Skin-Nomad's Take — At a Glance

• Azelaic Acid 10%, Niacinamide 5% and Centella Asiatica 1% in one serum
• Light gel that absorbs fast and leaves no greasy film
• Built for oily and combination skin with visible redness and pores

Azelaic acid, niacinamide and centella usually arrive in three separate bottles, which is how a calming routine gets long. THOME's ABC Triple Synergy Redness Comfort Serum puts all three into one light gel at stated strengths, in keeping with the Seoul brand's aim of bringing professional-grade formulas into home routines. On THOME's clinical testing, skin barrier condition improved by up to 152% over four weeks.*

Key Benefits

• Azelaic acid calms visible redness and evens tone. At 10%, it quiets the skin's inflammatory response and inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme behind uneven pigment. It also keeps the pore opening clear, so oily skin looks smoother.
• Niacinamide at 5% regulates oil and strengthens the barrier. It prompts skin to make more of its own ceramides and reduces visible sebum, so pores look smaller and the surface stays less shiny through the day.
• Centella's four key compounds soothe the skin. The 1% Centella Asiatica comes with Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid and Asiatic Acid, which calm and support the skin's recovery, backed by panthenol, allantoin and guaiazulene, a blue soothing compound.

Texture & Finish

A light gel that spreads easily and absorbs fast, leaving no greasy film, which is what THOME designed it for on oily skin. It sits comfortably under moisturiser.

Note: Azelaic acid at 10% tingles for some people during the first few uses, and the formula contains fragrance.

Ideal For

• Skin types: Oily, combination and normal skin.
• Skin concerns: Visible redness, visible pores, excess oil, uneven tone and uneven texture.
• Best used by: Oily and combination skin that flushes easily and wants one serum handling calming, oil control and tone at once.

FAQ

Q: How does ABC compare with a standalone niacinamide serum?
A: A niacinamide serum works on oil, pores and tone through one pathway. ABC adds 10% azelaic acid, which works on redness and pigment through a different route, and 1% centella for soothing, so three mechanisms run in one step rather than one. The 5% niacinamide is a well-studied, comfortable level rather than a maximum-strength one.

Q: Is azelaic acid an exfoliating acid like glycolic acid?
A: No. Glycolic acid dissolves the bonds between surface skin cells, which is why it increases sun sensitivity. Azelaic acid is a different kind of acid that calms and evens tone without dissolving the surface, so it behaves far more gently and does not make skin more sensitive to the sun.

Q: When should I use ABC, and can it go with retinoids or vitamin C?
A: THOME designed it for the evening, after toner and before moisturiser. It pairs well with vitamin C in the morning half of the routine, and it can share an evening with a retinoid once your skin is used to both. Sunscreen stays the last step of your skincare every morning.

The name spells out the formula, so the three letters on the bottle tell you exactly what you are buying.

* THOME clinical study carried out by The Korean Association of Human Skin Research Centers on 22 Korean participants aged 19 to 40 over four weeks: skin barrier condition improved by up to 151.90%. Brand-commissioned testing rather than an independent trial. Results vary between individuals.

Explore more
Browse more azelaic acid formulas, see all serums, or explore the full THOME range.