20250107

BUY THIS, NOT THAT | THE ORDINARY EDITION

 

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Today I'm sharing a few hyped-up products from our affordable skincare favourite the Ordinary. The twist is... I think they're kind of overrated and the Ordinary do better, similar products, so let's dive into why I think my underrated products are great!



Try: Salicylic Acid 2% Masque* | £12.50 (50ml) | full review

Personally, I find the moment the peeling solution had on TikTok back during the COVID era of skincare kind of baffling. I get that the blood red colour was a bit of a gimmick for people, but this isn't a product to be played around with; it's a very strong chemical exfoliant intended for experienced skincare users. It's also a formula I did really used to enjoy, but now I have a good skincare routine with retinoids, Vitamin C, peptides and tyrosinase-inhibitors, I'm not as reliant on very strong exfoliants to keep my skin in check. That's not to say it doesn't have its place as a once-a-week at home peel for those with mature skin that's used to these types of very strong treatments. But, I think a 30% AHA is not to be played around with and many of the people using this product online would be better off with the Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% Masque. You're still getting the experience of a cool-looking mask, since this is jet black in colour, and the blemish-fighting power of salicylic acid which is going to be the primary concern for people with young skin. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble and can get into the pores to clear out spot-causing debris (this mask combines it with purifying charcoal and kaolin clay), and this overall formula is at a much more skin-safe concentration than the Peeling Solution, which can be extremely irritating and cause significant damage to sensitive skin barriers. 



Honestly, I'm at a point where I don't buy standalone hyaluronic acid products and I think the vast majority of people also probably don't need to! To be fair, the Ordinary have recently upgraded this serum to include ceramides, which help strengthen the skin barrier, so you're getting a little more from this step in your routine but honestly; hyaluronic acid (along with ceramides) is ubiquitous across multi-active serums and moisturisers so I just find it to be an unnecessary extra step. The Hyaluronic Acid serum is nice enough; it does hydrate the skin, but so do the other more active serums I use, alongside my toner and moisturiser. If you want something that's going to really do something for your skin (and contains added hyaluronic acid, to boot), I recommend the Multi-Peptides + Hyaluronic Acid (formerly known as the Buffet serum). Ok, it's a bit more of an investment but you're getting way more bang for your buck with this option; there's a cocktail of wonderful peptides in here that not only hydrate but promote skin healing and collagen production, to help keep our skin healthy, plump and hydrated for longer. This gives my skin the bounce that hyaluronic acid rarely does on its own and I know it's not just hydrating, it's doing the work in the background to deliver long-term results for my skin.



I feel like I could get some flack for not loving this niacinamide serum! To be fair, many people over the years have credited it with transforming their skin (plus it's still so affordable), but since this launched niacinamide has become much more common in other skincare products which is why I don't think it's necessary as a standalone serum. Additionally, the studies demonstrating the benefits of this ingredient were done using concentrations of 2-5%; whilst that's not to say that higher concentrations couldn't deliver even more in terms of results, 10% is likely to be more irritating to the skin barrier and I don't see the point in risking that when we know the ingredient is effective in lower concentrations. After all that; what does niacinamide do, exactly? It's a multi-purpose active that could be beneficial to a range of skin concerns and types. It's a B vitamin so has antioxidant (skin-protecting) benefits, it helps to prevent the spread of hyperpigmentation through the skin (so a small blemish doesn't end up creating a big scar), it regulates oil production in the skin so can indirectly help prevent breakouts and it boosts the skin's own production of ceramides, therefore strengthening its lipid barrier. But, if you want this ingredient in your skincare routine at a gentler concentration and with some added benefits, you can always try the Soothing & Barrier Support serum. This formula combines the wonders of niacinamide (at a 5% concentration) with soothing ingredients like cica, bisabolol and ginger root extract and ceramides. This is more of an emulsion than a water-based serum so perhaps one that's more geared towards dry and sensitive skin types, but if you like the niacinamide but just want to take its benefits to the next level: pick up this serum next time!



I appreciate I'm probably coming across as a glycolic acid hater in this post, and maybe I am! I quite liked this toner when I first tried it, but over the years my skin has only become drier and this exfoliant actually started to feel very drying, stripping and irritating. Glycolic acid is often seen as the gold standard when it comes to AHA exfoliants, for its skin-brightening and resurfacing benefits, however the small molecular structure can make it more likely to cause irritation. I find it a little hit and miss; sometimes it just feels too harsh, and other times I really enjoy it. Unfortunately this 7% formula is in the latter category! I much prefer their Lactic Acid serum, which can be used overnight. Lactic Acid has hydrating properties (further bolstered by the hyaluronic acid in this formulation) and a larger molecular structure, which slows down its absorption into the skin which in turn can reduce irritation. This serum delivers all of the skin smoothing and glow-boosting benefits of glycolic acid for my skin without any of the dryness and irritation, so it's a clear winner for me! 

Have you tried any of these products from the Ordinary? Which were your favourites and which did you find a little overrated?



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