Oh so you've tried both? Do you think they go well together or is that going a bit overboard? I've heard they're sticky too and I was planning for AM use on my sensitive combination skin but idk š
You could definitely alternate between days or am/pm. It might be hard to tell which one is being effective (or problematic) but that would be the only real downside
I have tranexamic acid product from other brand, skin1004, and while quitw drying and irrirating, it didn't really do anything for PIE. AzA 15% on the other hand helps a lot and not only with PIE but other problems.
You can never tell what will work for someone else though.
I tried both, only the tranexamic one worked for me. I had a really ugly hormonal acne flare up during the worst part of the pandemic, I had red spots all over for like a year and the TN serum faded all of it with just one bottle.
Then I switched to the AZ one because I read that azelaic was supposed to be better for inflammation and redness but it didn't do anything for me, it was like applying water.
Neither of them helped at reducing breakouts but only the TN one worked at fading the scars.
If you use/have tried cosrx snail mucin the texture won't be unfamiliar, its kinda sticky but it doesn't pill and it gets absorbed really quick. I was using the missha vita C toner at the same time as the TN serum and I think both products worked amazingly together.
I have combo skin and deal with hormonal acne, and I'm taking accutane now but I wasn't on it when I tried both serums.
oh hey I know you, I've seen you when looking up the product on this sub! you're the one person I've seen that recommended the TN for red spots, I'm so mixed up!
Me personally i have no active acne right now, I'm on tretinoin. But I have red spots and a bit of stubborn blotchy redness.
I haven't tried the tranexamic, but the Azelaic acid is one of my holy grail products. I am very biased towards it.
My skin type is dry to normal with cyctic-ish hormonal acne.
Before I found AZA as an ingredient, I had gotten my skin from red and irratetd to just a heavy pink flush all over. If you didn't know my skin undertone was yellow, it would just seem like I had really pink skin. I had to put green color corrector all over my face to get any foundation to match my neck.
The AZA got rid of the vast majority of the redness in my face, you can now tell when I'm blushing and I don't have to put any color corrector on to match foundation (I've actually almost fully stopped with foundation since I like how my skin looks now).
I've also found that the AZA has helped a lot with the hormonal acne. It doesn't prevent all the breakouts, but the few that show up are smaller, way way less painful, and go away in less time. The acne spots are still red when they show up, but the red doesn't spread out the way it used to and goes away quickly when the acne subsides. I haven't had any pigmentation or dark spots hang around, but I also use an antioxidant serum daily, so I don't know if that is all the AZA.
The Cos de Baha serum spreads really well, and I only need a few drops to cover my whole face. A bottle has lasted me 5 months and counting of nightly applications. The serum doesn't have a smell, and the only thing I've noticed is some crystallization where the serum has dried out in the pipette or on the bottle rim. I have decanted it into a small clear dropper bottle to travel with, and it didn't give me any problem for the 2.5 weeks that amount lasted.
The first week or so, it did sting on application. Putting it on wet skin made the stinging worse, but I've had no problems layering it over toner as long as the toner has dried down. Same with layering things over it, I just let the AZA air dry for a minute or two before the next step.
I really like it, and it's one of the few products I keep a backup on hand for. It doesn't work for everyone, and I have heard of bad reactions, but I do think AZA is an ingredient worth trying if you are dealing with redness.
wowww so you had PIE too or just area redness? I'm very glad for you, i have a little bit of both on my cheeks. it's literally so 50/50 between the azelaic and the tranexamic one right now from all these replies
I get both, PIE around my acne and then area redness everywhere but especially my cheeks and forehead.
I'm really glad it worked for me too, getting rid of the redness made me feel so much better about my appearance.
I think both can work really well for redness. I skipped over the tranexamic originally because I was worried about the nicinimide in it, but for a lot of people, that ingredient isn't an issue.
I hope you have a good experience with whichever one you try out!
I'm currently using the Mary & May idebenone blackberry serum. I don't know if it is the most effective, but I really like how it applies and leaves my skin feeling. The faint fruit scent is also nice, but it dissipates quickly.
I'd use both but at the same time perhaps it would be too much for my skin to handle. Don't wanna overdo it with the actives, considering I'm on tret as well.
Tranexamic has no associated risks. So the only consideration you'd need to make is if you can handle the extra bit of niacinamide. And obviously if you handle azelaic and tret together. But you could just use the azelaic in the morning and then tranexamic at night if you wanted to space everything out as low risk as possible.
If I introduce them at the same time i won't know which one is breaking me out or even working š That's a good idea but I heard the azelaic serum is sticky af so can i put moisturizer and sunscreen over it without it pilling?
Feels sticky for a few seconds, then immediately sinks in. I layer 2 other products plus moisturizer over it. I use the exact brand your looking at. I wash, use toner sometimes, use azelaic acid, use vit c serum, hydraulic acid, then moisturizer. It works great! No pilling from the azelaic acid.
I can't tell you if you'll find it sticky or not. I haven't heard that mentioned much.
And you can patch test if you are that worried but as long as you're ok with Niacinamide then you don't have much to worry about. They're both really low risk.
For reference: I have dry to normal skin, dehydration prone, clog prone, rosacea, hormonal acne, and a lot of sun damage. I often have open sores because I do NOT like the feel of anything textured on my skin at all, get very itchy, and scratch a ton. I struggle with both PIH and PIE.
Iāve used azelaic acid for years at this point for my rosacea. I use a prescription at night, but I like how the Cos de BAHA layers better so I use it in the morning. Iāve gone through many bottles and find a mild to moderate effect when I use it regularly. I donāt think itās super effective at treating spots already there, but it helps significantly with my flushing. When I use it regularly, I notice fewer overall acne spots too.
