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If you’re a fan of natural beauty, then you’re probably familiar with The Ordinary, a no-frills skincare brand that makes high-end clinical products accessible to the average consumer. Free of fragrance, filler and fancy packaging, The Ordinary’s products are natural, vegan, cruelty free and affordable.
I had yet to try their products myself – that is, until I noticed how quickly I seem to be aging in quarantine isolation! According to my newly-emerged crow’s feet, it’s time to add some clinical anti-aging ingredients to my skincare routine. Given The Ordinary’s simplicity and affordability, it seemed like a great place to start.
Here are my thoughts on six of The Ordinary’s top products, along with some facts about their powerful clinical ingredients:
HYALURONIC ACID 2% + B5
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring molecule that plays a key role in tissue hydration. HA binds collagen with water and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water molecules, but as we age we produce less of it, making it harder for our skin to retain moisture. Enter topical HA, which can be found in many moisturizing and anti-aging products.
One problem with topical HA is that its efficacy depends entirely on the product’s molecular weight. High molecular weight formulas will make the surface of the skin appear hydrated but can draw water out of the skin. Only small molecular weight formulas can penetrate the skin and hydrate from the inside out.
Luckily, The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 has you covered on all fronts because it combines low, medium and high molecular weight HA for ‘multi-depth hydration’ on and under the surface of the skin – plus some moisturizing Vitamin B5 for good measure.
Upon first application, I was doubtful as to how this could be a moisturizing product when I felt it tugging on my skin as I applied it. However, upon washing my face at the end of the day, I was shocked at how much softer my skin felt after just one use! This product is my favorite of the bunch and one I’ll be using again.
Actress (and not to mention, trailblazing director) Ida Lupino once told Screenland Magazine that she would add table salt to her facial cleanser to slough away dead skin and “arouse a fresh glow and stimulate it, generally” – and she’s right! Exfoliating can help promote new cell growth, but physical exfoliants can be too abrasive and potentially lead to irritation.
AHA 30% +BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION
Chemical exfoliants can often be better for sensitive or acne prone skin. Plant-derived acids like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) can help peel away dead skin, fade dark spots, reduce sebum production, smooth wrinkles and hydrate your skin. My face scrub definitely can’t do all that!
The Ordinary’s AHA 30% +BHA 2% Peeling Solution has been all over the internet and you may have seen pictures of people smearing the gory, blood- red solution on their face. Its unique color is caused by Tasmanian Pepperberry, which is added to reduce irritation.
I was a bit scared to try this one thanks to all the warnings (do NOT combine with other acids, use more than twice a week, apply to a dry face, or keep it on for more than 10 minutes) and I thought that it would be too much for my sensitive skin but besides a mild tingle and a slight itch, my skin emerged looking fresh, flushed and surprisingly smooth and hydrated the next day. It did feel a bit sensitive, so I avoided using other products for a day or two to give my skin a break.
The fact that I didn’t notice any mid-week dryness, which would typically make me reach for my face scrub, makes me cautiously optimistic that a chemical exfoliant might be the better choice for my skin.
NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC 1%
Niacinamide is a type of Vitamin B-3 that scientists are still theorizing on, but it is thought to act as a mild exfoliant by encouraging cell turnover, as well as an anti-oxidant.
Niacinamide gets converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+) in the body, two molecules which play a key role in cell growth, function and repair and the neutralization of free radicals.
It’s been clinically proven to effectively penetrate the skin and reduce acne, hyperpigmentation, redness and sallowness, and improve the appearance of fine lines.
The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% combines the power of niacinamide with zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, which has astringent and anti-microbial properties to help control acne and oil production. This high-strength formula is one of the more powerful niacinamide products on the market, yet it is also one of the most affordable.
It has an interesting texture, thin and maybe even a little slimy at first but it absorbed quickly and felt smooth on my face.
I can’t say I saw drastic results but I don’t have particularly oily skin, which is a problem many other reviewers seem to use it for. I do think my skin appeared a bit calmer and less red after a few days of use, so I may just have to keep this one in my rotation to explore its full potential.
