The Ordinary: introduction and buying guide

If like me, you’re a skincare addict, you’ve probably heard about the skincare brand whose name has been on everyone’s lips for a few months: The Ordinary. If not, let me introduce you to this skincare phenomenon!

* More information on how I build my care routine in this article:
How I build my skincare routine *

The Ordinary is a brand new Canadian skincare brand, which belongs to a company that distributes a bunch of different skincare brands, Deciem. They also own the brands Hylamide and Niod, you may have heard of these.

The company was founded in 2013, but The Ordinary is the latest addition to the Deciem family and probably their most overwhelming success. The Ordinary has been around since 2016 and is about to completely revolutionize the skincare world. Yes, nothing less! Anyway, for me, it’s clearly the most interesting skincare launch I’ve seen since… well honestly, since forever!

Edit 08/09/18:
I do more skincare reviews and brand focuses on my new website, btyaly.com smile

What is unique about The Ordinary?

– The very affordable price (without compromising on the quality of the products):

First of all, The Ordinary products aren’t so ordinary, starting with their ridiculously low prices! The most expensive product of the range retails for $18, and usually, the average price of the rest of the range is around $6-10. That’s obviously the main reason behind so much enthusiasm for the brand.

The Ordinary products focus on 1 or 2 ingredients per formula. They’re ingredients derived from biochemistry but also some are derived from plants. The rest of the formula is quite simple, no added fragrances, no ingredients that improve the texture, just the essential to make it usable (some of the formulas are a little bit sticky but nothing terrible, really).
And they’re not low-end ingredients! They are indeed well-recognized ingredients and used a lot by the beauty industry.

Also, if you have already read my skincare posts and journals, you know that I’m very careful about the composition of the products I use (I avoid silicones, mineral oils, alcohol…)
Well, The Ordinary products are “free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, animal oils, benzalkonium chloride, tar, formaldehyde, mercury and oxybenzone.” They are also cruelty-free.

But obviously, the difference in price with other brands (like for example, with other Deciem skincare brands Hylamide or Niod) is that the formula of The Ordinary products are a little “rough“. There are no other ingredients in the formula to soften them. For example, the acids from The Ordinary are delivered “as is” in the formula, while in other more complex formulas, others ingredients are added in the formula for a softer effect on the skin.
That’s why I didn’t order their Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%. The Vitamine C serum I use at the moment is also very concentrated but much more enjoyable to use for every day. (I will do a review later here wink )

Finally the packaging is very simple and sleek, very pharmaceutical. Which is perfect because it’s super trendy at the moment! wink

The low prices of The Ordinary products are explained by the founder of the brand, Brandon Truaxe as follows:
“We made The Ordinary because brands, big and small, continue to disguise commodity innovation for ingenuity through creative use of packaging, communication, and pricing. It had to be done. No one in the world of vitamins can charge $300 for a tin of vitamin A tablets because that industry comes with more transparency, but you can easily find virtually the same formulations ranging from $5 to $500+ in the world of beauty.” (Source: Caroline Hirons’ blog)
“In the category of functional beauty, integrity is rare. Commonplace technologies are referred to as groundbreaking, and insensible pricing strategies confuse the audience, disguising commodity technologies as advanced. The Ordinary exists to communicate with integrity and bring to market effective, more familiar technologies at honorable prices.” (Source: The Ordinary)

You can obviously doubt the sincerity of the approach (the first thing I thought was that these people had a very high opinion of themselves to pretend to be the saviors of cosmetics) (I’m a little bit suspicious ^ ^) for the same reasons Brandon Truaxe explains above, but when I looked a little closer at their website and especially their formulas, I was like everyone else, completely fascinated.

And mainly because:

– They’re transparent:

They showcase their formulas and especially the key ingredients of the products. The names of the products confirm it. Here, no “Wonderful Princess Serum” or other “Magic Cream” but names which indicate the main ingredient of the formula and its concentration, such as Retinol 1% or Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%.

On their website, it’s very easy to see what the product contains (or doesn’t), and the lists of ingredients are quite simple and short (that also explains their price as I said above).
Everything is completely transparent and you can’t imagine how delighted I was to have all the information on the composition of the products straight away. I would love to see all the skincare brands do the same!!!
Because I do not know about you, but knowing the “main ingredients” of a product is not enough for me. I also want to know what the different concentrations of each ingredient are in the formula, to know how important each one is (= if they are at the beginning of the list of ingredients or at the end) if the formula contains additives to improve the texture and which one (as I try to avoid silicones and mineral oils, it’s very important to me). In short, The Ordinary has let the cat among the pigeons and is really questioning the lack of transparency of the cosmetics world, and I think it’s a good thing!

Well also, on the other hand, it’s true that if you’re not a skincare geek, these products’ names are quite confusing at first. It’s not easy to understand what a product called Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F can do for your skin.