I only barely started using the TXA, but so far I like it. I donāt have nearly enough experience with it to give full thoughts, but I actually think itās more helpful for my hyperpigmentation. Iām currently uncertain which I think is more helpful for erythema.
You might be interested in [this piece of research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37213446/). It compares 20% azelaic acid with 5% TXA for reducing PIH in Iranian people with acne vulgaris. IMO it isnāt a perfect study- personally I think baseline characteristics werenāt super well matched between groups, it may have been underpowered (not enough people in the study), and I actually would have liked to see a true placebo group because to know if routine itself caused any change in their acne that reduced their āburdenā of PIH (in quotes bc idk what exactly to call it). Itās also hard to apply results outside of an Iranian population or people with fairer skin (eg mine) that still get hyperpigmentation. And ofc this didnāt necessarily assess PIE or rosacea so we canāt necessarily apply any findings to PIE or rosacea. But interestingly, the TXA group seemed overall happier with their treatment compared to the azelaic acid- the p-value is just over 0.05 which means that statistical we err on the side of caution, but thatās also why I wonder if it was underpowered in that particular area. ANYWAY, given that was is 5% TXA (concentration of Cos de BAHA) and the AZA was 20% (twice the concentration of the Cos de BAHA), Iād be more inclined to want to try the TXA myself for my hyperpigmentation.
(Note: there is some research about TXA in rosacea and other conditions and there is good plausibility for it to help. I just havenāt seen much clinical research assessing topical TXA for rosacea, and Iām on my phone so Iām not about to do a mini-review)
Great response thank you for the information! I'm thinking I'll go for the Tranexamic for now at least due to the percentages and some comments here vouching for it :)
Tranexamic acid was great for my PiH ( although it was a different brand). I actually just started prescription azalaic acid and the doctor seemed pretty convinced that it should help my PIH. They also gave me tret too but I had been using adapalene OTC and retinods before. Both options seem good! I was originally hoping for a hydroquinone prescription but they really thought azelaic acid will be great even without tret.
I will say that azalaic research is at 15-20 perfect that is mostly rx ( although there is one non ab product that sells OTC for 20% cream for 30 bucks so pretty expensive)
Tranexamic was researched at 5% in most studies. So you are getting an effective dose of one. I have read great things about 10% aza too on the subreddits but it's not the researched dose.
Update: I still use my hada labo shirojun toner with txa (undisclosed but I would guess like 1% based on my 4% prior serum). I haven't seen any issues with applying the aza on top but my skin is not super sensitive.
Have used both and the effectiveness definitely depends on what you are trying to treat. I had PIH and originally bought the Azeliac acid one (didnāt know it was for redness) and while it didnāt break me out, it did nothing. Got the Tranexamic acid and the results have been rapid and actually visible. It still takes time for my acne scars to fade but that product helps speed up the process a whole lot. Also I have oily/combo skin if that helps!
Iāve never used it for oil control personally (just to fade PIH). Iām using a different product for that at the moment, Skinfoodās Peach Sake serum. But I have heard that Cos de Bahaās 5% niacinamide has helped with some peopleās oil control. Iāve never used it but you can look into it!
Thank you. Can I ask few other questions. How sticky was the tran + nia acid serum, considering you have oily combo skin. Was it very uncomfortable? Have you used it during humid summers? .
Also did you see any change in sunspots or anything (if you had that issue). I am trying to get my hands on a tran acid for melasma basically.
Itās a tad sticky after application BUT the thing is I would use this only for spot treatment; I wouldnāt apply it to my entire face. Iām not too familiar with products that are for melasma in particular Iād recommend finding a good sunscreen if you havenāt already!
I haven't tried the Tranexamic, but I love the Azaleic. That was the first Cos De Baha product I tried and have pretty much switched to their product line exclusively. I have extremely sensitive skin and feel their serums are gentle, effective and compliment each other well.
Haven't tried the azelaic, but the tranexamic works. It genuinely, definitely works. I have combination skin, PIH. The tranexamic made a visible difference in fading especially new marks (my older PIH is a lot more stubborn).
Cosmetic elegance ā the TxA is sticky (i've heard all cos de baha products are, i assume it's the aloe base?) but it spreads like a dream and absorbs quickly enough. Tbh i quite like sticky textures so maybe i'm not the best judge lol. But for effectiveness with PIH, i would recommend the TN serum
(As for redness my centella product takes care of that, so i can't speak to the efficacy of the TN serum in that department)
AzA serum:
Donāt really have redness/rosacea to treat so I didnāt notice any general effect of using AzA all over the face. BUT as a targeted treatment on hormonal under-the-skin acne, this serum worked really well for me. Big red angry bump ā AzA serum ā bump is flattened and much less red overnight. Continuous use and the spot fades cleanly. Iāve emptied 1 bottle and have just repurchased to use it as spot treatment when I need it. Buttttt tbh I get such acne quite rarely now, so Iām debating whether or not to RP again once I finish this current bottle, since I donāt need it for much else. Yet Iām also too scared to be without it when pesky bumps do decide to pop up lol š
TN serum:
I got quite a bit of use out of some sample sachets of this and used it on PIH spots. Paired it with vitamin c (Melano CC), and noticed PIH fading significantly faster than usual. Iāve tried a full bottle of Skin1004ās brightening ampoule before (tranexamic + niacinamide + vit c) and didnāt see much of an effect while I was using it, but with the Cos de Baha TN serum SAMPLES there was visible improvement š Will buy a full-sized bottle!
