Everything You Need To Know About The Ordinary Skincare Products

My Products Reviewed

It’s probably best I start by giving a description of my skin type to provide some context to the products I have been using. My skin is for the most part pretty good. I don’t suffer from acne, a break out for me usually means one or two spots around my TOM. I do however have dry, sometimes sensitive skin. I have congestion on my chin which I’ve never really been able to rectify and suffer from uneven texture on my cheeks. I also have some annoying milia on my cheekbones. My biggest skincare goals right now are to hydrate my skin, improve its texture and take anti ageing steps.

All directions come from TheOrdinary.com website. 

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution 8.70 EUR

Toners help serums better absorb by gently exfoliating the skin. This one leaves a mild tingling sensation on the skin due to the glycolic acid inside. It is oil, silicone- and alcohol-free. I use it in the evening as the final step for cleansing my skin. I definitely feel its made a difference and made my skin brighter plus its amazing for the price compared to similar products.

Directions

Use ideally in the PM, no more frequently than once per day. After cleaning, saturate a cotton pad with the formula and sweep across face and neck. Avoid the eye contour and contact with eyes. Do not rinse off. Continue with additional skin treatments as needed. If persistent irritation occurs, discontinue use and consult a physician. (Sunburn Alert: This product contains an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards. Use only as directed. Contact of the product with the skin must be of limited frequency or duration.)

Lactic Acid 10% + HA 6.79 EUR

Acids are used to exfoliate the skin which is important in allowing other products to penetrate deeper. Some acids can be quite harsh, especially on sensitive skin but I find this one to feel mild with only a slight tingly sensation. If you are new to acids then you might be better to try the 5% version first. I use this once or twice a week in the evening and my skin always feels so smooth in the morning.

Directions

Apply once per day, ideally in the PM. Can be diluted with other treatments to reduce strength until skin develops tolerance. Avoid contact with eyes. If irritation persists, discontinue use and consult a physician. (Sunburn Alert: This product contains an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards.)

100% Plant Derived Squalane 7.20 EUR

The Ordinary has a few different facial oils to choose from but I went with the Squalane because unlike other oils, it’s non–comedogenic (meaning that it is formulated to help reduce potential blockage of pores). This is my favourite product and I use it almost every morning and evening. It is the least expensive squalane oil on the market and the best one I have tried.

Directions

Apply a few drops daily or as needed to entire face ideally after water-based treatments.

Azelaic Acid Suspension the Ordinary 7.20 EUR

A lightweight cream-gel formulated to target dull, marked skin. Azelaic Acid an effective antioxidant with benefits for all skin types. This is my favourite product for under makeup as it drys matte but leaves the skin feeling really soft. I have redness in certain areas of my face which gets worse as the weather gets colder and this has been such an amazing product to calm my skin down.

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 5.80 EUR

A lovely rich cream in an easy-to-use squeeze tube. The formula contains a unique combination of amino acids which help improve fine lines and wrinkles. A little goes a long way to hydrate skin and it works really well under makeup. I use this almost every morning and night as the last step in my routine. It’s also what I use to mix with my Isle of Paradise Tanning Drops.

Directions

Apply after serums as needed for effective surface hydration.

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% 12.90 EUR

This is a vitamin C serum which helps with the overall brightening of the skin and targets signs of ageing. It also helps with skin tone issues and is useful in helping to prevent blackheads as it prevents oxidation of oil. I have used much more expensive vitamin C creams but this one does just as good of a job.

Directions

Apply a few drops to face AM and PM.

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion 9.80 EUR

Retinoids are traditionally very expensive so the range of retinoids by The Ordinary is extremely popular. Retinoid creams are said to contain the best ingredients for targeting the signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. Retinoids should be used with caution, it’s important to build up your skin’s tolerance over time to avoid bad reactions and burning. Because they increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, it is advised to only use them at night and to avoid the sun or wear SPF. This formula is said to be a good place to start if you are new to retinoids.

