hi Mike 😉
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review for our Azelaic Acid 8% Serum. We are thrilled to hear that our product has worked well for your sensitive skin and has been able to address your concerns with rosacea, POD, and seb derm.
We understand how difficult it can be to find the right product that works for your skin type, and we are happy to hear that our serum has been gentle and effective for you. We will definitely take your request into consideration if there is any discussion to eliminate this product in the future. We don't see this happening though.
Thank you for choosing our brand, and we hope to continue providing you with products that meet your skincare needs.
Best regards,
Your GoW Customer Service Team
Love this new formula with the frankincense so much that I had to get the larger size! I've been using hyaluronic acid plus squalane oil as a moisturizer because I couldn't find a moisturizer that didn't irritate my face or make it drier. I like that this balm has a few simple amazing ingredients with no added fragrance or preservatives. It doesn't irritate my skin or flare up my rosacea. This is the only moisturizer that has actually provided hydration for my skin. I use a small dab at night so the product lasts for many months and leaves my skin with a healthy glow.
This is still my favourite cleanser after many many bottles! It never fails. So gentle it Doesn’t leave my skin dry yet still is cleansing and refreshing - my go to!
Soothing Cleansing Gel 100% Soap Free
Anonymous
Awesome
I really love this product, I am 44 and it has helped the area around my eyes and around my mouth. My skin appears firmer. Only problem is it is always sold out when I go to order more!
Neurophroline® Skin Stress Serum
Anonymous
Honestly so impressed with this gel
Honestly so impressed with this gel. Very hydrating and non irritating for sensitive skin.
Encapsulated Glacier Water Hydrating Gel
Christine Rabena
A product that really works!
In my 70yrs still having breakouts, trying EVERYTHING!!! Prescription and over the counter. This is the 1st product I’ve ever used, that really works!! Will definitely reorder and recommend!
Thanakha Blemish Clearing Tonic
Sarah Dawson
Such a lovely oil!
Such a lovely oil!
It glides on so smoothly, feels like a substantial oil without leaving me greasy, and I love that it has a mild color so I can put it on directly. I live in the Southwest so it’s so fun to use the oil from a plant that I see around me all the time! Thank you Garden of Wisdom for being the oasis in the desert and delivering such wonderful products!
Prickly Pear Seed Oil - The Secret to Timeless Radiance
Karissa Michitsch
the product that gave me my skin back!
if i could give this serum more than five stars, i would.
i developed rosacea out of nowhere after never really having skin issues before. suddenly my skin was red, bumpy, dry, dehydrated and unbelievably reactive. i tried so many products that were marketed as natural, sensitive-skin friendly or rosacea-safe, and NOTHING worked. every new product seemed to give me a brand-new version of a reaction.
then i had a consultation with jennifer. garden of wisdom offers consultations for new customers, and i cannot recommend doing one enough. jennifer was incredible. she helped me put together a very simple routine using this serum, their soap free cleanser, aloe as a toner and evening primrose oil. she also talked to me about supporting my skin internally, which i really appreciated. it felt like she was looking at the bigger picture instead of just trying to sell me another topical product.
more than that, she was kind, supportive and genuinely gave me hope during a time when i was feeling incredibly discouraged about my skin.
and boy did she deliver.
i used the cleanser and oat enriched facial serum and woke up the NEXT MORNING with skin that felt smooth, calm and unreactive. i genuinely could not believe it.
and it wasn't a fluke. over time, everything improved - the redness, the little bumps and texture, the dryness, the hydration, the flushing, the way my skin responded to heat, and even how quickly it recovered when something did make it reactive. my skin didn't just look better. it started to feel healthier, stronger and more resilient.
the serum itself feels like a pretty normal serum on the skin. i will warn you that it has an interesting smell, but you get over that very quickly once you realize how magical the stuff inside the bottle is. most importantly, it has never - literally NEVER - irritated my skin. no burning, stinging, redness, bumps or mystery reaction of the week.
i've now been using it for almost three months, and the difference in my skin is enormous. instead of constantly reacting to something new, my skin just kept getting healthier.
the craziest part is that at this point, i pretty much forget that i even have rosacea. when i think back to how reactive, uncomfortable and unpredictable my skin felt just a few months ago, i can't believe i'm saying that.
after months of feeling like my own face had suddenly become something i couldn't understand or control, garden of wisdom gave me my skin back.
i never want to be without this serum. ever.