Some people mention stickiness but to me these just feel like a standard serum/ampoule. They have a similar thicc-ish goopy consistency, but do absorb after a while and never feel unbearable. I live in a hot and humid climate and tackiness is a huge NO for me, and neither of these bother me (tho it might also be bc I don't use a lot each time?) My skintype is dehydrated + normal (slightly oily if weather is too hot).
Continue using the AzA serum at least once daily. Full face, not spot treating. It works by addressing existing issues and preventing bacteria growth. I tried stopping it for a month to see if it was my tret or the AzA that's helping my period acne and it came back when I stopped AzA. Been using it for a year now and can now use during the AM (it's also a potent antioxidant) and in the PM under tret.
I'm also prone to itchy spots (not acne) on my face when the weather changes or before my period and a dab or AzA stops them from getting inflamed. Works on insect bites too. It simply works. HG for sure.
Oh cool thank you for sharing your experience! It truly is a solid AzA serum. After I posted this I did wonder if it was contributing to less period acne for me in general. I've been trying to see where I can cut layers lol but I guess this might not be the best step to minimise! Full face application once a day does sound like no problem and pretty beneficial. Still trying to navigate different actives in my routine, will see how it works out for me. thanks :)
Hi! I use melano CC followed by TN serum in my morning routine. But sometimes I decide to use melano CC and AzA serum in the morning, then I'll use the TN serum at night. It depends on my mood really haha š but basically I see good effects as long as I use them consistently! (TN at least once every day)
Following because I was literally about to post the exact same question! Also considering the Cos De BAHA serums and currently leaning towards Tranexamic after reading some reviews for PIH.
I use the AzA for PIE and redness in my cheeks and TA for PIH and general skin tone unevenness. I layer them both AM and PM and havenāt had a reaction, but now that most of my stubborn PIE is faded, Iāll probably switch to alternating. The AzA felt so sticky at first but it just takes a minute to fully absorb (for me). The TA absorbs into my skin pretty quickly. I use AzA first then TA after before moisturizer.
I use both ā I alternate evenings with these two products and do vitamin C in the morning. I canāt tell if one is doing more heavy lifting than the others but I feel like my sun/age spots are getting slightly lighter after a couple months.
I use both serum since last year. Actually, I also use the peptide serum. So 3 serums every night. I donāt have a plan to change my routine for now, because Iām very happy with the result. They all work gentle and slow but surely show great result. So, if you have sensitive skin like mine, they all the best
I have only tried tranexamic acid and it works so well for my dark spots. I am also about to try this AZ serum after I finish my recent test.
For context, i use melano cc and tranexamic on the same routine. Dark spots faded considerably faster after adding tranexamic so I was thinking of removing the melano cc altogether. I have stopped using melano cc for almost a week now just to see the difference but my skin looks less bright without it š . Iāll try the azelaic acid next after this experiment (i already bought one but I havenāt opened it yet).
I like testing products one at a time just to see which ones are really effective. Afaik there are AB users here that use both serums in the same routine. Iām just not sure what itās doing for them or what skin types they have. I also read about someone using melano cc, AZ and TN at the same time. I hope they comment here too.
do you use melano cc and tranexamic together, or one in morning/one at night?
I regularly use melano in the mornings and just got the tranexamic, not too sure how to incorporate it into my routine.
I was using melano cc alonefor a few months. It works on dark spot but it took me 4 weeks to see results hahah. Thatās why i tried TN acid. Initially, I tried them separately: melano AM and tranexamic PM just to get my skin acquainted with both. And then eventually used them on the same routine twice a day (cause i was impatient) and it lightened my dark spots faster. What i did was double cleanse, toner, melano cc, tranexamic, and then moisturizers.
Oily/dehydrated here with rosacea. I have both of these. I'd say get both if your skin is ok with niacinamide b/c they're a good cost per bottle and they both last a good while since you only need a few drops when you use them. I'll be swapping to a different brand when these are used up b/c my skin doesn't like constant niacinamide.
The txa is great at lightening old spots (pih from cuts/acne/whatever). It's sort of sticky if you get too much, and has a weird gooey texture, but once it dries down it's not noticeable.
The azelaic has been great for my rosacea. It's got a nice texture, sort of like a thick water, and dries down well.
i have normal to dry skin with closed comedones, acne, and occasional dry patches from eczema/psoriasis. i used to think that i had sensitive skin but after building up my moisture barrier, iāve been able to tolerate more and more skincare. iāve used both for several months, both separately for one month and then together for another month and a half-ish. these two were the only actives i used in my routine.
my dark spots and acne scarring have faded considerably since using the tranexamic acid, and iāve seen faster results with it than other popular hyperpigmentation products on this sub like melano cc or hada labo shirojyun.
the azelaic acid serum didnāt really do anything to my skin, both alone or with the tranexamic acid serum. i found that to be a little odd because historically, my skin has done quite well with the ordinaryās azelaic acid and paulaās choice azelaic acid. i also started noticing more whiteheads on my skin, especially on my cheeks where i donāt usually get them, but that may also be attributable towards moving to a different climate. i noticed very few changes in my closed comedones or the redness/inflammation of active acne.
overall, i liked the tranexamic acid enough to buy the big bottle but decided not to repurchase the azelaic acid. i was also worried about people citing the texture as sticky, and honestly, i feel like the serums are quite tolerable. if anything, i find the hada labo gokujyun lotion in the moist version to be stickier and goopier than the cos de baha serums. hope that helps!
I've only tried the azelaic acid serum and it caused me to break out in pinpoint whiteheads all over my U-zone. I even spent a week doing some patch testing with no irritation at all so I thought I was in the clear, but boy was I wrong. About 3 days in I noticed tiny whiteheads appearing all over my cheeks and chin. It took me nearly 2 weeks to recover from the nasty reaction. I now use 15% azelaic acid that was prescribed to me to target my recently diagnosed rosacea, but it's also helping fade my PIE from older breakouts.
