(*All products from this brand were purchased with my own money. However this post contains affiliate links that aid my blog and family. Thank you for your continued support!)
Before we even start, I know what you’re thinking. Something along the lines of, “Emily, you blog about home decor not beauty. Why should I take skincare advice from you?” Well aside from working in the beauty industry for over 5 years, I have dang good skin! After a decade of buying and trying products, I have finally found a skincare line that is affordable and effective: The Ordinary. What’s so great about them? They take clinically proven ingredients, formulate them for effectiveness, and then offer them at a fair price. The only problem is – they have 30+ products and trying to read the names is harder than brain surgery. So I’m breaking it down for you! Below is a round-up of the best products from the line based on your skincare concerns. Your welcome. 🙂
| Dry | Oily | Redness | Acne-Prone | Wrinkles | Enlarged Pores | Hyperpigmentation | Dark Circles | Uneven Texture | My Must Haves |
Dry Skin
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Price: $6.80
What it is: a hydration support formula with ultra-pure, vegan hyaluronic acid (Water-based)
What it does: Hydrates, smooths, and plumps skin
How to use: Apply a few drops to face AM and PM before creams.
100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Price: $9.800
What it is: daily support formula for all skin types
What it does: Hydrates skin and promotes radiance
How to use: Apply once a day to the face, ideally at bedtime after application of water-based treatments.
100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil
Price: $9.90
What it is: Antioxidant-rich facial oil from marula kernels.
What it does: Hydrates and promotes a radiant tone.
How to use: Apply morning and night after water-based products.
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Price: $5.80
What it is: surface hydration formula
What it does: Hydrates and protects skin from moisture loss.
How to use: Apply after serums as needed for effective surface hydration.
100% Plant-Derived Squalane
Price: $7.90
What it is: a lightweight plant-derived solution to support healthy hydration
What it does: Hydrates and prevents moisture loss.
How to use: Hair Apply a few drops daily or as needed to entire face ideally after water-based treatments.
Oily Skin
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Price: $5.90
What it is: high-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula (Water-based)
What it does: Diminishes blemishes, enlarged pores, and oily skin.
How to use: Apply to entire face morning and evening before heavier creams.
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Price: $5.30
What it is: 2% salicylic acid and witch hazel (Water-based)
What it does: Fights acne and promotes even, clear skin.
How to use: 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.
Redness
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Price: $5.90
What it is: high-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula (Water-based)
What it does: Diminishes blemishes, enlarged pores, and oily skin.
How to use: Apply to entire face morning and evening before heavier creams.
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Price: $7.90
What it is: multifunctional brightening formula
What it does: Brightens skin and diminishes acne and redness.
How to use: Apply to face AM and/or PM to improve visible brightness and the appearance of skin texture. Avoid contact with eyes and mouth. Use sun protection during the day.
Acne-Prone Skin
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Price: $5.90
What it is: high-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula (Water-based)
What it does: Diminishes blemishes, enlarged pores, and oily skin.
How to use: Apply to entire face morning and evening before heavier creams.
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Price: $5.30
What it is: 2% salicylic acid and witch hazel (Water-based)
What it does: Fights acne and promotes even, clear skin.
How to use: 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.
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Price: $7.20
What it is: Weekly exfoliating mask with alpha and beta hydroxy acids.
What it does: Brightens skin, improves tone, and fights acne.
How to use: Apply to skin in the evening for 10 minutes once a week.
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Price: $7.90
What it is: multifunctional brightening formula
What it does: Brightens skin and diminishes acne and redness.
How to use: Apply to face AM and/or PM to improve visible brightness and the appearance of skin texture. Avoid contact with eyes and mouth. Use sun protection during the day.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
Price: $9.80
What it is: serum with two advanced retinoids. (Water-based)
What it does: Improves wrinkles, dark spots, and signs of aging.
How to use: 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.
Retinol 1%
Price: $6.70
What it is: a stable emulsion of retinol
What it does: Improves wrinkles, dark spots, and signs of aging.
How to use: Apply a small amount to face in the PM as part of your skincare regimen. Do not use with other retinoid treatments. Use sun protection in the AM.
