Deciding Which of The Ordinary Skincare Products To Buy

About a year or two ago, I discovered The Ordinary by DECIEM skincare line. What I love about The Ordinary is how they keep their ingredients per product to a minimum and maintain low price points. After using their products for some time now, I feel I can share some of my experience with them. I bought several products and I think the most confusing part is understanding the order of using all the products and incorporating them into a skincare routine. I have a better understanding now but I am not an expert so as a disclaimer, please do not take everything I say word for word. If you go on The Ordinary website, they have a section dedicated to their regimen guide for help.

DECEIM states that all their products are free of parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, animal oils, coal tar dyes, formaldehyde, mercury, oxybenzone. The company also do not test on animals nor are their products sold in mainland China as animal testing is a requirement for registration purposes.

Products I Purchased:

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - May be used in the morning and evening for dullness and uneven texture. This product should be used after cleansing. I use this every evening or every other evening. I find that it has a stinging sensation that is tolerable and goes away once it dries.

I would recommend splitting the products below up through the week so you don't experience pilling and the products can be absorbed.

Salicylic Acid 2% Solution (product currently being updated)- May be used in the morning and evening to unclog pores and fight blemishes. This product comes after toner. I like to use this may 2x a week or more often when I am breaking out because it can cause dryness.

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA - May be used in the morning and evening to reduce dark spots and hyper-pigmentation. This product comes after toner. I like to use this once every day in the morning.

Niacinimide 10% + Zinc 1% - May be used in the morning and evening to reduce the appearance of blemishes and congestion. This product comes after toner. I like to use this once every day.

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion - May be used preferably in the evening to reduce signs of aging, textures, and lines. This product comes after toner. I like to use this every other evening. Also note that this product should be kept refrigerated.

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG - May be used in the morning and evening around the eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles. This product comes after toner. I like to use this once every day.

Lactic Acid 10% + HA - May be used preferably in the evening to reduce wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dullness and uneven texture. This product comes after toner. I like to use this every other evening.

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% - May be used in the morning and evening to improve signs of aging and brightens. This product comes after toner. I like to use this in the morning.

Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA - May be used as an every day moisturizer to prevent dryness. This should be the last product used after everything above. I use this morning and evening every day.

Please note, it is important to use sunscreen during the day with most of these products.

As you can see, I went on a splurge and bought a bunch of their products because they are very affordable! I have to say that the products I used the most were the alpha arbutin and niacinimide. I was looking for a substitute for hydroquinone and that is when I found alpha arbutin, which is a milder effect for dark spots and skin lightening. The niacinimide is one of The Ordinary's most popular products so of course I joined the bandwagon. Know that when you are first using these products, there may be an initial purging period when you begin to break out and it may be normal. I am getting myself to use the glycolic acid since I ran out of my last toner and ascorbic acid to get my dose of Vitamin C more often.

Overall, you will not notice an immediate effect with these products. If you get through the initial purging and have patience, you will notice some gradual improvement. I would recommend them in general because of how affordable they are but it is helpful to do your own research to find out what are the best products for you to use. Decide what you goals are whether you are looking for a product to treat acne, fine lines, dark spots, or uneven texture. From there, you will be able to figure out which products can treat those issues. Otherwise, it can be overwhelming. I still believe prescription medications prescribed by a dermatologist are still going to be the most effective, but if you are looking for something mild and want to add something new to your skincare routine, The Ordinary is a great start.