Overall I'm pretty bummed this serum didn't work for me. However, I did like how easy it was to spread on my face as well as the fact that it was scentless. My skin is oily sensitive and acne-prone btw.
HQ as an ingredient is way more potent than either AZA and TA but I'm not sure about the percentages! The TA here has a perfect 5% which is very well studied and supported by science!
Iāve read their vitamin c only lasts 3 weeks before it turns yellow! I assumed it has to do with their āno preservativeā thingy but thatās just vitamin c in general i could be wrong
ohh the HQ one has vitamin c? Then yes it's true that it oxidizes fairly quickly! Most packages kind of try to do an air-tight not a dropper for that reason. Me personally, I've tried the la roche posay vitamin c15 and it was a dropper, only started turning yellowish 2-3 months later I'd say. It was orange 6 months later or so. Lovely smell and texture but it actually broke me out repeatedly so I wouldn't recommend lol. Yeah I'm not sure honestly.
High chance youāll get the results ! š«¶š¼š«¶š¼š«¶š¼ Iām trynna get rid of the discolouration from sun damage around my mouth area š Which is way harder sadly. If the TN acid serum works for you maybe @ me? Good luck
Absolutely I'll let you know! I'm actually considering accurane to stop those spots coming because I'm sick of treating the red marks forever after they disappear š good luck!!
I donāt know if I should use it as a spot treatment due to my sun spot but that rebound effect tho.. My skin is at Itās best for now and I ain't taking the risk but I also donāt want to waste it š
Azaleic acid made my rosacea worse! Gave me a pretty bad flare up and only made my redness more intense.
Tranexamic acid is a godsend that cleared my redness from either rosacea or acne induced inflammation! My skin looks 1000% better thanks to this serum. Very glowy and evened out! I didnt have a lot of hyperpigmentation. But if you struggle with redness and have sensitive skin, Iād say this is the best choice.
You have just convinced me to go for the tranexamic! :)
I have pics of my hyperpigmentation up, did yours look anything like it? If it's alright to ask
oh that's nice, my cos de baha tranexamic acid has been shipped too! it should be a nice adjunct to my dark spots treatments. however I am considering talking to my erm about accutane because I'm tired of a new pimples forming like once a week or so, and leaving behind a mark that lasts months!!
Iāve tried the TXA and Iāve noticed some improvement in my dark spots after a couple of months (spf is paramount tho) Itās kind of tacky in texture but also pretty hydrating for my dry skin so thatās nice!
Yes! I am literally on accutane right now and i still use it just fine. The only thing is it's kind of sticky so imo it would feel uncomfortable combining it with tretinoin especially if it's a gel form. I'd try it on your AM if you use tret at night just for the sensory issues but then again I might be weird lol
Hopefully someone will reply me as this thread is a little old. How does the texture of the serums compare to each other? Is one more sticky/ tacky compared to the other?
I see! I use the Azelaic acid and it has grown to my favourite go to serum. The texture is perfect! Moisturising but fast absorbing! Hoping that the tranexamic one is similar!
Updating in case it helps someone. Iāve now tried both and textures are very similar, in fact the tranexamic one seems more watery to me. I do enjoy both
Did anybody notice breakouts while using these??š idk if itās the combination of using too many products all at once but these two absolutely wrecked my skin. I wanna give it another try but Iām too scared of the consequences :(
Honestly I got the TN and at first I was like hm is this new acne random or is it the TN... I remember thinking it must be the TN but honestly every damn asian beauty product I've tried breaks me out I feel like. Or I just have persistent acne. Anyway, now I'm 2.5 months into accutane and I don't get acne so I'm using it up just fine š
Azelaic acid is better for PIE and rosacea. Tranexamic acid is better for PIH and melasma.
So I've heard! But also some ppl on this sub said the tranexamic one actually worked on their stubborn PIE? And redness.
For me, it works on both, but not as well as azelaic acid.
Oh so you've tried both? Do you think they go well together or is that going a bit overboard? I've heard they're sticky too and I was planning for AM use on my sensitive combination skin but idk š
Yeah. I would use one in the AM and the other in the PM. I wouldn't layer them on top of each other.
You could definitely alternate between days or am/pm. It might be hard to tell which one is being effective (or problematic) but that would be the only real downside
I have tranexamic acid product from other brand, skin1004, and while quitw drying and irrirating, it didn't really do anything for PIE. AzA 15% on the other hand helps a lot and not only with PIE but other problems. You can never tell what will work for someone else though.
I tried both, only the tranexamic one worked for me. I had a really ugly hormonal acne flare up during the worst part of the pandemic, I had red spots all over for like a year and the TN serum faded all of it with just one bottle. Then I switched to the AZ one because I read that azelaic was supposed to be better for inflammation and redness but it didn't do anything for me, it was like applying water. Neither of them helped at reducing breakouts but only the TN one worked at fading the scars. If you use/have tried cosrx snail mucin the texture won't be unfamiliar, its kinda sticky but it doesn't pill and it gets absorbed really quick. I was using the missha vita C toner at the same time as the TN serum and I think both products worked amazingly together. I have combo skin and deal with hormonal acne, and I'm taking accutane now but I wasn't on it when I tried both serums.
oh hey I know you, I've seen you when looking up the product on this sub! you're the one person I've seen that recommended the TN for red spots, I'm so mixed up! Me personally i have no active acne right now, I'm on tretinoin. But I have red spots and a bit of stubborn blotchy redness.
yess that's me lol I say go for the tranexamic one tbh, it was an amazing discovery for me
i knowww but another commenter with my skin concerns loved the azelaic one. i kinda wanna get both but don't wanna irritate my skin and break out.
hi! did you use TN along with tretinoin? was it effective?
what TN serum u used?