Matrixyl 10% + HA
Price: $11.50
What it is: A high-strength peptide formulation
What it does: Reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.
How to use: Apply a few drops to face AM and PM.
“Buffet”
Price: $14.80
What it is: Water-based serum with multiple anti-aging technologies.
What it does: Diminishes wrinkles, dark spots, and all signs of aging.
How to use: Apply to the entire face in the AM and PM after cleaning.
Pores
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Price: $5.90
What it is: high-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula (Water-based)
What it does: Diminishes blemishes, enlarged pores, and oily skin.
How to use: Apply to entire face morning and evening before heavier creams.
Retinol 1%
Price: $6.70
What it is: a stable emulsion of retinol
What it does: Improves wrinkles, dark spots, and signs of aging.
How to use: Apply a small amount to face in the PM as part of your skincare regimen. Do not use with other retinoid treatments. Use sun protection in the AM.
High-Adherence Silicone Primer
Price: $4.90
What it is: High-adherence mattifying, blurring surface smoother and primer
What it does: Mattifies, blurs, and primes skin for longer-lasting makeup.
How to use: Use as the last step in skincare regimen either on its own or as a makeup primer./p>
Hyperpigmentation and Dark Spots
Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
Price: $5.80
What it is: Thick serum with the most potent form of vitamin C.
What it does: Brightens skin and fades dark spots.
How to use: Apply a small amount to face in the AM or the PM. A slight tingling sensation can be expected after application.
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
Price: $12.90
What it is: Water-based serum with a non-irritating form of vitamin C.
What it does: Brightens skin and fades dark spots.
How to use: Apply a few drops to face AM and PM.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%
Price: $9.60
What it is: Light cream with a non-irritating form of vitamin C.
What it does: Brightens skin, hydrates, and fades dark spots.
How to use: Apply a small amount of this cream formula to face AM and PM, after application of water-based serums.
Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
Price: $8.90
What it is: Water-based brightening serum with alpha arbutin and hyaluronic acid.
What it does: Fades hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
How to use: Apply a few drops to face in the AM and PM as part of your skincare regimen. Use sun protection in the AM.
Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%
Price: $6.80
What it is: Weekly antioxidant treatment with alpha lipoic acid.
What it does: Smooths, refines, and improves skin tone.
How to use: 2-3 drops over the entire face a maximum of 2-3 times per weeks. This treatment is highly concentrated and daily use is not recommended.
Dark Circles and Puffiness
Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Price: $6.70
What it is: Water-based eye serum with caffeine and green tea extract.
What it does: Reduces appearance of eye contour pigmentation and of puffiness
How to use: Massage a small amount onto the eye contour AM and PM.
Uneven Texture and Tone
Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%
Price: $6.79
What it is: A high-strength lactic acid superficial peeling formulation
What it does: Brightens skin and improves uneven tone.
How to use: 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.
Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%
Price: $6.50
What it is: Gentle exfoliating serum with lactic and hyaluronic acids.
What it does: Brightens skin and improves uneven tone and texture.
How to use: Apply once per day, ideally in the PM. Can be diluted with other treatments to reduce strength until skin develops tolerance.
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Price: $8.70
What it is: Exfoliating toner with glycolic acid and botanicals.
What it does: Brightens skin and promotes a radiant, even tone.
How to use: 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.
Shop My Must-Haves
You can also find The Ordinary Skincare line at Sephora and Beautylish!
24 Comments
Thank you so much for putting this info together, it’s super helpful! I’ve already ordered a few things and excited to try more!
Jessie, I am so glad this is helpful!! I absolutely love this brand and am excited to see that others do too. 🙂 Let me know what you end up getting!
So true words. Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts 👍. I just want to share my success story. Hope this helps. I’ve been using Retin-A (Tretinoin). Very happy 😊 I found ‘QACNE365’ in google and got retin-a ❤️. It is hands down the most effective anti-acne, anti-blackheads, anti-whatever skin flaw you may have. It is the only thing that has actually helped with my acne. People comment on my skin daily.