But it’s also something Deciem wanted because:

– They want to educate their customers about skincare ingredients:

The main target of The Ordinary is clearly skincare addicts, very educated customers who are passionate about skincare. And believe me, there is a real skincare community out there, especially on social media. We are skincare enthusiasts, who love to discover new products, new gestures and who are interested in the latest cosmetic innovations. We love sharing, showing and discussing our skincare rituals (which regularly change to test new products) and share our discoveries with the community.
Take a look at the hashtag #skincarecommunity on Instagram if you want to see what I’m talking about.

And these skincare addicts are very fond of super geeky, technical details about skincare ingredients and that’s exactly what The Ordinary gives them on its website. Each product is very detailed, with very technical information about the formula. Deciem also provides a regimen guide to know when to use the products, and it also gives examples of products combinations according to the skin types or the main needs.

So even if you don’t consider yourself a skincare addict, but you simply want to use good skincare products at low prices, you can still get away with it, probably discover new things and really enjoy it! wink

However, I’m not gonna lie, even if you have a good knowledge about ingredients and skincare in general, placing an order on The Ordinary website requires time and a certain amount of research.
Anyway, that’s how I did it. I read the website’s guide and info, I looked at reviews, and I also chose which skin concerns versus products, matched what I wanted to focus on, to find out which products would fit into my routine.

Because I’m a skincare nerd, you can’t imagine how much pleasure I got spending hours preparing this first order. I adore spending time on blogs or Wikipedia pages looking for information about a serum! smile
But as I realize that it’s not the case for everybody, I thought I could try to do a little bit of the legwork for you!

But first, I would just like to clear things up a bit about The Ordinary and its concept.

The Ordinary is for you if:

– You don’t really mind about the sensoriality of skincare products:

The least I can say is that The Ordinary products are quite straightforward, they’re not the fanciest. The textures are quite basic, optimized for efficiency but not really as much for the pleasure of use. Most of the time, they are fragrance-free formulas. The vegetable oils are completely natural, including the real scent of the plants they’re extracted from.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with that. Efficiency matters to me more than the rest, and anyway, I use The Ordinary in addition to other products with a more “pleasure-oriented” or sensorial aspect.

– You’re OK with the idea of using different products at the same time:

This is not an obligation of course, but I personally find that the effect is more effective if the products are combined. Or at least, use one different product in the morning and the evening to really target the treatment.

Obviously, if you only want to focus on hydration and just hydration, you won’t need tons of products.

But for a skincare enthusiast like me, this kind of concept when you need to combine the products to build your perfect treatment cocktail is ideal! And that’s also something I truly believe in: I’m convinced that it is far more efficient to have several targeted products than just a single all-purpose cream. I don’t believe at all in the concept of the unique cream able to transform your skin. The “global anti-age cream” trend is definitely not for me! wink

– You’re ready to do some research on the skincare ingredients:

The ingredients used by The Ordinary are potent and concentrated. So it’s better to know which one to choose and research some information a minimum about it to avoid “playing” with the health of your skin, especially if you’re not very experienced with the cosmetic ingredients used by the brand.
Most of the products are completely safe to use, but with some, it’s better if you know what you’re doing.

The Ordinary website is very informative, and each product contains a user guide (if the product has to be used in the morning or the evening, if you need to use a sunscreen with it, if it’s better to avoid using at the same time as other products…) and I strongly recommend to carefully read the instructions before concocting your own skincare cocktail. It will save you from any inconveniences. wink

Also, to research more infos about ingredients, you can take a look at the Focus ingredients articles I wrote on my new website btyaly.com! They’ll help you to figure out which ones are the best for you smile

Some examples:

Focus on exfoliating acids AHA, BHA, PHA
Focus on Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
Focus on Retinol

How to choose your The Ordinary products?

– Determine your skin needs:

The Ordinary products don’t have any ranges like conventional skincare brands (dry skin range, anti-aging range, etc. ), you need to understand what your skin needs to find the ingredients that can treat it. As a result, the products of the brand are all treatments.
For now, there are neither cleansing products or face masks.

So ask yourself: do you want hydration, radiance, anti-aging, all at the same time? To know which products to choose, you must already have an idea of your skin type and skin condition.
If you have trouble determining them, I wrote a blog post on the topic a little while ago: How to determine your skin type? I hope it’ll help. smile

– The Ordinary products guide by skin needs:

The Ordinary website is a bit overwhelming at first, so I grouped the products by skin types and skin needs. (I left out makeup products and primers, and you’ll see that some products work for several needs):

1. Dry and/ or dehydrated skin:

• Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: $6.80, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• 100% Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil: $9.80, texture: oil, best to apply: morning and evening.
• 100% Organic Argan Oil: $6.80, texture: oil, best to apply: morning and evening.
• 100% Organic Marula Oil: $9.90, texture: oil, best to apply: morning and evening.
• 100% plant-derived Squalane: $7.90, texture: oil, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA: $5.80, texture: cream, best to apply: morning and evening.

