Garden Of Wisdom Azelaic Acid Review

They’re well-known for their minimalistic ingredient lists and efficient products that help support more specific skin types and conditions.

One of their most popular products is the azelaic acid serum which I, as a huge fan of azelaic acid, had to try.

Here’s my review of the GOW Azelaic Acid serum.

What is Garden Of Wisdom Azelaic Acid?

The Garden Of Wisdom Azelaic Acid is a serum that has enjoyed a lot of popularity from skincare enthusiasts.

The product was originally formulated with 10% Azelaic acid but has now been reformulated and contains 12% Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate instead. I’ll tell you all about this new ingredient in a few.

The product helps with skin conditions like rosacea, soothes inflammation, and tackles hyperpigmentation.

It’s a promising acne treatment with a gentle and minimalistic formula that is great for even sensitive folks.

In a nutshell, the serum fights acne, brightens the skin, evens the skin tone, treats blemishes, and is often used for promoting faster wound healing.

Ingredients and highlights

The ingredient list

Before we dig deep into the key ingredients, here’s the full ingredient list of the serum:

The most notable ingredients in this simple formula are:

• Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (12%) – a water-soluble derivative of Azelaic Acid with superior hydration. It gives a silky-smooth texture to the product. It also helps prevent bacteria growth in skin follicles and eliminates dead skin cells. The ingredient is anti-inflammatory, evens out the skin tone, unclogs pores, and brightens the skin.
• Glycerin – offers an excellent level of hydration to the skin and is a golden standard in skincare due to its moisturizing capabilities.
• Hyaluronic acid – is another powerful hydrating agent that locks in water in your skin and prevents it from escaping. Having it in a team with glycerin working together is amazing.
• Allantoin – a soothing agent that prevents skin dryness and diminishes irritation.

Azeloyl Glycine vs Azelaic Acid

I already mentioned one very important fact about The Garden Of Wisdom Azelaic Acid serum – it has been reformulated to contain a derivative of azelaic acid rather than the real thing.

But what’s the difference between them after all? And should you worry that you’re getting a less effective product?

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate is derived from the condensation of azelaic acid and glycine. The glycine enables the derivative to have excellent hydrating properties and to help strengthen compromised skin.

It’s considered a much more effective agent when compared to azelaic acid and works at a lower concentration, which is both cheaper and less irritating for your skin.

In addition, the pH level of Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate is lower than that of azelaic acid. This means that it’s much more gentle and more suitable for sensitive skin than azelaic acid.

Product highlights

The Garden Of Wisdom azelaic acid serum is:

• Paraben-Free
• Sulfate-Free
• Alcohol-Free
• Silicone-Free
• Fragrance-Free
• EU Allergen-Free
• Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe
• Contains minimal ingredients

Packaging, amount of product, and how long it lasts

I personally love the packaging. The product comes in a stylish black pump bottle that’s easy to use.

It’s available in a bottle of 1oz or 30ml. You can also find it in a mini version of 0.25oz or 7ml and in bigger bottles of 4oz or 118ml.

If you’ve never used a pump bottle before it may take some time to get used to it and get into the habit of taking out the right amount of product for your needs.

You don’t need a lot of it and the bottle could last for around 4 months or more, depending on how often you use it.

I’m personally among the people that don’t go easy on azelaic acid and like to use it as often as possible.

For me, it lasted for around 3 and a half months, considering that I used it morning and evening, daily.

How to use it and where does it best fit in a routine?

The Garden Of Wisdom azelaic acid should be applied to the face after cleansing the face. In your skincare routine, it fits after the cleanser and before any moisturizers, creams, and oils. You can either precede it with other water-based products (toners, serums, essences) or use it first thing after you cleanse.

It can be used both in the morning and in the evening, and it’s safe to use daily.

Texture and experience

The texture is gel-like, silky, and smooth. It’s very easy to apply and spread on your face and you’ll feel a nice soothing feeling.

It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a residue or any kind of film on top of your skin.

It doesn’t pill and plays well under sunscreen and makeup.

Garden Of Wisdom Azelaic Acid vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid

A lot of people want to compare the azelaic acid solution by Garden Of Wisdom to the one by The Ordinary. I’d like to shed some light on the topic as I used both of them extensively.

In terms of texture, I’d say that the Garden Of Wisdom AA is much more easy and fun to use than The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid Suspension. It fits perfectly well in any skincare routine, morning or night, and can be used by all skin types.

On the contrary, The Ordinary’s AA is a bit more tricky to use and people are divided into two pools – those who adore it and those who absolutely despise it.

At the same time, The Ordinary AA is much more accessible and easy to find in stores and online shops. While the GOW serum is difficult to come around.

Who is this for

The Garden Of Wisdom’s azelaic acid is suitable for anyone, and I mean anyone. It’s a good choice even for pregnant women.

To be honest, azelaic acid is also suitable for all types of skins, but its derivative is even gentler.

It can safely be used by people with super sensitive skin and especially for people who have concluded that azelaic acid doesn’t work well for them. Testing the derivative is a great way to get some of the benefits without the associated risks of the main ingredient.

Who is this NOT for

I wouldn’t say that there is a group of people who won’t enjoy this. It’s a one-size-fits-all type of serum.

Does it live up to its claims?

Many people share positive feedback when it comes to the product working or rosacea. It’s also truly efficient in calming down the skin and soothing inflammation. A lot of people love it for its ability to reduce redness and even out the skin tone. Also, users who have previously purchased the original azelaic acid product by the Garden Of Wisdom share that the new version with PAD is much more effective.

Regarding my personal experience, I’ve used the product to tackle acne scars and prevent acne in the first place.

I love the fact that it can be easily combined with other skincare and makeup products, as opposed to The Ordinary’s product. The Ordinary’s azelaic acid has a texture and consistency that don’t work with other skincare and makeup on top of it, making the product impossible to use in the morning routine.

Price & availability

Sadly, one of the drawbacks of this product is that it’s challenging to find online. You can get it delivered from the official website but that’s pretty much it.

The Garden Of Wisdom azelaic acid costs around $19 for a 1oz. bottle (30ml). You can also get a smaller version of 0.25 oz., or a larger bottle of 4 oz. – depending on your needs.

I hope that my dissection of the product will come in handy if you’re looking to try something new and effective for treating rosacea, inflammation, and other similar skin conditions.

Overall, I’d recommend giving The Garden Of Wisdom’s azelaic acid a try. It’s a top choice for all skin types and you can’t really go wrong with it.

If you’ve had any experience with the product I’d love to hear your thoughts! Did it work for you? How do you compare it to the old version? Use the comments section below to share your stories and experiences with me and my readers.