Thank you for all the information, do you have recommendations for someone with sensitive skin new to The Ordinary brand?
I would say go for anything that is meant for dry skin – those products don’t have any acids in them and will be gentle for your sensitive skin! The other stuff is more potent and strong. 🙂
I used to only use LaRoche Posey Tolerine products because my face is so reactive, but irony or ironies they changed the formula and it started to hurt. I switched to The Ordinary and have never looked back. I can use their hyaluronic acid+B5 no problem. I also use the squalene cleanser and their moisturizing factors+ha without any issues.
I use the retinol very rarely and only at night as I find it a bit harsh on my skin. (I get redness)
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for putting this guide together Emily! Based on your reviews and reviews of some of my other friends, I decided to give The Ordinary products a try. I’ve never really had or held a skin regime and you can tell when you look at my skin. ?? I am hoping this stuff helps. Just placed an order using your affiliate link! Thanks for all the info!!
Brenna – you’re going to LOVEEEE using this line on your face. It’s made a world of difference for me. Let me know how you like them when they arrive and thanks for supporting my brand by shopping through my links. That is MUCH appreciated. 🙂
Thank you for this information!! I just discovered The Ordinary and can’t wait till it is comes in the mail! It was a bit overwhelming at first but this is super helpful.
It can be super overwhelming! I’ve seen such a change in my skin since using the products though. Totally worth all the research!
Hi, i love your review where you devide the product based on the skin types.
I have dry skin and now i’m using only the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and the moisturizer Natural Moisturizing Factor + HA. The Hyaluronic Acid is amazing! My skin literally moist after applying it.
But my skin lost it’s moisture reall fast, from your review for dry skin there are 5 product. Should i apply all of it? And when you say use after Water Based Product, do you mean after using Hyaluronic Acid?
Please give me some enlighten, i’m kinda stress with my dry skin..lol. Thanks!
Unfortunately, I’m not a skin or beauty expert. But from experience, I would slowly add products to your regimen and see which ones make a difference. (Don’t do all of them at once!) The Hylauronic Acid works best when used in conjunction with an oil on top of it. I would use the Squalane or Rose Hip oil. There are water based and oil based products from the Ordinary. I believe white bottles are water based and brown bottles are oil based!
When someone asks me anything about The Ordinary products, I share this link with them lol! I have bookmarked it. The way you have explained everything, even The Ordinary’s own website doesn’t explain like this. They have so much text that it’s difficult to find product uses from them. You have definitely made some life easier.
Wow Nancy – what a compliment! Thank you. I should definitely update it with The Ordinary’s new products!
Yes you should! Secondly, it will be great if you add one more category of sensitive skin or categorize the products suitable for sensitive skin in any way you think is the best.
Thank you SO much for this amazing guide! I’ve spent hours looking and reading about the Ordinary, every blogger says different thing to remember and not to do, even though DECIEM writes the opposite – but this guide helped A LOT!
Wow so so glad to help!! 🙂
Hi
Am having dry skin with dull skin ,acne issues and fine lines ..uneven skin tone..would you please suggest me good ordinary products..
Thanks
Love.
Hi! I am not a skincare expert and cannot suggest a regimen for you. Please take your knowledge from this post and use it to create a regimen for yourself. ❤️
Hey! What does Retinol 0.5% in Squalane do? I can’t find that in the list.
Hi Elmira,
If you can’t find something on the list you’ll have to do some google research on it, as I do not know!
Hey Emily! So because of you, I finally bought some products from the Ordinary. Ten products to be exact, from your list. I just have a question.. which products can be used together and which ones shouldn’t be used together? I tried to find something about this on the website, Deciem. But I couldn’t find a single thing! Please help. I used a few products together a severely burned my super sensitive skin because I’m impatient and an idiot!
Thankyoubfor detailing all of the ordinary products yrs writing on bottles and how and wen to appmyvwas so.comfusing grest help Emily Thank youx Linda walker
a big big big thanks to you for posting this, this is so helpful as I was able to find everything I needed to know at one place. I got so fed up by researching for the brand from different different pages but here you are, a great savior.
thank a lot once again