Opinions on Azelaic Acid?

Ever since I’ve heard of the effects of azelaic acid I’ve been in the search for a product. There are not a lot of products containing azelaic acid (compared to other active ingredients) on the market but I had the opportunity to test two. The first one I’ve used was not so good for my skin since it burned and flushed my skin (even though this ingredients target redness and irritation) which was probably because of its formulation (the cream had cristallized which was shows that it was not so stable). However with the second one I’m using I can see why this ingredients is being talked about a lot lately. Overnight it controls my redness and irritation and helps slightly to exfoliate my skin and clear out my pores. What are your opinoins on azelaic acid? Have you ever tried OTC azelaic acid products?

Hyaluronic Acid, not so gentle?

Event though Hyaluronic Acid is regarded as “an acid” that is not sensitizing or irritating as other acids like BHA or AHA, I recently realized that it was actually irritating my skin and making my inflammation worse. I was using some actives at the time and I thought the irritation was coming from those actives. However, I came to the realization that it was actually the HA I was using to hydrate and prep my skin for the actives that was causing my inflammation. I changed my HA product and it never got better untill I stopped incorporating and HA serum in my routine. Has anyone had the same problem with HA?

Best Non-Asian Brand Sunscreen

I’ve tried several asian sunscreens both from korean and japanese brands and they were all superior compared to western brands. However I still enjoy using some western-brand sunscreens like Eucerin Oil Control Sunscreen and La Roche Posay Shaka Fluid. Do you have any other recommendations?

Opinions on Personalized Skincare Products?

Even though I’ve not used any personalized skincare products, I think they might be really great for people with specific skin issues and who do not know what ingredients / products to use. My only doubt is that the “skin quizes” they provide are sometimes too vague and undetailed questions about your skin. What do you think about personalized skincare products? Have you tried any brands?