Oat Enriched Facial Serum
Karissa Michitsch
simple, gentle, and somehow life-changing!
i developed rosacea seemingly out of nowhere after having basically no skin issues my entire life. suddenly i had redness, bumps and texture, dryness, a completely compromised skin barrier, and it felt like EVERYTHING i put on my face caused some new version of a reaction. i had already used natural/holistic skincare for years, and even products marketed as "sensitive" or "rosacea-safe" were not working for me.
then i found garden of wisdom.
this cleanser is definitely a different experience from a traditional face wash (read the directions!) but i got used to that almost immediately. and honestly, i would wash my face standing on my head at this point if that's what it took to keep my skin this happy.
my skin has never once reacted to it. it feels completely calm, clean and refreshed afterward, but NEVER stripped or tight, which was especially impressive considering what a disaster my skin barrier was when i started using it.
i began using this cleanser at the same time as the oat enriched facial serum, so i can't honestly tell you which product deserves more credit. what i can say is that my skin changed almost literally overnight. i woke up with smoother, calmer, more hydrated skin, and over the weeks that followed my redness, texture, hydration and overall skin health continued to improve. i kept waiting for the other shoe to drop because it genuinely felt too good to be true. it never did.
i've now been using this for almost three months, and the change is kind of unbelievable. at this point, i pretty much forget that i even have rosacea. considering how much my skin was affecting my day-to-day life when this first started, that feels enormous.
i truly believe that replacing everything that may have been irritating or inciting my skin with something this gentle played a huge role in allowing my skin to calm down and become so much more resilient.
if you wear makeup, i would pair it with garden of wisdom's micellar water, which i also love.
finding a cleanser that thoroughly cleans reactive, rosacea-prone skin without making it even remotely angry should not feel this miraculous, but after everything i tried before this, it absolutely does.
Soothing Cleansing Gel 100% Soap Free
Elizabeth Kankam
The best!
I got this product last week but finally used it last night. I woke up this morning so delighted that I had to rush to leave a review. This is from someone who barely leaves reviews. I’ve always been texture and hyperpigmentation prone as a person of color. I recently started using tretinoin but even the 0.025% makes my skin flaky and irritates my skin barrier all the time. So I started looking for a gentler retinol option but every product I found had ingredients that will either clog my pores or not work at all till I finally found GOW. I was immediately attracted to the simple ingredients list. I was a bit worried about my skin barrier so last night, I used a moisturizer as a buffer before applying the serum. I woke up to see a radiant skin with my pores looking visibly clearer. This product will forever be a staple in my routine! This and the clear,brighten and prevent serum! Please never discontinue this product.
Vita ReSurface™ Serum All-Trans Retinol
Anonymous
Little bottle
Little bottle. Big results.
This stuff is the bomb! It showed results the very next day. My blemish was much smaller on day 2 and gone on day 3. Used it am and pm. Just a very tiny dab.
Love this new formula with the frankincense so much that I had to get the larger size! I've been using hyaluronic acid plus squalane oil as a moisturizer because I couldn't find a moisturizer that didn't irritate my face or make it drier. I like that this balm has a few simple amazing ingredients with no added fragrance or preservatives. It doesn't irritate my skin or flare up my rosacea. This is the only moisturizer that has actually provided hydration for my skin. I use a small dab at night so the product lasts for many months and leaves my skin with a healthy glow.
Hi Teresa, your review truly makes us smile. I always read reviews out loud and I know the staff here is very proud of their work. Knowing this facial balm works so well for your skin is awesome to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience and for being a loyal customer.
Wishing you continued glowing skin!
Your GoW Team ˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆🪷⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖ ִֶָ
This is still my favourite cleanser after many many bottles! It never fails. So gentle it Doesn’t leave my skin dry yet still is cleansing and refreshing - my go to!
Hi Cortney, we're thrilled to hear it's still your favorite! Thank you for your continued trust and support. I so wish there was a way to spread the word for this kind to the skin cleanser. :-)
Thank you so very much.
Markey ᵗʰᵃᶰᵏᵧₒᵤ! ✌︎㋡
I really love this product, I am 44 and it has helped the area around my eyes and around my mouth. My skin appears firmer. Only problem is it is always sold out when I go to order more!
Thank you ❀ we are so happy the serum is helping your skin. We apologize for the out-of-stock issue and recommend signing up for restock notifications to be the first to know when it's available again.
Again, ᵗʰᵃᶰᵏᵧₒᵤ! ✌︎㋡ for the kind review. I love this serum myself.
Have a happy week ahead,
Markey 🌸🌸🌸
Honestly so impressed with this gel. Very hydrating and non irritating for sensitive skin.
Hi there! We're so happy to hear you're impressed with the gel and that it works well for your sensitive skin. This is always nice to hear!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
🫶🫶🫶
In my 70yrs still having breakouts, trying EVERYTHING!!! Prescription and over the counter. This is the 1st product I’ve ever used, that really works!! Will definitely reorder and recommend!
Christine
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this! Since I just turned 70 myself I know how frustrating our skin can behave. I am (we are) truly excited for your skin and your heart. ;-) Your outcome will hopefully help many others with their frustrating skin issues.
Wishing you all the best on your skin's journey to health.
Markey ✺◟(👁 ͜ʖ👁)◞✺
