Why Beauty Pie Happy Face is My Favorite Azelaic Acid Cream for Red and Irritated Skin

If you’re searching for a multitasking skincare product that targets redness, smooths texture and reduces breakouts, Beauty Pie’s Happy Face Azelaic Acid Gel-Cream might be exactly what you need. Packed with 10% azelaic acid, niacinamide, and centella asiatica, this formula promises to calm sensitive skin, reduce the appearance of pores, and even out your skin tone—all at a budget-friendly price.

I’ve already highlighted this cream in my Best Beauty Pie Products of 2024 post, but after using it consistently for a few months, I believe it deserves its own moment in the spotlight!

What is Azelaic Acid, and What Does it Do?

Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in grains and even produced by a yeast that lives on healthy skin. It’s a versatile skincare ingredient, tackling redness, breakouts, and pigmentation. If these are issues you deal with regularly, it’s worth adding azelaic acid to your routine!

Key Benefits of Azelaic Acid:

• Reduces acne and inflammation by killing bacteria.
• Soothes redness, especially helpful for those with rosacea-prone skin.
• Brightens and reduces dark spots or hyperpigmentation.
• Gentle exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores.
• Suitable for sensitive skin, making it a great all-rounder for many skin types.

How to Use Azelaic Acid in Your Skincare Routine

Incorporating new products into your skincare routine can feel overwhelming, especially with active ingredients like azelaic acid. But don’t worry—it’s easier than you think! Start by using 2-3 times a week to let your skin adjust, then gradually increase to daily use as tolerated.

How to layer azelaic acid

Perfect combos:

• Azelaic Acid + Niacinamide: This is a perfect combo! Niacinamide boosts the calming and brightening effects of azelaic acid.
• Azelaic Acid + Hyaluronic Acid: Another ideal combination to keep your skin hydrated and soothed.
• Azelaic Acid + Vitamin C: These ingredients can help to brighten the skin and improve moisture and firmness. If you have very sensitive skin, you may want to alternate these products, but for most people, they should be fine!

Proceed with caution:

• Azelaic Acid + Retinol: These can be used together, but it’s best to alternate nights to avoid irritation.
• Azelaic Acid + BHAs/AHAs: Space them out—use one in the morning and the other at night to prevent skin sensitivity.

Beauty Pie Happy Face Azelaic Acid Gel-Cream: My Honest Review

The Beauty Pie Happy Face Gel-Cream is packed with 10% azelaic acid, niacinamide, centella asiatica, and rose fruit extract. These ingredients work together to calm irritation, reduce redness, and refine the skin’s texture. Beauty Pie claims it’s clinically proven to reduce redness in just 7 days.

Key Ingredients Breakdown

• 10% Azelaic Acid: Reduces redness, calms inflammation, and helps unclog pores.
• Niacinamide: Brightens skin, strengthens the skin barrier, and reduces excess oil production.
• Centella Asiatica: A natural anti-inflammatory that soothes irritation and promotes skin healing.
• Rose Fruit Extract: Minimises the appearance of pores, and smoothes skin texture.

Why I love it!

When I first started using this product, I noticed a big difference in my hormonal breakouts, especially along my jawline. But like many skincare products, it got pushed to the back of my stash when I tried new things. Fast forward to winter in the UK, and with central heating drying out my skin, my mild rosacea made an unwelcome return. I was starting to look more like Rudolph—and it’s not even Christmas yet!

That’s when I turned back to the Beauty Pie Happy Face Gel-Cream. After just three weeks of using it every other day, my redness has noticeably improved. My skin had been feeling extremely sensitive and irritated, but now it’s noticeably calmer and clearer. Thanks to this product, I even feel ready to reintroduce retinol to my routine without fear of disrupting my skin barrier.

What I love most is the creamy, lightweight texture that absorbs quickly. It fits seamlessly into my morning routine. I use it after the Elemis Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum (read my review here!) and before the Medik8 Total Moisture Facial Cream (also reviewed here!) My combination skin, especially around my often oily nose, stays balanced without looking greasy.

Where to buy

Click the link to purchase at Beauty Pie. It’s £22 for members of Beauty Pie and £37 for non-members. The packaging has recently been updated so it will look a little different to the product in the images above but the insides are the same!

Beauty Pie confusingly has two products called ‘Happy Face’ but the 10% Azelaic Acid Skin-Clearing Gel-Cream is what you are looking for. The other product is an Extreme Relief Cica Moisture Cream which is on my wishlist as it sounds perfect for sensitive winter skin!

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Have you tried azelaic acid in your routine? Share your experience or ask me any questions in the comments below!