Elizabeth Taylor used to shave her face, which is currently a rather disturbing trend. Perhaps it does work to smooth the skin for makeup, and even firm the skin due to the cell turnover, but I’d rather try less-drastic measures: Peptides, for instance, have some clinical data behind them and won’t give me a beard!
BUFFET COPPER PEPTIDES 1%
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that promote collagen production in your skin and they can be a great addition to your anti-aging skincare arsenal. More collagen production can mean fewer fine lines and wrinkles and reduced inflammation, leaving you with glowing and youthful skin.
Copper peptides (GHK-cu) are a specific type of peptide that has been scientifically proven to have regenerative and restorative benefits for the skin. Copper has been used for centuries for its skincare properties and copper peptides are just a new and improved way to deliver the benefits of this element to your skin.
Copper peptides are a great overall tool as they can fight against all signs of aging by improving firmness, elasticity, wrinkles, roughness, damage, inflammation and just about any other skin complaint you can think of.
The Ordinary’s Buffet Copper Peptides combines all the benefits of its popular Buffet Serum (which includes peptides, hyaluronic acid and probiotics) with copper peptides to create a great, all around skin product. I was intrigued by its blue tint, which disappears once massaged into the skin, and its slightly metallic smell.
I found the formula to be a bit sticky, particularly under makeup, and I didn’t see much of a difference after using this product for several days but perhaps a longer test run might change that. Overall though, it’s a really affordable way to add copper peptides to your skin regime.
AMINO ACIDS + B5
Amino acids are naturally occurring molecules that are essential to your body’s overall function and play an especially large role in your skin’s health by aiding in hydration, protection, cell repair and collagen building.
There are approximately 20 amino acids that play a role in our health and they are grouped as either ‘non-essential’, meaning our bodies can produce them on their own, and ‘essential,” which we cannot produce and typically get by way of food.
Dermatologists say that on top of a healthy diet, topical amino acids can improve your skin’s collagen production and give you a more youthful appearance.
The Ordinary’s Amino Acids + B5 serum contains amino acids like arginine, glycine, serine and combined with a pro-vitamin of Vitamin B5 to support hydration, elasticity and desquamation. Although this product didn’t blow me away after a week’s use, I plan to stick with it a bit longer.
My skin falls on the dryer side, but oils almost always seem to cause breakouts, so I’m always looking for ways to increase hydration without suffocating my skin. Based on other reviews, long term use of this serum might be a better fit for me.
MINERAL UV FILTER – SPF 30
Marilyn Monroe was ahead of the curve when it came to sun protection. “I don’t think sun-tanned skin is any more attractive than white skin, or any healthier” she once told Pageant Magazine, “I’m personally opposed to a deep tan because I like to feel blond all over.”
Since Marilyn’s day we’ve discovered that one of the most important ingredients in any anti-aging skincare routine is a good sunscreen. Scientific studies have shown that UV rays contribute about 80% in the development of skin aging and cancer.
By quickening the degradation of collagen and slowing the growth of new collagen, UV rays can cause a loss of elasticity and flexibility, and affect your skin’s ability to repair itself, leading to premature aging, damage and potentially even skin cancer.
If that weren’t enough, it’s important to use sunscreen alongside clinical skincare products as they can make your skin even more sensitive to the sun for up to a week after use. All of The Ordinary’s products seem to carry a warning to avoid unprotected sun exposure after using, so I made sure to test out their Mineral UV Filter with SPF 30 alongside their other products.
I have pale, Irish skin so a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is important to me. I also want something that absorbs well without leaving behind a white cast and that doesn’t pill under makeup. I’d say that this sunscreen hits two of those marks for me, but I would prefer a higher SPF. Bonus points for not smelling terrible like so many other sunscreens seem to do.
THE TAKEAWAY
I have to admit, I’m surprised by how impressed I was with The Ordinary’s products overall; not only did they not cause my very sensitive skin to break out like so many other products seem to, but because with a few of them I actually did see and feel results from only just a few uses – particularly the hyaluronic acid and the AHA peel.
The Ordinary is a great brand for anyone who wants to explore clinical, natural and cruelty-free skincare products without breaking the bank.
What are some of your favorite products by The Ordinary?
Let us know in the comments!
For a Review of another of The Ordinary’s products, click HERE.
