So, we’re reviewing every product from The Ordinary and whether or not you should use them in the morning or in the evening. Cassandra did the work so you don’t have to.
The Ordinary EUK 134 0.1% -$10
This is a powerful antioxidant, and it’s best used in the a.m. The thing about this formula is that it can have reactions with other products. This is preferable for in the morning, but it’s not going to do you any harm if you use it in the evenings too.
The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% -$10
This is another antioxidants that The Ordinary has. What’s really cool about this product is that it selectively binds to collagen. Collagen is what makes up the structure of our dermis. This is totally fine to use in the a.m, but there is no harm in using it in the evening.
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser - $7.90
The squalane cleanser could be used morning or evening or both
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution -$8
This is one of Cassandra’s favorites. The only thing is that it's probably best to use in the evening. You could technically use it during the day, apply sunscreen, and then stay indoors. But, because of how powerful it is, Cassandra would recommend using it at night. The Ordinary recommends only using it twice a week. So, don’t start doing it every day. Also, make sure you skin is dry when applying it. That way it can penetrate deeply. Also, don't leave it on for longer than 10 minutes.
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% - $10
This is a great one especially if you have acne or rosacea. This is a silicone-based azelaic acid that you can use in the morning or the evening. Cassandra would recommend this being the last step in your skincare routine unless it’s the daytime, and in that case, apply a sunscreen.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - $10
This is another one of Cassandra’s favorites, and even though it’s a toner, The Ordinary recommends using it once a day. And because it is an acid, they recommend only using it at night.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA -$8
This is exfoliating, and likewise, it's most optimally used at night. But, if you use this in the morning, it’s not going to be the end of the world. if you want to use it in the morning, you can dilute it since it’s an AHA and water-soluble. But nevertheless, you also want to make sure that you’re using sunscreen. On The Ordinary's website, they recommend this for nighttime use.
The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA -$8
If you use this during the day, it’s not the end of the world. You can dilute it and put it underneath a sunscreen, but it is ideally used at night. You’d want to use this after water-based products, and before you put on something like a moisturizer.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque -$23
This is an BHA, and it’s best used at night, but honestly, you could use this during the day. As long as you’re wearing a proper SPF and you’re staying indoors without being right in front of a window, you could use this at any time of the day. However, to keep it safe, the night time is a good way to go. Plus, it’s more relaxing to do this in the evening.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution - $5.90
Although the salicylic acid 2% is a BHA, it can be used in the morning or in the evening. If you’re super sensitive to the sun or if you’re taking antibiotics, you probably want to make sure that you're being careful and patch testing.
So, as a recap, all of The Ordinary's acids should be used at night, but with three exceptions. You can use the azelaic acid during the day, the salicylic acid masks during the day, and you can use the salicylic acid during the day, but again with any acid always make sure you’re wearing sunscreen.
Oils from The Ordinary are really good because they’re nonreactive. There are a couple of instances where you wouldn’t want to mix them, but most of the oils can be layered well with other products in your team and don’t interfere with them. With two exceptions, every single oil can be used in the AM or the PM.
100% Organic Cold-pressed Rose Hip Seed OIl -$9.80
The rosehip oil and the sea buckthorn oil havesome natural properties to them, and even though you can technically use them in the morning without anything bad happening, they could be degraded by sunlight or exposure from the outdoors, especially the sea buckthorn oil.
100% Organic Virgin Sea Buckthorn Oil - $14.90
The sea buckthorn has a very high concentration of vitamin C naturally, and which is totally fine during the day; however, vitamin C is degraded by sunlight. So, you’d want to use both of these at night. But again, oils are pretty easy, and at the same time, all of the oils can be interchanged morning or night.
The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA -$19
Now, let’s look at some more molecules. Alpha arbutin can be used in the morning or in the evening. The thing you want to make sure you’re aware of is that it can be degraded by water. So, if you’re using a water-based product beforehand, make sure that it has soaked in all of the way before applying it. If you’re doing this directly after a cleanser, make sure there’s no water left on your face. So, don't go mixing this with another formula that has a lot of water in it.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG -$7.50
EGCG stands for epi gal catagen 3 gallate. This can be used in the morning and the evening. It can primarily be used in the evening or around the eye area. Sometime, people use it for wrinkles and else where on the face and the neck area.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - $11.70
Niacinamide and zinc is another cult favorite. It can be used in the morning and the evening. Just be careful because this product is powerful. It’s strong, and because of that, it likes to bind to other things that might be in your routine. Even though niacinamide and vitamin C mixing is not an issue, The Ordinary specifically say that their formula is sensitive. Because their vitamin C serums can have high amounts of vitamin C such as 23 or 30 percent, they don’t recommend mixing the niacinamide with the vitamin C.
The Ordinary “Buffet” -$13.20
All of the peptide serums that the Ordinary has can be used in the morning or evening. There are a couple of contradictions
The Ordinary “Buffet” + Copper Peptides 1% - $30.90
The Ordinary recommends that you only use them in the evening. Now, you could use them during the day. However, sunlight does degrade retinol or things within the vitamin A family.
The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants -$9.70
The Ordinary 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder - $5.80
This is a product that’s meant to be mixed in with other products. Because it’s L ascorbic acid, it’s very reactive. So, please keep that in mind. The Ordinary does say that you should not mix it with the EU k1 34 or with the niacinamide and zinc. If you use these products within the same routine, you have to use them at separate times of the day. This is one Cassandra thinks is best used at night. You could use it in the morning, but this is literally 100% L ascorbic acid. You'll want to use this in the evening. But still, be careful about what you’re mixing it with.
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% -$11
This is great for brightening and for any pigment disorders. This can be used in the morning, evening, or both.
The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% - $12.90
You could use this in the morning, evening, or twice a day.
The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F -$17.80
This can be used in the morning and the evening or both.
The Ordinary’s vitamin Cs can be used in the morning, evening, or both. As for The Ordinary Vitamin C suspension 23or The Ordinary Vitamin C suspension in silicone, you’d want to use these in the evening as your last step. Cassandra has very resilient skin, and they even burn and tingle a little on her skin. That’s because the vitamin C is very powerful. So, from her own personal experience, Cassandra would recommend using it at night time.
The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution -$18
The Ordinary Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% -$10
You’d probably want to use both of the next two vitamin Cs in the evening.
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23%+ HA Spheres 2% - $7
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone - $7.50
All of the vitamin C products can be used a.m, p,m, or both with three exceptions. Use the L-ascorbic one at night because it’s 100%, and then, use the 23% and 30% at night.