Product Review: The Ordinary

written by NOA DIAMOND. July 30th, 2020

If you know your skincare then you’ve probably heard about The Ordinary. It seems like this brand came out of nowhere and blew up overnight. I first saw it when it appeared on my TikTok for you page. After doing tons of research and watching many YouTube video reviews, I decided to give it a try for myself.

Side note: While all The Ordinary products are great, they can’t all be used together due to irritation or deactivating one another (weird, I know). Keep this in mind when trying them yourself. 

I decided to start with these 4: the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 ($6.80), the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution ($8.70), the “Buffet” ($14.80), and the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($5.90). 

Since it is not good to use multiple acids in one routine (even though Hyaluronic Acid is meant to be a hydrator), I break up these products by using the Hyaluronic Acid and the “Buffet” in the morning, and the Glycolic Acid Toner and the Niacinamide at night. 

The “Buffet” is full of different peptides aimed to target multiple signs of aging at once. You are never too young to add anti-aging products into your routine. While I have no wrinkles or signs of aging to combat, I am very happy I added this product into my daily routine since it’s a preventative measure to keep my skin youthful. There is no need to splurge on anti-aging products in your early 20s but if you want to start thinking about prevention like me, start with this product or the “Buffet” + Copper Peptides 1% ($28.90) for a super gentle product.

Our bodies naturally produce Hyaluronic Acid (HA). But, the HA found naturally in your skin does not provide you with much moisture on its own. HA binds to water molecules, allowing your skin to retain water and keep your tissues moist. It not only provides you with added moisture, but it also works to reduce signs of aging, redness, and dermatitis. The one thing I’ll note about this product is that it is a bit thick and gooey. I am not a fan of using thick products and hate when you can feel a product on your face for more than just a minute. However, I was able to get used to this product more quickly than I thought since it absorbs pretty well after patting it in. As someone whose skin dries out easily, I have noticed my skin feels a lot more hydrated from this product.

Glycolic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin. The Ordinary’s toner is great for those with more sensitive skin looking to add a gentle exfoliant into their routine. But if you have dry skin, this product isn’t for you. It tends to dry out my skin, although the Hyaluronic Acid in my morning routine balances that out. All you do is pour toner onto a cotton pad and wipe it on your face after cleansing. Toning is a great way to pick up any extra dirt and impurities that your cleanser did not get. I started to see an immediate difference in the texture of my skin after using this product for just a few nights. My skin feels smoother and looks more evenly toned. Glycolic Acid should only be used once a day, and I recommend using it at night because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. Make sure you are applying at least 40 SPF in the morning when using this product! And do not use it over any broken skin. I repeat. If you just popped a pimple, it would really irritate it and burn!! This product is definitely not for everyone, so try using it every other night to see how your skin reacts. But also don’t be scared off by the tingling sensation. That is what you are supposed to feel.  

Niacinamide is a type of B3 Vitamin that is aimed to reduce the appearance of blemishes and help with congestion. I struggle with huge pores that never seem to look smaller no matter what products I try. I heard many testimonials from people seeing a reduction in their pores from this product, so I had to give it a try. Do note that Niacinamide can affect the integrity of Vitamin C products so do not use the two in the same routine. If you like using a Vitamin C in the morning, then use Niacinamide at night. For those struggling with more severe acne, I would recommend using a Salicylic Acid or a Benzoyl Peroxide over this product. But if your main concern is stubborn pores like me, then this is the product to purchase. I apply this at night right before my moisturizer and have slowly started to see my pores fade and my skin brighten. I recommend this for any skin type because it is not drying or irritating

Eventually I would love to try more products from The Ordinary, but it is important not to try too many new products at once. If something is causing irritation, it will be much harder to pinpoint which product is the culprit. If you want to start using The Ordinary, you don’t need to use more than one acid, peptide, or oil at a time.