Here are three things everyone gets wrong about The Ordinary. There’s a lot of confusion around the brand and how to mix and match the products. So, Cassandra is going to break down all of it because she’s actually tried every single product from The Ordinary.
Why is The Ordinary so affordable?
A lot of people are shocked by the price of The Ordinary’s products, and they equate a cheap price with a “cheap” product. But, The Ordinary provides very efficacious and high-quality formulas. Instead of spending money on celebrity marketing, packaging, and fragrance chemists, The Ordinary focuses on sourcing basic ingredients and creating simple formulas that don’t cost a lot of money. The Ordinary also has very basic packaging.
When brands have a uniquely shaped bottle, this costs a ton of money because you have to design, prototype, and rework every single one of those different styles. And in turn, the consumer incurs the costs. However, The Ordinary found a way to avoid the cost of brand sensationalization, and instead, they focus on quality.
Is The Ordinary harsh?
People often think that The Ordinary’s products are very harsh. The Ordinary does have potent actives and products like the AHA BHA peeling solution, glycolic acid, and retinoids.
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution - $9.50
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner - $8.70
But even though The Ordinary can be very potent, you’re not banned from using it if you have sensitive skin. Actually, The Ordinary has a lot of products that are great for sensitive skin, and they’ve actually been coming out with more. One of the most recent products that works well for sensitive skin is the pink barrier support serum.
Soothing & Barrier Support Serum - $17
But, even some of The Ordinary’s original products are great for sensitive skin. For example, the NMF moisturizer and the squalane cleanser are some of the most gentle, inexpensive, and efficacious products.
The Ordinary actually has some of the best products for sensitive skin. Cassandra's favorite sensitive skin products are the squalane cleanser, marula oil, and hemi-squalane oil. These are very gentle and basic. People can mix and match these into a routine very well, and the phytoceramides moisturizer works well for sensitive skin too, especially if you’re super dry.
Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides - $22.50
This moisturizer is so gentle and calming. It’s like a ceramide sheet for your face. So, if you have sensitive skin, you don’t have to avoid The Ordinary. Remember, just because The Ordinary has some very potent products doesn’t mean they don’t have really balancing and nourishing ones too.
Is it okay to layer products from The Ordinary?
Yes, of course! It's not hard to mix and layer products from The Ordinary, and The Ordinary even has a guide on what products to mix.
(Click here for The Ordinary's guide on products you can and cannot mix).
On the other hand, people also think that you can just layer everything. And likewise, that's how people end up harming their skin barrier, having irritation, and chemical burns. If you know what your skin concerns are, you can find the right actives, and you can mix and match or layer them with a gentle cleanser. You can also layer the serums with a sunscreen to protect your skin. Layering your products correctly can help you get the most out of the products.
The Ordinary is a wonderful brand that is innovating new products, and it has elevated OTC skincare in very unprecedented ways. In fact, their niacinamide serum is one of the top-selling serums in the States!
Coverphoto cred: Space NK