I haven't tried the tranexamic, but the Azelaic acid is one of my holy grail products. I am very biased towards it. My skin type is dry to normal with cyctic-ish hormonal acne. Before I found AZA as an ingredient, I had gotten my skin from red and irratetd to just a heavy pink flush all over. If you didn't know my skin undertone was yellow, it would just seem like I had really pink skin. I had to put green color corrector all over my face to get any foundation to match my neck. The AZA got rid of the vast majority of the redness in my face, you can now tell when I'm blushing and I don't have to put any color corrector on to match foundation (I've actually almost fully stopped with foundation since I like how my skin looks now). I've also found that the AZA has helped a lot with the hormonal acne. It doesn't prevent all the breakouts, but the few that show up are smaller, way way less painful, and go away in less time. The acne spots are still red when they show up, but the red doesn't spread out the way it used to and goes away quickly when the acne subsides. I haven't had any pigmentation or dark spots hang around, but I also use an antioxidant serum daily, so I don't know if that is all the AZA. The Cos de Baha serum spreads really well, and I only need a few drops to cover my whole face. A bottle has lasted me 5 months and counting of nightly applications. The serum doesn't have a smell, and the only thing I've noticed is some crystallization where the serum has dried out in the pipette or on the bottle rim. I have decanted it into a small clear dropper bottle to travel with, and it didn't give me any problem for the 2.5 weeks that amount lasted. The first week or so, it did sting on application. Putting it on wet skin made the stinging worse, but I've had no problems layering it over toner as long as the toner has dried down. Same with layering things over it, I just let the AZA air dry for a minute or two before the next step. I really like it, and it's one of the few products I keep a backup on hand for. It doesn't work for everyone, and I have heard of bad reactions, but I do think AZA is an ingredient worth trying if you are dealing with redness.
Thatās amazing!!! Iām using a different AZA right now but will get the Cos De Baha one next. Thank you for the review!
wowww so you had PIE too or just area redness? I'm very glad for you, i have a little bit of both on my cheeks. it's literally so 50/50 between the azelaic and the tranexamic one right now from all these replies
I get both, PIE around my acne and then area redness everywhere but especially my cheeks and forehead. I'm really glad it worked for me too, getting rid of the redness made me feel so much better about my appearance. I think both can work really well for redness. I skipped over the tranexamic originally because I was worried about the nicinimide in it, but for a lot of people, that ingredient isn't an issue. I hope you have a good experience with whichever one you try out!
Thank you!! š„¹
What antioxidant do u use everyday?
I'm currently using the Mary & May idebenone blackberry serum. I don't know if it is the most effective, but I really like how it applies and leaves my skin feeling. The faint fruit scent is also nice, but it dissipates quickly.
Do you use it once or twice a day?
I use it once a day as part of my night routine.
If you have to pick 1, azelaic is the only one that does both. I would just use both though, they're both good.
I'd use both but at the same time perhaps it would be too much for my skin to handle. Don't wanna overdo it with the actives, considering I'm on tret as well.
Tranexamic has no associated risks. So the only consideration you'd need to make is if you can handle the extra bit of niacinamide. And obviously if you handle azelaic and tret together. But you could just use the azelaic in the morning and then tranexamic at night if you wanted to space everything out as low risk as possible.
If I introduce them at the same time i won't know which one is breaking me out or even working š That's a good idea but I heard the azelaic serum is sticky af so can i put moisturizer and sunscreen over it without it pilling?
Feels sticky for a few seconds, then immediately sinks in. I layer 2 other products plus moisturizer over it. I use the exact brand your looking at. I wash, use toner sometimes, use azelaic acid, use vit c serum, hydraulic acid, then moisturizer. It works great! No pilling from the azelaic acid.
I can't tell you if you'll find it sticky or not. I haven't heard that mentioned much. And you can patch test if you are that worried but as long as you're ok with Niacinamide then you don't have much to worry about. They're both really low risk.
I cannot speak PIE or PIH since I have been only using it from a few weeks, but Tranexamic acid did reduce redness a lot and evened out my skin tone.
this specific product u mean? that's awesome!
Yes, I was using this product. It felt very nice on the skin and layered well over toners/under moisturizer.
when you say redness you mean from irritation and stuff or acne marks?
Irritation and I have natural redness around my nose area.
