I’ve been asked repeatedly when my The Ordinary review was coming, and…

Here is but an overview, a little bit about every product I tried. If I wrote a detailed review about every product, then you’d be here all week. I will definitely write more detailed articles about some of my favourite products from The Ordinary very soon so that you know what’s really up.

Here’s is the list of products that I actually bought with my own money, so this is in no way a sponsored post.

• 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil – 30ml (for hair and body, not for face!)
• Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% – 30ml
• Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% – 30ml
• Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 – 30ml
• Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% – 30ml
• Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG – 30ml
• Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% – 30ml
• Alpha Lipoic Acid 5% – 30ml
• Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion 30ml
• Serum Foundation (1.1 N) 30ml
• Serum Foundation (1.2 YG) 30ml
• Argireline Solution 10%30ml
• Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA 30ml
• Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
• Natural Moisturising factors + HA – 30ml
• Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution – 240ml
• Niacidimide 10% + Zinc 1% – 30ml

I’ve used the products for almost 4 months now, so I’ve really seen them work. Some have made it into my daily routine, while others I’ve returned or given away.

Let’s begin!

The Products

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil

You might have been shocked to find that I bought an OIL, but I happen to adore oils as after-shower body moisturisers. Rose Hip Seed Oil is a super nice anti-aging oil that I really like for hair ends and my body.

This one felt very luxurious, and I do recommend it if you want something light yet effective for your body. The price was FANTASTIC too.

Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%

I love using acids on my face because they’re incredible at exfoliating, and they do so quite gently. Lactic acid is known for its hydrating properties.

This is actually a product I only tried a few times, because I found other products in the range that kind of did what this product does…but better.

It was lovely, the formulation was worthwhile, but…I don’t need 7 different chemical exfoliants, do I?

Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%

I got the weaker version too, and it’s lovely for a light daily exfoliant to use at night. If your skin is dry and you’re interested in gentle exfoliation then I would recommend to try this acid strength.

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

The Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is my most used product from The Ordinary, and is the one that is running lowest (see photo below). I bought backups of this one because it can’t be beaten, especially for the price point.

Four months into using this serum daily, there’s still enough for at least another month. That is BANG for buck.

I use a few drops of it under my moisturiser to retain more moisture at my skin, and it’s light, and incredibly effective.

Still no flakes all winter long! Learn how to moisturise like a pro here.

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

Topical Vitamin C is proven to increase collagen in the skin, improve photo damage , and reduce pigmentation so of course I needed it in my routine!

The Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is a super stable derivative of Vitamin C…and had actually replaced Benzoyl Peroxide for me because of a similar but more potent effect: clear and bright skin PLUS strengthening, healing, and protection!

I have backups of this serum too because it’s amazing. I use it everyday under my sunscreen for extra protection from pollution and free-radicals. This is my second most used product after the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5.

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

The Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is marketed towards decreasing puffiness under the eyes…But it was the EGCG (green tea) that caught my eye.

I’d read studies that said that topically applied green tea can cut acne by as much as 50%, and can also reduce sebum production by as much as 50%.

So though this product felt lovely under the eyes, I actually used it to spot treat any pimples I had.

No joke, the pimple’s life would…end. The pimple would stop growing and would just literally go away and disappear as though it was never there to begin with.

This is a super sophisticated serum that has a greater potential for skin than is written on the bottle. If I were you, I would buy this to spot treat pimples asap!

I’m going to keep this baby around for undereye/pimple emergencies for sure. 🙂

UPDATE 2019/11/16: Nope, my face definitely doesn’t like it!

Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%

The Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% is another stand-out serum because it’s packed with TWO potent antioxidants, that when used with Vitamin C, really ramp up the antioxidant potential on your face!

This serum feels amazing, looks amazing, and works subtle miracles at clearing and brightening the skin while also protecting it and allowing existing damage to heal.

Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%

For those who want a miracle in a bottle…This is that product. Literally every time I applied the Alpha Lipoic Acid 5% before bed, I woke up with GLOWING skin.

I never experienced any peeling or irritation, just a bright GLOW. It’s very strong however, and should not be used more than 2-3 times a week, so don’t go overboard.

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

If you, like me, want to look 18 forever, then I highly recommend the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion. This is a fantastic entry into retinoids because it’s gentle, but man is it ever effective!

My skin gets smoother and smoother the more I use this without any flaking or peeling. Though it’s not an instant miracle in a bottle, it is miraculous over time.

This is going to be in my #proyouth arsenal indefinitely.

One thing that makes this retinol/retinoid product stand out from the rest is that it’s OIL-FREE and has a super lux texture. I love it!

I will be repurchasing it over and over.

Serum Foundation (1.1 N)

I was running out of my favourite and discontinued liquid foundation, so I decided to try the Serum Foundation in the colour 1.1 N. It was just slightly too light for me, but I thought I could mix it with a darker colour for a perfect match.

Alas, I really didn’t like the texture. It felt too heavy and drying for a serum foundation, and the coverage was too much for what I was looking for.

It was also too matte for me…I prefer a lighter, more skin-like texture in a liquid foundation. I ended up returning this product, and am waiting for the Ordinary’s lighter foundations to come out.

The good news is that I actually stopped wearing liquid foundation after just a couple weeks of using the Ordinary products — my skin became that good.

Serum Foundation (1.2 YG)

I also bought the Serum Foundation in 1.2 YG, that was a touch darker and warmer than the 1.1 N and contained very subtle gold shimmer. It was too warm and too orange for me, even used as a bronzer.