2. Combination/ oily skin:

• Niacinamide 10% + Zinc: $5.90, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Salicylic Acid 2% Solution: $4.90, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Advanced Retinoid 2%: $9.80, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Retinol 1%: $6.70, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.

3. Sensitive skin/ redness:

• Niacinamide 10% + Zinc: $5.90, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%: $7.90, texture: cream, best to apply: evening.

4. Acne:

• Niacinamide 10% + Zinc: $5.90, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Salicylic Acid 2% Solution: $4.90, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%: $7.90, texture: cream, best to apply: evening.
• AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution: $7.20, texture: peeling solution, best to apply: once a week.

5. Dark spots, hyperpigmentation and/ or dullness:

• Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%: $6.80, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Alpha Arbutin 2%+ HA: $8.90, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Vitamine C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%: $5.80, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%: $12.90, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F: $17.80, texture: oily serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%: $9.60, texture: cream, best to apply: morning and evening.

6. Skin with texture/ uneven skin/ large pores:

• Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution: $8.70, texture: toner, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%: $6.79, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%: $6.50, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%: $6.80, texture: serum, best to apply: evening, 2 to 3 times a week.
• Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%: $7.90, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%: $9.60, texture: cream, best to apply: morning and evening.

7.  Wrinkles, fines lines:

• Argilerine Solution 10%: $7.90, texture: solution, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (lotion): $8.70, texture: toner, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Advanced Retinoid 2%: $9.80, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Retinol 1%: $6.70, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Matrixyl 10% + HA: $11.50, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• “Buffet”: $14.80, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.

8. Lack of firmness:

• “Buffet”: $14.80, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Vitamine C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%: $5.80, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: $6.80, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.
• Advanced Retinoid 2%: $9.80, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.
• Retinol 1%: $6.70, texture: serum, best to apply: evening.

9. Eye contour (dark circles and puffiness):

• Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG: $6.70, texture: serum, best to apply: morning and evening.

– How to apply the products?

Some basic rules:

• – no more than 3 serums at the same time (however, you can totally use 3 different serums in the morning and then 3 others in the evening wink )
• – water-based textures first (lotion, non-oily serums) and then oilier textures on top (oily serums, oils, creams).
• – avoid applying the Niacinamide product together with the Vitamin C one, otherwise, their effects cancel each other out (but you can use one in the morning and the other in the evening, just not during the same routine).
• – if you have sensitive skin, it’s maybe better to not use Acids and Retinol at the same time (but you can alternate every other night)(that’s what I do). To be precise, it’s totally possible to use these two ingredients together because they don’t do the same thing to the skin (the acids exfoliate it, retinol increases the skin cells turnover without exfoliating). But because they’re both potent, high-concentrated ingredients, maybe it’s better to alternate them if you have a very fine, sensitive skin.
• – I strongly recommend applying a high SPF every day with all these treatments (I heard that The Ordinary is working on its own formula wink )

I hope this guide will help you a little bit! smile

I ordered these products:
– Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG for my eye contour,
– “Buffet” as an anti-aging serum which I apply morning and/ or evening,
– Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 as a moisturizing serum that I apply morning and/ or evening,
– Niacinamide 10% + Zinc for the re-texturizing effect but also for its anti-aging action, I prefer to apply it in the evening,
– Advanced Retinoid 2% for its resurfacing, anti-aging effect, I apply it 4 nights a week,
– Salicylic Acid 2% Solution for its purifying effect, I apply it on the affected areas, when I need it,
– 100% Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil for its nourishing and anti-aging effect, I apply it in the evening before my night cream.

I already own a vitamin C serum that I use in the morning and an acid toner that I apply 3 evenings a week in my skincare routine, so I didn’t order the corresponding products by The Ordinary but must confess that I’m quite intrigued by the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution for when I’ll finish mine! wink

I started to use some of the products I ordered a few days ago and I’ll probably start to review them within the next few months. smile

The Ordinary products are available on Deciem‘s website (which delivers worldwide), but also on Asos, Maquillalia, Beauty Bay, Look Fantastic, Beautylish and I probably forget other retailers. wink
Deciem also owns their own boutiques that sell their different brands in several cities around the world (Toronto, London, Mexico City, Melbourne…).
Also, I just saw on their Instagram that they will soon open their first shop entirely dedicated to The Ordinary in London, Covent Garden.

So, get ready to see them everywhere, the revolution The Ordinary is coming right at you! wink

And you, are you tempted to try some of The Ordinary products? Which ones are on your wishlist?

Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com