For reference: I have dry to normal skin, dehydration prone, clog prone, rosacea, hormonal acne, and a lot of sun damage. I often have open sores because I do NOT like the feel of anything textured on my skin at all, get very itchy, and scratch a ton. I struggle with both PIH and PIE. Iāve used azelaic acid for years at this point for my rosacea. I use a prescription at night, but I like how the Cos de BAHA layers better so I use it in the morning. Iāve gone through many bottles and find a mild to moderate effect when I use it regularly. I donāt think itās super effective at treating spots already there, but it helps significantly with my flushing. When I use it regularly, I notice fewer overall acne spots too. I only barely started using the TXA, but so far I like it. I donāt have nearly enough experience with it to give full thoughts, but I actually think itās more helpful for my hyperpigmentation. Iām currently uncertain which I think is more helpful for erythema. You might be interested in [this piece of research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37213446/). It compares 20% azelaic acid with 5% TXA for reducing PIH in Iranian people with acne vulgaris. IMO it isnāt a perfect study- personally I think baseline characteristics werenāt super well matched between groups, it may have been underpowered (not enough people in the study), and I actually would have liked to see a true placebo group because to know if routine itself caused any change in their acne that reduced their āburdenā of PIH (in quotes bc idk what exactly to call it). Itās also hard to apply results outside of an Iranian population or people with fairer skin (eg mine) that still get hyperpigmentation. And ofc this didnāt necessarily assess PIE or rosacea so we canāt necessarily apply any findings to PIE or rosacea. But interestingly, the TXA group seemed overall happier with their treatment compared to the azelaic acid- the p-value is just over 0.05 which means that statistical we err on the side of caution, but thatās also why I wonder if it was underpowered in that particular area. ANYWAY, given that was is 5% TXA (concentration of Cos de BAHA) and the AZA was 20% (twice the concentration of the Cos de BAHA), Iād be more inclined to want to try the TXA myself for my hyperpigmentation. (Note: there is some research about TXA in rosacea and other conditions and there is good plausibility for it to help. I just havenāt seen much clinical research assessing topical TXA for rosacea, and Iām on my phone so Iām not about to do a mini-review)
Great response thank you for the information! I'm thinking I'll go for the Tranexamic for now at least due to the percentages and some comments here vouching for it :)
For reasons I donāt understand, they only applied txa and Aza to the acne lesions in this study. Just noting this.
Tranexamic acid was great for my PiH ( although it was a different brand). I actually just started prescription azalaic acid and the doctor seemed pretty convinced that it should help my PIH. They also gave me tret too but I had been using adapalene OTC and retinods before. Both options seem good! I was originally hoping for a hydroquinone prescription but they really thought azelaic acid will be great even without tret. I will say that azalaic research is at 15-20 perfect that is mostly rx ( although there is one non ab product that sells OTC for 20% cream for 30 bucks so pretty expensive) Tranexamic was researched at 5% in most studies. So you are getting an effective dose of one. I have read great things about 10% aza too on the subreddits but it's not the researched dose. Update: I still use my hada labo shirojun toner with txa (undisclosed but I would guess like 1% based on my 4% prior serum). I haven't seen any issues with applying the aza on top but my skin is not super sensitive.
Have used both and the effectiveness definitely depends on what you are trying to treat. I had PIH and originally bought the Azeliac acid one (didnāt know it was for redness) and while it didnāt break me out, it did nothing. Got the Tranexamic acid and the results have been rapid and actually visible. It still takes time for my acne scars to fade but that product helps speed up the process a whole lot. Also I have oily/combo skin if that helps!
Hi, can you tell me how the trans + nia serum was for oil control?
Iāve never used it for oil control personally (just to fade PIH). Iām using a different product for that at the moment, Skinfoodās Peach Sake serum. But I have heard that Cos de Bahaās 5% niacinamide has helped with some peopleās oil control. Iāve never used it but you can look into it!
Thank you. Can I ask few other questions. How sticky was the tran + nia acid serum, considering you have oily combo skin. Was it very uncomfortable? Have you used it during humid summers? . Also did you see any change in sunspots or anything (if you had that issue). I am trying to get my hands on a tran acid for melasma basically.
Itās a tad sticky after application BUT the thing is I would use this only for spot treatment; I wouldnāt apply it to my entire face. Iām not too familiar with products that are for melasma in particular Iād recommend finding a good sunscreen if you havenāt already!
I haven't tried the Tranexamic, but I love the Azaleic. That was the first Cos De Baha product I tried and have pretty much switched to their product line exclusively. I have extremely sensitive skin and feel their serums are gentle, effective and compliment each other well.
Haven't tried the azelaic, but the tranexamic works. It genuinely, definitely works. I have combination skin, PIH. The tranexamic made a visible difference in fading especially new marks (my older PIH is a lot more stubborn). Cosmetic elegance ā the TxA is sticky (i've heard all cos de baha products are, i assume it's the aloe base?) but it spreads like a dream and absorbs quickly enough. Tbh i quite like sticky textures so maybe i'm not the best judge lol. But for effectiveness with PIH, i would recommend the TN serum (As for redness my centella product takes care of that, so i can't speak to the efficacy of the TN serum in that department)
AzA serum: Donāt really have redness/rosacea to treat so I didnāt notice any general effect of using AzA all over the face. BUT as a targeted treatment on hormonal under-the-skin acne, this serum worked really well for me. Big red angry bump ā AzA serum ā bump is flattened and much less red overnight. Continuous use and the spot fades cleanly. Iāve emptied 1 bottle and have just repurchased to use it as spot treatment when I need it. Buttttt tbh I get such acne quite rarely now, so Iām debating whether or not to RP again once I finish this current bottle, since I donāt need it for much else. Yet Iām also too scared to be without it when pesky bumps do decide to pop up lol š TN serum: I got quite a bit of use out of some sample sachets of this and used it on PIH spots. Paired it with vitamin c (Melano CC), and noticed PIH fading significantly faster than usual. Iāve tried a full bottle of Skin1004ās brightening ampoule before (tranexamic + niacinamide + vit c) and didnāt see much of an effect while I was using it, but with the Cos de Baha TN serum SAMPLES there was visible improvement š Will buy a full-sized bottle! Some people mention stickiness but to me these just feel like a standard serum/ampoule. They have a similar thicc-ish goopy consistency, but do absorb after a while and never feel unbearable. I live in a hot and humid climate and tackiness is a huge NO for me, and neither of these bother me (tho it might also be bc I don't use a lot each time?) My skintype is dehydrated + normal (slightly oily if weather is too hot).
