The Ordinary Skincare - is it really worth the hype?

 

Now if you're like me and spend the majority of your spare time on TikTok, you may have wandered over to dermatologist TikTok and discovered Skincare by Hyram, who raves about no-nonsense skincare brand, The Ordinary. 

Many people have shared their experiences with the brand, and with mind-blowing before and after photos, it was far too tempting for me not to give it a try.

Now, I'm very lucky in that I have never been plagued by acne. I suffer from hormonal acne like most people, and often get breakouts during times of stress or if I drink alcohol, but am very lucky in the sense that acne has not been too much of an issue in my life. However, I did recently have quite a big breakout, which I can safely attribute to the reopening of the pubs and bars.

Around three months ago, I decided to give The Ordinary a go, with the question in mind - is it really worth the hype? Well in my opinion, it doesn't get enough hype for what it's worth. This is the single best skincare brand I have ever had the pleasure of using. I have used hundreds of different brands over the years and I'm ashamed to think of how much I have spent on skincare that really has not done anything for me, but the good news is is that you don't need to splurge on pricey products to have good skin, because this brand is soooo budget friendly which makes it even better!

The price range is between £5 and £15 per product, which is so refreshing in today's saturated market, which can see you spend £70 on one product at a time. Even with proper research, I always found it difficult to find skincare products that are not over-priced and that actually work. Well all my prayers were truly answered upon finding this brand.

I also love the Ordinary's no-nonsense approach to marketing, packaging and ingredients. They pride themselves on integrity, transparency and simplicity, with no need for fancy ad campaigns that draw you in on aesthetic. Their products are unpretentious and impactful, and have won countless beauty awards over the last few years. 

I owe the permanent glow on my skin to drinking lots of water, and a consistent skincare routine using the Ordinary products. So, here is my guide to my favourite products and their benefits:

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Ok so this is the absolute holy grail of skincare and if I could recommend even one product from this list, it would be this. This was the first product I used when I first tried the Ordinary's range, which was also during a breakout. Let me tell you, that I was shook. My spots had actually reduced to almost nothing in one day. Not only did it help reduce my breakout, it also helped to reduce the appearance of pores, even out and brighten my skin tone, and has even stopped some acne from coming back in some areas of my face. This really is a revolutionary product and is suitable for twice-daily use. The price of this product is £5.00 per bottle and is value for money as a small bottle does last a while. I would say that if you are using during breakouts, be aware that it can sting a little bit, but there will be a visible difference in your blemishes and you will find your skin breaking out less often. 
The Ordinary do state on their website that their products are not considered medical treatments for acne, so may not be as beneficial to those who suffer with long-term acne or skin conditions, however if like me, you get the occasional break out, this is your go-to.

Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

 
Now you can tell that this product is well loved, based on how misshaped my bottle is. This is for very good reason though, as it is fabulous. Salicylic acid is a miracle ingredient that helps to tackle blemishes. This masque is also charcoal and clay based, which I know might be an eye-roll concept for people who have previously relied on charcoal masks, that promise a lot and do nothing, but this one is very deep-cleansing and removes impurities that may otherwise clog your pores. I actually found from my own use, that this helped to reduce my acne incredibly quickly, even taking the pain out of those horrible spots that you get under the skin. 

This product is £9.90 and I use it twice per week, but has still lasted me ages. I would recommend using a clean makeup brush to apply and leaving on around ten minutes before washing off with warm water and a dark face cloth as it is black and can stain white towels (I learnt this the hard way.)

AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Now this is probably one of the most famous, controversial and scary products in the range, but let me tell you that it is incredible. This was my latest addition and it took me from a full-blown breakout, to clear skin within one week. As well as being incredible for reducing blemishes, it also helps to even out skin tone, brighten the skin and even out skin texture. It's not for the faint-hearted and is only recommended for those who have experience with acid exfoliation. It will leave you looking like you've had a vampire facial, and although it is suggested you should leave it on for ten minutes, it is also recommended that you build up to the ten minutes. On my first use, I had already previously used another acid exfoliator so had built up some sort of a tolerance, which meant that I could leave it on for the full ten minutes. However, I know other people who have built it up from two minutes, to five minutes and then eventually can now leave it on for ten minutes. It can tingle (a lot) but it should never sting or burn . It should also be used as infrequently as possible, and you must be extra vigilant with sun protection after use. However, as long as you read the instructions and use this as it is intended, it is another holy grail product that will help transform your skin. 

This product is £6.30 and will last a long time if following the usage instructions properly.

Lactic Acid 10% + HA

Now if the peeling solution seems a little too harsh, the Lactic Acid solution may be a better option. This is another acid exfoliant but is not quite as intimidating as its sister product. This is a leave-on product and can tingle, but is also safe for daily use. This product is, like a lot of the products great for blemishes, in particular those little bumps that don't ever tend to amount to spots, but are still visible under makeup (particularly irritating when you try to take golden hour photos). Some people have even suggested that this product has helped reduce the appearance of acne scarring and brightening the complexion, it's also only £5.80, so once again very budget-friendly.

Buffet

 Now, this is another product that I would consider part of the holy grail of skincare. Buffet is a multi-technology peptide serum, which contains an array of ingredients that help to tackle the signs of aging and a base of 11 amino acids and hyaluronic acid complexes. In short, Buffet is a multi-tasking and powerful serum that reduces the signs of aging, firms the skin and promotes healthy skin. I use Buffet twice daily and within one week of using it, noticed that my skin was looking super bright and healthy. 

     The price is £12.70 per bottle, so a little more expensive than some other products, but offers a variety of benefits for still a very budget-friendly price. 