The gold shimmer was spectacular in the light, however the foundation itself was just too heavy and matte for my liking, so this product got returned too.

Argireline Solution 10%

Full disclosure: I tried the Argireline Solution 10% ONCE.

I thought I wanted to use it for dynamic folds as a bit of like topical Botox, but the one time I used it I got a weird outbreak of pimples the next day that could have been related to anything else…

I decided to opt for a real freezing of my dynamic lines with actual Botox. An article about my Botox experience is coming soon.

I just didn’t feel like this product would add to my already incredible skincare routine and returned it.

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

I got the Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA because I had a few dark spots on my face that I wanted to lighten.

However, as I am light-skinned — the dark spots on my face from old acne are not post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation (PIH) but actually post-inflammatory erythema (PIE).

PIH is caused my melanin, and can be reversed with Alpha Arbutin and various other products, whereas PIE is just leftover redness from dilated blood vessels, and cannot be reversed with skincare.

Given that I didn’t have anything to lighten, I returned this product.

Honestly, I was a bit overexcited and got a bunch of stuff that I didn’t really need, this product included.

Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

One word for the Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%: strong.

Actually, strong AF. My skin has become super strong and resillient with all the amazing skincare I’ve been using, and I don’t feel much burning, stinging, or experience any irritation from anything anymore.

Except for this cream.

I can feel it start stinging right after application, and once it even started itching. According to reviews, this is a pretty normal experience.

This is legit Vitamin C, so if you want the full effects of L-Ascorbic Acid on your face, then this is the product to use.

It has a slightly gritty texture, even though it comes in a very fluid white cream, and I use it before bed. I will definitely repurchase it because along with Retinol, vitamin C is an incredibly powerful anti-aging (pro-youth) ingredient that I want all over my body.
It’s strong though and very effective, you’ve been warned.

UPDATE: The more I used it, the more I seemed to break out. The less I used it, the better my skin was. Alas, this product did not work for me, and I will not be repurchasing.

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

You know already that I have a favourite moisturiser that I’ve used for over 8 years…So is the Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA better?

Mmm, not quite, but almost!

This is a very VERY good moisturiser, with a sophisticated formula, for the price especially. It doesn’t clog pores, and is hydrating, and maybe a tad more hydrating than my HG moisturiser.

I have started alternating between them, and my skin has been flake-free the entire time. So try it for yourself!

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

Like I said, I love acids and credit them for my amazing skin transformations in the past. I had to get the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution because it was a really nice strength for weekly use, but also the PH was on point, and the formulation itself was very gentle for an acid to minimise any potential of irritation.

I’ve seen people try to use this daily, and all I’m gonna say is *ROSACEA ALERT!!!*. More is not more with alpha hydroxy acids, so be careful.

Since I was using so many other products that were already exfoliating my skin, promoting cellular turnover, and increasing collagen production…I thought, why not use this brilliant formula on the rest of my body?

So the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is now my body acid! My body deserves tender love and skincare too, and this happens to come in a huge 240ml bottle!

I use it on my legs, hands, basically wherever I want to exfoliate. It’s also incredible for keratosis pilarsis (KP), also known as those little chicken skin type bumps that form on the backs of arms.

This acid is so well priced and so well formulated, that you CAN’T afford not to have one in your skincare arsenal!

Don’t start using acids all at once if your skin doesn’t have a history of acids…Ease yourself into acid use by starting every other night at the most.

Learn more about chemical exfoliation here.

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum is the one that every acne-prone person gravitated towards because of the known benefits of niacidimide and zinc on acne.

I like to check out what’s on the other side of where the crowd is heading — I wanted to see how clear my skin would be with the other products.

The answer is: very clear.

However, the undeniably beneficial ingredients in this serum…cannot be denied. It’s awesome for acne, for active acne, and for improving the integrity of your skin overall.

The awesome part about niacinamide is that it boosts your own skin’s natural ceramide production resulting in more hydrated skin! It’s great to use with stronger actives like prescription retinoids to avoid retinoid dermatitis.

One thing to note is that it cannot be used together with Vitamin C. So split up your niacinamide & vit C between morning and night routines.

But since I’m currently experimenting with Vitamin C twice a day, there is no room for this serum in my routine.

I’ll introduce it into my routine later on though for sure!

Let me know how it works for you in the comments below!

Final Thoughts

There is nothing ordinary about The Ordinary. This brand is extraordinary in terms of bang for buck. It really goes beyond anything I’ve ever tried on my skin.

Their ingredients are just spectacular, and yes, The Ordinary is definitely worth all the hype.

Consider that I switched from using Benzoyl Peroxide to a routine consisting mostly of The Ordinary products WITHOUT my face exploding.

My skin has become beyond awesome after I introduced some specific products from this range.

But the key with experimenting with these products is PATIENCE. Don’t use them all at once, try one or two at first, and alternate and rotate them later on.

Most of the products in this range contain actives, it means you will see results, if not immediately then with some time.

But actives can also result in PURGING. You might notice yourself breaking out a little the first few weeks on these products, but don’t freak out, just barrel through and trust that the results will be amazing.

I did have a little purging in the first two weeks of using the range, however I didn’t pop or pick at the little pimples and they just went away on their own never to return again.

There are still three products that The Ordinary can’t replace in my routine and that’s my cleanser, my BHA exfoliant, and my sunscreen.

If there’s a product you would like to hear about in more detail, then let me know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more reviews!

Love,
Olena