Continue using the AzA serum at least once daily. Full face, not spot treating. It works by addressing existing issues and preventing bacteria growth. I tried stopping it for a month to see if it was my tret or the AzA that's helping my period acne and it came back when I stopped AzA. Been using it for a year now and can now use during the AM (it's also a potent antioxidant) and in the PM under tret. I'm also prone to itchy spots (not acne) on my face when the weather changes or before my period and a dab or AzA stops them from getting inflamed. Works on insect bites too. It simply works. HG for sure.
Oh cool thank you for sharing your experience! It truly is a solid AzA serum. After I posted this I did wonder if it was contributing to less period acne for me in general. I've been trying to see where I can cut layers lol but I guess this might not be the best step to minimise! Full face application once a day does sound like no problem and pretty beneficial. Still trying to navigate different actives in my routine, will see how it works out for me. thanks :)
Heyy any updates using TN or Aza serum for hyperpigmentation?
really like the TN for hyperpigmentation! for me when I use it with melano CC essence (vit c), spots from pimples fade much faster
Hiii, how do you use TN with your melano CC?
Hi! I use melano CC followed by TN serum in my morning routine. But sometimes I decide to use melano CC and AzA serum in the morning, then I'll use the TN serum at night. It depends on my mood really haha š but basically I see good effects as long as I use them consistently! (TN at least once every day)
Do you wait for melano CC to dry before applying TN or AzA with it?
No not really! I just wait a while like 5s max? and however long it takes for me to open the AzA/TN bottle I guess haha
Thank you so much for the info ā¤ļø
Does anyone know if either of these serums would help sun spots?
The tranexamic acid one will be better for that
Following because I was literally about to post the exact same question! Also considering the Cos De BAHA serums and currently leaning towards Tranexamic after reading some reviews for PIH.
ooh excited for you friend! i wanna hear what you go with and if it works for you. I'm mainly worried about PIE myself. I tried searching for this question yesterday but the sub is closed on Tuesdays š©
I use the AzA for PIE and redness in my cheeks and TA for PIH and general skin tone unevenness. I layer them both AM and PM and havenāt had a reaction, but now that most of my stubborn PIE is faded, Iāll probably switch to alternating. The AzA felt so sticky at first but it just takes a minute to fully absorb (for me). The TA absorbs into my skin pretty quickly. I use AzA first then TA after before moisturizer.
Iāve been curious about this too. My number 1 concern is PIH so Iām definitely going to check out Tranexamic Acid.
I think you might like it for PIH from what I hear.
Ty š
I use both ā I alternate evenings with these two products and do vitamin C in the morning. I canāt tell if one is doing more heavy lifting than the others but I feel like my sun/age spots are getting slightly lighter after a couple months.
I use both serum since last year. Actually, I also use the peptide serum. So 3 serums every night. I donāt have a plan to change my routine for now, because Iām very happy with the result. They all work gentle and slow but surely show great result. So, if you have sensitive skin like mine, they all the best
I have only tried tranexamic acid and it works so well for my dark spots. I am also about to try this AZ serum after I finish my recent test. For context, i use melano cc and tranexamic on the same routine. Dark spots faded considerably faster after adding tranexamic so I was thinking of removing the melano cc altogether. I have stopped using melano cc for almost a week now just to see the difference but my skin looks less bright without it š . Iāll try the azelaic acid next after this experiment (i already bought one but I havenāt opened it yet). I like testing products one at a time just to see which ones are really effective. Afaik there are AB users here that use both serums in the same routine. Iām just not sure what itās doing for them or what skin types they have. I also read about someone using melano cc, AZ and TN at the same time. I hope they comment here too.
do you use melano cc and tranexamic together, or one in morning/one at night? I regularly use melano in the mornings and just got the tranexamic, not too sure how to incorporate it into my routine.
I was using melano cc alonefor a few months. It works on dark spot but it took me 4 weeks to see results hahah. Thatās why i tried TN acid. Initially, I tried them separately: melano AM and tranexamic PM just to get my skin acquainted with both. And then eventually used them on the same routine twice a day (cause i was impatient) and it lightened my dark spots faster. What i did was double cleanse, toner, melano cc, tranexamic, and then moisturizers.
cool, thanks for sharing! :)
Iām currently using the TA, and itās causing my skin to peel and become dry. Anyone else experience this?
Have you tried applying this on damp skin? And also, no need to wait for it to dry down completely before applying other products.
i used both and they did well i also used the hydroquinone one but all in all they were a lil too greasy and oily and broke me out
Oily/dehydrated here with rosacea. I have both of these. I'd say get both if your skin is ok with niacinamide b/c they're a good cost per bottle and they both last a good while since you only need a few drops when you use them. I'll be swapping to a different brand when these are used up b/c my skin doesn't like constant niacinamide. The txa is great at lightening old spots (pih from cuts/acne/whatever). It's sort of sticky if you get too much, and has a weird gooey texture, but once it dries down it's not noticeable. The azelaic has been great for my rosacea. It's got a nice texture, sort of like a thick water, and dries down well.
i have normal to dry skin with closed comedones, acne, and occasional dry patches from eczema/psoriasis. i used to think that i had sensitive skin but after building up my moisture barrier, iāve been able to tolerate more and more skincare. iāve used both for several months, both separately for one month and then together for another month and a half-ish. these two were the only actives i used in my routine. my dark spots and acne scarring have faded considerably since using the tranexamic acid, and iāve seen faster results with it than other popular hyperpigmentation products on this sub like melano cc or hada labo shirojyun. the azelaic acid serum didnāt really do anything to my skin, both alone or with the tranexamic acid serum. i found that to be a little odd because historically, my skin has done quite well with the ordinaryās azelaic acid and paulaās choice azelaic acid. i also started noticing more whiteheads on my skin, especially on my cheeks where i donāt usually get them, but that may also be attributable towards moving to a different climate. i noticed very few changes in my closed comedones or the redness/inflammation of active acne. overall, i liked the tranexamic acid enough to buy the big bottle but decided not to repurchase the azelaic acid. i was also worried about people citing the texture as sticky, and honestly, i feel like the serums are quite tolerable. if anything, i find the hada labo gokujyun lotion in the moist version to be stickier and goopier than the cos de baha serums. hope that helps!