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil

This would be my recommended skincare product to anyone who has been overindulging on alcohol over the festive period. This product should be applied as part of your evening skin care routine, and only used once daily. The reason I would recommend this product for anyone who has been drinking alcohol in particular, is that it is super hydrating. Alcohol causes a variety of problems in our skin, including inflammation and dehydration. This product is fantastic for rehydrating the skin after a heavy night, reducing puffiness, redness, and sensitivity, and promoting healthy skin. No matter how tired or drunk I feel at the end of a night out, I never skip my skincare routine. If, however, that is something that you can admit you are guilty of, perhaps just take the time to remove your makeup and cleanse your face (my favourite cleanser from the range is next on the list), apply this product and grab a gigantic bottle of water before you go to bed. It will take a maximum of five minutes to do and your skin (and your sober self) will definitely appreciate the effort you've put in. My skin type is normal, in that I don't have either oily or dry skin, but I would say that this product is a must-have for those with dry skin. It is £9.00 per bottle and is packed with antioxidants and vitamins, can also help reduce the appearance of scarring, and can regenerate damaged skin tissue.

Squalane Cleanser

This product was something that my best friend actually made me aware of 💝 It's great if you have sensitive skin as it's a really gentle cleanser, that appears like a cream from the bottle, but when you rub the product between your hands it becomes an oil-like consistency, so is perfect if you prefer an oil-based cleanser. It essentially dissolves makeup and impurities of the skin, but does not dry out the skin when washed off, so also great for those with dry skin. This is a really good all-round product, that I would recommend as a starting-point to anyone considering trying The Ordinary Products. If, as I said previously, you find it hard to stick to your skincare routine when you've had a drink or two, this is the perfect cleanser to reach for, as it easily removes makeup and cleanses your skin. Follow up by applying the Rose Hip Seed Oil, and you have yourself an evening skincare routine that is so easy you have no excuse to neglect your skin after a night out! The price is only £5.50 and lasts ages, as you only need to squeeze a tiny amount in to your hands, before rubbing them together to create the oil that will gently remove your makeup. 

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

This product always reminds me of the advert with Eva Longoria pronouncing it as hy-a-lu-ron-ic acid, but the active ingredient is not a trademark of L'oreal's 1.5% hyaluronic acid serum and the Ordinary's 2% equivalent is almost a fifth of the price at only £5.75 per 30ml bottle. This little bottle is packed with hydration for the skin. According to the Deciem website, Hyaluronic Acid is found in the skin naturally but its natural function within the skin is not hydration. Many products have used HA to claim hydration benefits, but HA is too large of a molecule to penetrate the skin and instead sits on the surface and can draw moisture out of the skin making the surface feel soft and hydrated temporarily, while making you feel like you need more HA after the product is rinsed. This formula uses three forms of HA with varying molecular weights, as well as an HA crosspolymer, to offer multi-depth hydration and visible plumping without drawing water out of the skin solely to improve temporary surface hydration.

...and this is why I love The Ordinary! They give us the facts over celebrity-casted glossy adverts and pretty packaging. An important thing to note when using this product, is that the skin should already be damp. Once you've removed your cleanser, apply HA to your face and it will draw the excess moisture into the skin. I use this every morning and I go outside to let the fresh air hit my face, which with the combination of this is super refreshing. This product is incredibly refreshing and hydrating to the deep layers of the skin, and added B5 helps to make the outer layer of the skin visibly plump, while offering long-lasting hydration to the skin in all layers and leading to much softer, smoother and healthier skin. 

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

Now I have a very love-hate relationship with this product. Hollowness around the eye contour can mean that many people, including myself, suffering from circles around their eyes. Some people also suffer from puffiness around the eyes as well. This product can help to reduce the appearance of puffiness and circles around the eyes, but it is not a miracle cure. Now the Ordinary do not claim that this will cure puffiness or circles, and even have as gone as far to explain that these things can not be eliminated with topical skincare, but I just can't help but wish that it did. I love this product because it is a quick-fix that means that I don't have to go crazy with concealer under my eyes, but I'm just disappointed that it doesn't completely eliminate them. Hopefully in the future, The Ordinary will bring out a product that makes dark circles, puffiness and circles around the eyes a thing of the past - after all, their products are revolutionary and I've began to expect nothing less! But until then, I do still recommend this product for anyone wanting to reduce the appearance of these blemishes. This product is also good for reducing cellulite. I am really fortunate in that I don't suffer from cellulite, but if you do, then by all means give it a go. I would recommend doing a patch test when using it on areas of the body, other than the face however. This product is £5.80 and is definitely the best product I've found for reducing the circles around my eyes, I just think the other products in the range have set my expectations so high I can't accept that it won't completely eliminate my circles!

     So, my verdict is that The Ordinary Skincare is 100% worth the hype. Their products are budget-friendly, incredibly effective and can quite literally transform your skin. Unfortunately the hype built up around this brand does mean that popular products are regularly out of stock and you may have to wait some weeks before they restock again. Whenever I have ordered from the Deciem website, my order has arrived super quickly and I'm always so so excited to try out any new products I've bought. The website is very factual and scientific, and in some places can be quite complex, however they do offer a regimen guide which makes things a lot easier to understand and helps you to understand what products would be best for your skin type, concerns and your lifestyle. All products are vegan and cruelty free, and although not completely sustainable, they do use a lot of glass bottles which helps to reduce plastic waste.

    In summary, The Ordinary is a fantastic brand that I would recommend to anyone and I hope that in sharing my favourite products, you may have some idea on where to start when discovering their range. 

Let me know your thoughts!

Browse all The Ordinary products here!

FYI this is not a sponsored post, but my own experience and opinions. I just wanted to share how much these products have helped me and how they might help others.