My The Ordinary Recommendations: What's Worth Buying
I’ve been a fan of The Ordinary going on about three years now. I started using their products right around the time that I got into skincare and was taking the time to curate a skincare routine. I’ve tried a lot of their products but if someone were to ask me where to start and what to buy, these items are the ones I would mention. There are other products I like that I will briefly talk about at the end of this post.
The Ordinary products are formulated to be straight forward and simple with limited ingredients. Which sounds great but, in you don’t know how those items can, should or shouldn’t work together it can be overwhelming. And so I always tell people to start simple. And to also manage expectations. You are not going to get luxurious formulations. TO is a brass tacks brand. No bells and whistles. If you know that going in it can help you choose wisely.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and Marine Hyaluronics; both $6.80
The first products I ever used from The Ordinary were there Hyaluronic Acids. I started with the Marine Hyaluronics. I chose this one because the consistency is like water. Very thin and absorbs quickly. But it still gives the skin great hydration. The Hyaluronic Acid 2% +B5 is a thicker more traditional serum consistency. I have used this one on and off for nearly two years now. I have recently switched to a different HA serum, but I still highly recommend both of these. They are both under $7 and both do a great job hydrating the skin. For me the choice would be about consistency. If you want something lighter go with the MH.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 30% Peeling Solution, $7.20
You may have seen this peeling solution floating around the internet. It has the nickname of the vampire facial because of it blood red appearance on the skin. All jokes aside, this is a serious acid. If you have never used acid exfoliation I do not recommend this. I have been using acids and chemical exfoliation for nearly three years now and even I only reach for this once a month at the most. If you are not new to acids and want something that you can use as a monthly pick me up for your skin, then this is good and affordable option. It leaves the skin feeling soft and refreshed, but it is not a miracle worker. If you don’t already have a chemical exfoliant in your routine (which I highly recommend adding) you will see a small difference but nothing that will last long term. This is not a treatment on it’s own. It’s meant to be an addition to your skincare regimen. Having said that I do think it’s worth adding.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA $5.80-$7.20
I started using this last Winter when my skin needed some extra hydration and recently started using it again as my daytime moisturizer. This is a really nice simple moisturizer. It’s oil-free with no fragrance and is suitable for all skin types. It has hyaluronic acid as well as ceramides which are good for protecting the skin’s moisture barrier. I find this to be a tad thick when first applied but it sinks into the skin quickly. Because it’s a bit thick I don’t rub this in entirely. I apply it all over my face and then allow it to sink in on it’s own. Which it does quickly. It’s not greasy or oily and leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%; $5.90
Niacinamide can be a great addition to a skincare routine if you have oily skin and/or deal with acne. It can reduce the look of blemishes and help balance sebum activity (excess sebum is what causes oily skin). I have niacinamide in a few products including my cleanser. But I use this serum 1-2 times a week as part of my nighttime routine. If you use a Vitamin C serum (which I do every morning), it is best to use niacinamide at night as Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid and/or ethylated l-ascorbic acid).
Honorable Mentions
You may notice that I have not included The Ordinary Salicylic Acid Serum to this list despite mentioning it quite a few times here on TMW. The reason for this is simple. It’s no longer available. The Ordinary is reportedly reformulating their SA serum and so therefore I can’t recommend a formula you can’t purchase anymore and I can’t yet speak on the new formulation because it hasn’t been released. Also, I have started using The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, which is a Vitamin C derivative. I want to finish the bottle and assess if I feel it’s worth repurchasing or recommending.
The Ordinary is available via the Deciem (their parent company) website, Ulta and Sephora. I will say that both Sephora and Ulta have a limited selection of products. For the full range the Deciem site is your best option.