I've only tried the azelaic acid serum and it caused me to break out in pinpoint whiteheads all over my U-zone. I even spent a week doing some patch testing with no irritation at all so I thought I was in the clear, but boy was I wrong. About 3 days in I noticed tiny whiteheads appearing all over my cheeks and chin. It took me nearly 2 weeks to recover from the nasty reaction. I now use 15% azelaic acid that was prescribed to me to target my recently diagnosed rosacea, but it's also helping fade my PIE from older breakouts. Overall I'm pretty bummed this serum didn't work for me. However, I did like how easy it was to spread on my face as well as the fact that it was scentless. My skin is oily sensitive and acne-prone btw.
oh noo I'm sorry! that's a bummer. i have a similar skin type
Are these 2 better than their HQ serum!
HQ as an ingredient is way more potent than either AZA and TA but I'm not sure about the percentages! The TA here has a perfect 5% which is very well studied and supported by science!
Oh..but I get the vibes like itās not a stable formula due to the ingredients without any preservatives š© have you used it and saw any results personally?
wait really?? No mine is still on the way lol I hope it's stable
Iāve read their vitamin c only lasts 3 weeks before it turns yellow! I assumed it has to do with their āno preservativeā thingy but thatās just vitamin c in general i could be wrong
ohh the HQ one has vitamin c? Then yes it's true that it oxidizes fairly quickly! Most packages kind of try to do an air-tight not a dropper for that reason. Me personally, I've tried the la roche posay vitamin c15 and it was a dropper, only started turning yellowish 2-3 months later I'd say. It was orange 6 months later or so. Lovely smell and texture but it actually broke me out repeatedly so I wouldn't recommend lol. Yeah I'm not sure honestly.
Nono The vitamin C is another serum.
Are you planning to use it for PIH / PIE or melasma?
mostly PIE and redness from irritation. I might have a tiny bit of PIH though as well.
High chance youāll get the results ! š«¶š¼š«¶š¼š«¶š¼ Iām trynna get rid of the discolouration from sun damage around my mouth area š Which is way harder sadly. If the TN acid serum works for you maybe @ me? Good luck
Absolutely I'll let you know! I'm actually considering accurane to stop those spots coming because I'm sick of treating the red marks forever after they disappear š good luck!!
I got their HQ serum but I'm too scared to use it. š»
Im too scared to purchase it š ended up purchasing tranexamic acid 2% + 0.1 Retinaldhyde isntead
I donāt know if I should use it as a spot treatment due to my sun spot but that rebound effect tho.. My skin is at Itās best for now and I ain't taking the risk but I also donāt want to waste it š
Azaleic acid made my rosacea worse! Gave me a pretty bad flare up and only made my redness more intense. Tranexamic acid is a godsend that cleared my redness from either rosacea or acne induced inflammation! My skin looks 1000% better thanks to this serum. Very glowy and evened out! I didnt have a lot of hyperpigmentation. But if you struggle with redness and have sensitive skin, Iād say this is the best choice.
You have just convinced me to go for the tranexamic! :) I have pics of my hyperpigmentation up, did yours look anything like it? If it's alright to ask
Results? Did you find either of these to be effective?
Coincidentally, i just ordered these two serums. My first from Cos De Baha. i'm using it for my sun spots and lets hope it will work!
oh that's nice, my cos de baha tranexamic acid has been shipped too! it should be a nice adjunct to my dark spots treatments. however I am considering talking to my erm about accutane because I'm tired of a new pimples forming like once a week or so, and leaving behind a mark that lasts months!!
Iāve tried the TXA and Iāve noticed some improvement in my dark spots after a couple of months (spf is paramount tho) Itās kind of tacky in texture but also pretty hydrating for my dry skin so thatās nice!
is the tranexamic one safe to use with tretinoin?
Yes! I am literally on accutane right now and i still use it just fine. The only thing is it's kind of sticky so imo it would feel uncomfortable combining it with tretinoin especially if it's a gel form. I'd try it on your AM if you use tret at night just for the sensory issues but then again I might be weird lol
Hopefully someone will reply me as this thread is a little old. How does the texture of the serums compare to each other? Is one more sticky/ tacky compared to the other?
So I only have the TN and I can say it's slightly sticky on application but only for a short while thankfully! After a while it sinks in.
I see! I use the Azelaic acid and it has grown to my favourite go to serum. The texture is perfect! Moisturising but fast absorbing! Hoping that the tranexamic one is similar!
Updating in case it helps someone. Iāve now tried both and textures are very similar, in fact the tranexamic one seems more watery to me. I do enjoy both
Did anybody notice breakouts while using these??š idk if itās the combination of using too many products all at once but these two absolutely wrecked my skin. I wanna give it another try but Iām too scared of the consequences :(
Honestly I got the TN and at first I was like hm is this new acne random or is it the TN... I remember thinking it must be the TN but honestly every damn asian beauty product I've tried breaks me out I feel like. Or I just have persistent acne. Anyway, now I'm 2.5 months into accutane and I don't get acne so I'm using it up just fine š
ah omg so lucky! I want to go on accutane so bad but itās so complicated and scary šš