The Ordinary Skincare Review: Is It Worth It?
Who is ready for a The Ordinary Skincare review?!
Those of you who are active readers or know me in real life know I’ve always been a little bit of a skincare snob. As someone with drier skin who lives in a state that is known for its heat and (you guessed it) dryness, I find myself constantly finding new hydrating masks to crush on and religiously applying moisturizer to my face whenever I have the opportunity. Botox entered my life at a younger age as well. All that said, I’m also a huge fan of a good deal. When The Ordinary hit the scene, I was eager to give it a try. I mean … the prices are a little bit too irresistible to pass up, right?
Today, I am here to share my official review of The Ordinary products that I’ve used personally (five in total) and my thoughts on each. Just to make things fun, I saved my favorite product for last.
For Reference: About my Skin
I am in my late 20s and have regular to dry skin. My worst issues are puffiness, dryness, and fine lines. During the summer, I tend to get blackheads around my nose and enlarged pores on either side of my nose. Recently, I have been getting patchy acne / dry spots on my face right at the end of my period that go away after a few days to a week.
My Review of The Ordinary Skincare Products
1 - The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
Price: $9 | Consensus: Worth it
Lactic Acid is made to balance the skin’s PH and firm and smooth its appearance. I honestly was very pleased with the results of this! It doesn’t burn and I truly feel a tightening sensation when I use it. A lot of lactic acids I’ve used in the past have felt thick and grainy (ew), but I haven’t had that issue here. You can tell it is supposed to assist with exfoliating without going overboard.
Pro tip: when I apply, I always try to remember to rub the excess in on the backs of my hands so they can reap the benefits as well!
2 - The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid
Price: $11.70 | Consensus: A great skincare starter (but too weak for me)
If you have never used a retinol or retinoid before in your life and you are under the age of 25, this would be a great one to start out with. It would work with your skin and help you progress to using a stronger formula down the line.
That said, it simply does not do it for me. While the price is amazing, I feel as though it isn’t strong enough for what I need personally. I’ve been a Drunk Elephant retinol girl for a few years now, and I think I am going to keep it that way (click here to check it out).
3 - The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Price: $6.00 | Consensus: Worth it (for my specific need)
I bought this to use on areas where I get blemishes right around the end of my period. (I talked about these above in my “for reference” section.) So far, I have loved the results for the price. I will warn that it is not an intense anti-acne solution, so if that is what you are looking for, I recommend looking elsewhere. BUT if you are looking for something in little areas that are prone to dryness or spottiness, this is a great product to try for a minimal price.
4 - The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
Price: $7.80 | Consensus: Skip it!
This did absolutely nothing for me. I hated the texture (ew, so grainy), and it felt greasy in my opinion. I really did want to focus on my opinions throughout this article, but the ratings online really did back me up. You can find other budget-friendly vitamin C options that will do a lot more for your skin, such as Sephora’s vitamin C+E serum for only $20 (click here to check it out).
5 - The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Price: $8.90 | Consensus: Worth it!
This is my favorite of all of The Ordinary’s skincare items that have been released to date, and an item I will continue to buy and gift on repeat! Hyaluronic Acid is a hydrating acid that helps those of us with dry skin (or dry patches) significantly. Finding one for this price point that gets the job done well is such a game changer! HIGHLY recommend.
An Honest Review of The Ordinary Skincare Products: Are They Worth it?