Directions

Apply a small amount to face in the PM as part of your skincare regimen, after water serums but before heavier treatments. Do not use with other retinoid treatments. Avoid unprotected solar exposure. Store in a cool, dry place.

Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 5.30 EUR

Salicylic acid is known to aid acne prevention and congestion by exfoliating the skin and unclogging pores. The beta-hydroxy acid penetrates down into the follicle and into the sebaceous glands, where it helps clear bacteria and oil. This is my go-to spot treatment and I think anyone suffering from breakouts or acne will like this one. It can be quite drying on my already dry skin so I don’t use it every day.

Directions

Use in the AM and PM. Apply a small dot directly on spots for visible improvement or apply a small amount over the face to maintain visible clarity with continued use. Avoid the eye contour and contact with eyes. Do not rinse off. Continue with additional skin treatments as needed. If persistent irritation occurs, discontinue use and consult a physician. (Sunburn Alert: This product contains a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards.)

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 5.90 EUR

This serum fades minutes after application. In studies, niacinamide has been shown to calm inflammation, enhance the skin barrier and help control oil production, along with zinc. Although I don’t know for sure, I have a suspicion it is this product that has helped reduce my milia, something no other product has done before. For that reason, this is one of my favourite products from The Ordinary and I am already on to my second bottle.

Directions

Apply to entire face morning and evening before heavier creams.

Serum Foundation 6.70 EUR

This foundation is truly wonderful! It doesn’t seem like I’m wearing foundation at all while making my skin tone uniform and covering any spots. This serum foundation is what I have always looked for in every bb and cc cream but never found. I wear this almost every day now and find it is enough coverage (I like my coverage!) while still leaving my skin looking and feeling like my skin, just better. The only downside is there is no SPF, although I believe they have brought out a new version with SPF so I’ll be definitely making another purchase soon.

Full Coverage Foundation 6.90 EUR 

Because I love the serum foundation so much I don’t find myself reaching to the full coverage version as often. Sometimes I’ll mix some in with the serum foundation to add some extra coverage. Because the foundations are so cheap, I have been able to buy a few different shades and mix together a formula that suits my skin on different days.

The best thing about this entire product range is the price and the ability to tailor the products to suit your unique skin needs. The Ordinary recognises no two people are the same so they have created products that can be used to customize our own formulas and routines.  Yes, this means you need to put some work in to understand what it is you need to use but when you have done that, your skin will never look better!

My Skincare Regimen

I keep track of all the different products I use with the Skincare Regimen Organizer app. You simply input the products you have and it organizes them into a regimen listing when and in what order to use each one. It also tells you the products you shouldn’t use together like when you choose to use Lactic Acid for example, and check it off, the app will then cross out the products that won’t agree with it such as other acids. It’s such a godsend! The app was made to help people with The Ordinary skincare so you can quickly add their products to your profile but you can also input others too, so it’s useful regardless of the brands you use.

Morning Time Routine

Night Time Routine

Other Links & Sources

• Regimen Guide- https://theordinary.com/regimenguide
• Vitamin C Guide- https://theordinary.com/vitcguide
• Foundation Shade Guide- https://theordinary.com/shadeguide
• The Best (and Worst) Skincare Products from The Ordinary- https://theskincareedit.com/2017/08/04/the-ordinary
• Which Products For Your Skin Type- http://www.honestyforyourskin.co.uk/the-ordinary-review/
• Refinery29 “We Tried Every Product From The Ordinary — Here’s What We Thought”- https://www.refinery29.com/2018/03/194212/the-ordinary-skin-care-products-review
• The Skin Nerds (not so positive) thoughts- https://www.theskinnerd.com/theordinary/

Contact Deciem

Where To Buy

The Ordinary can be bought from Cult Beauty, Beauty Bay and a few other online stores but I have found the actual Deciem website has the best selection of its own products (makes sense) and they also have free shipping to Ireland. Deciem owns a few other interesting brands with various price ranges that also look pretty promising.

For Pinterest: