After reading about how great Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are for your skin, I came across the abnormal (and cruelty-free!) beauty brand, The Ordinary.
Ranging from $8.80 to $24.90 (amazing!), The Ordinary’s products are made in Canada, are tested on humans (not our furry friends, woohoo!), and are free of heaps of toxic and irritating chemicals.
I know that people have a lot of questions about The Ordinary. So, I want to go over, in depth, the products I use from The Ordinary’s range and how they have absolutely changed my relationship with my skin.
The Ordinary’s mantra is “Clinical formulations with integrity”.
They offer science-backed, honest, functional, and affordable beauty. There are no marketing ploys or gimmicky buzzwords. The Ordinary simply shows what ingredients are in their products and explain the science behind them.
Generally, I use Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% in the mornings, and everything else I use on a rotation in the evenings.
If you would like to know more about my complete skincare routine, shoot me a comment and I might just write a post!
Advanced Retinoid (now Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion)
I use The Ordinary’s retinoid serum nearly every day.
The Advanced Retinoid combines two forms of retinoid actives to avoid the irritation that is typically associated with traditional retinoids (like retinol). This is a godsend for sensitive skin.
Its packaging notes how the product visibly targets textural irregularities (one of my main concerns with my own skin) and signs of age. For me, it’s doing its job extraordinarily well.
My skin did purge for a couple of days after beginning treatment with this product, which is common for a lot of people when introducing their skin to retinoids. However, since then my skin’s texture has improved considerably!
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
You may have seen my Instagram story around Halloween where it looked like I had smeared my face with blood. It wasn’t actually blood (sorry). Rather, it was The Ordinary’s peeling solution that seems to have become their most Instagrammed face mask.
This little bottle of magic is said to visibly target textural irregularities and improve dull skin tone. It also improves blemishes by exfoliating the skin’s surface for a brighter and more even appearance.
I invested in this one as I heard it did wonders to clear pore congestion. However, I have used it very sparingly as I’ve heard horror stories about the redness and irritation that some peeling solutions have caused.
Now that my skin has slowly been exposed to this solution, I think this product will be one that I’m going to test a bit more regularly.
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
When I’m not feeling lazy, this little beauty goes on my face every morning. It works to regulate sebum and minimise pores, really helping with that congestion!
There is absolutely nothing I can critique this product for. For less than $10 a bottle, it is a skin brightening saviour.
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
I’m a little bit on the fence about The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid. Although they mention that it is one of their best-selling products, I’m not a huge fan.
Hyaluronic acid goes under your moisturiser to support hydration and repair. However, I feel that for me, it sits on my skin acting as a barrier against my moisturiser. Not to mention, no matter how little of the serum I use, it still manages to clump when layering products.
I’ve heard it’s amazing for a lot of people, but unfortunately, I’m just not one of them.
Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%
Looking back, I bought this product as a test to see how my skin would react to using Lactic Acid instead of Glycolic Acid (I used to use Alpha H’s Liquid Gold, which did wonders but was sooo expensive).
I found that Lactic Acid breaks me out if I use it too regularly, so be careful! More than likely, I will switch back to Glycolic after I have finished this bottle.
Ultimately, I would much rather use a chemical exfoliant over a face scrub any day. I don’t get inflammation anymore because chemical exfoliants are gentler on my skin (and work better, to be honest!).
Thanks to The Ordinary, I am finally on track to holistically curing my skin, and have a bit of extra peace of mind knowing that the brand is entirely cruelty-free!
Ranges of The Ordinary’s skin care can be found in one of my favourite vegan-friendly beauty stores, Adore Beauty.
♡ Molly