The skincare market is a minefield isn’t it? So many products, at such different price points, it sometimes feels impossible to cut through the marketing to find products that actually work. And that’s where I come in!
For those of you who have already had skincare recommendations from me, you’ll know that I take research seriously! I only recommend products I know will be effective (bearing in mind that no two skin types/conditions are the same). I’m also keen to find skincare ranges that offer products which don’t cost the earth. Sometimes you need to pay for good quality ingredients, for example (in my opinion) certain types of retinol. But if your skin isn’t too bad, a few key, targeted products can make all the difference whether your 12 or 102!
The Ordinary is one of my favourite skincare brands at the moment. It is a great ‘entry level’ range that offers a variety of products for many different skincare needs. The Ordinary is one of a number of ranges under the Deciem umbrella. Their more advanced brands NIOD and Hylamide offer more advanced skincare alternatives, but for now I wanted to focus on The Ordinary as they will suit a wider range of skin types and conditions.
The Ordinary products have been created and designed by biochemists with the aim of making excellent quality products at affordable prices. In fact their motto is ‘Clinical Formulations with Integrity‘. The only issue I have with these products is that it’s not always easy to know which ones are going to be right for you.
So here are my top recommendations for The Ordinary range and suggestions of who will benefit from them!
(Side note – Deciem was purchased by the Estee Lauder Group in 2017. I hope that Deciem will continue to make innovative and market-changing products despite being under the watchful eye of such a powerful and dominant parent company. Only time will tell.)
Best for – Brightening
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
Vitamin C is so valuable for those of us living in big, polluted cities. It’s an anti-oxidant which neutralises free radicals that make skin look dull and lifeless. The problem with Vitamin C is that it’s notoriously hard to a) stabilise into an effective formula and b) use in strong enough quantities without being irritating.
After a few attempts, The Ordinary came up with their Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution. It is water soluble, making it more stable and therefore once opened lasts longer. It’s also less irritating than directly applying Vitamin C to the skin.
Usage – AM and/or PM under after cleanser and toner and before moisturiser.
Best for – Effective Exfoliation
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
I LOVE exfoliating toners (see my earlier blog post here). Toners are much misunderstood or ignored, but can be a valuable step in any skincare regime.
The two main reasons I would use a toner would be to either calm, soothe and hydrate the skin, or to exfoliate and smooth the skin. Glycolic Acid is an AHA known for it’s effective but (relatively) gentle exfoliation properties. As we age, our skin finds it harder to remove or slough off dead skin naturally and this is where an exfoliating toner really comes into it’s own. Your skin will ‘glow’ and make up will sit better.
7% Glycolic Acid is quite high and I would recommend this product not be used for people with sensitive or compromised skin e.g. if you’re suffering from an auto-immune disease. I would also suggest a moisturiser with an SPF in afterwards as it can make skin photo-sensitive.
Usage – Once a day, before bed, under a night cream. Build up tolerance and use once/twice a week to begin with.
Best for – Rosacea
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Rosacea is quite a challenging skin condition to treat. Often the best treatments are expensive in-salon treatments that require a large commitment in terms of both time and money.
Topical products, aren’t always that helpful when dealing with this skin issue. Azelaic Acid is, however, one of the only ingredients I’ve found to make a noticeable difference to redness and flakiness associated with Rosacea.
This is quite a high percentage of acid and therefore should be used in conjunction with a moisturiser containing an SPF
Usage – AM and/or PM under moisturiser and SPF
Best for – Occasional/Hormonal Breakouts
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) has plenty of research behind to when used as a skincare ingredient. It can help to reduce the appearance of blemishes and congestion without being as astringent as Salicylic Acid.
A great product to have in your bathroom cabinet for the occasional flare up of acne.
Usage – Apply AM AND PM under moisturiser.
Best for – Anti-Ageing
Matrixyl 10% + HA
Matrixyl is a patented collection of peptides. Peptides have been clinically proven to reduce the look of wrinkles, and alongside Retinol, are the gold-standard for any anti-ageing product.
This product provides a powerful combination of extremely effective peptides and some of my clients have seen results fairly quickly when using this serum.
The glycerin in this product will also help to hydrate and plump the skin.
Usage – AM and/or PM after cleanse and tone, and before moisturiser.
Have you tried any products from The Ordinary? Which are your favourites? Let me know!
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