The Ordinary are renowned for their serums. Each serum is focussed on a key active ingredient to target a skincare concern. But which serum should you add to your skincare routine? Here I explain what each serum from The Ordinary does, when to use it and ones you should avoid.
The Ordinary Acid Serums
The Ordinary acid serums include salicylic acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid products. These serums should only be used in your evening routine. Acids provide a range of benefits, from exfoliating skin to controlling sebum production.
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
Who it’s for:
- Best for oily skin
- Good for treating acne and blemishes
- Less suited to sensitive skin
What it does:
- Gently exfoliates
- Reduces redness and inflammation
- Improves appearance of pores
- Reduces pigmentation
Do not use with:
Other acids, Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide, Peptides, Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, Vitamin C, EUK 134 0.1%
Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution
Who it’s for:
- Best for oily skin
- Less suited to sensitive skin
- Not for people with acne prone skin
What it does:
- Exfoliates skin
- Improves appearance of pores by decongesting
- Reduces pigmentation
Do not use with:
Other acids, Niacinamide, Peptides, EUK 134 0.1%
Lactic Acid 10% + HA
Who it’s for:
- Best for dry skin
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for acne and spots
What it does:
- Gently exfoliates skin
- Improves skin texture
- Reduces pigmentation
- Helps skin retain moisture
Do not use with:
Other acids, Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide, Peptides, Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, Vitamin C, EUK 134 0.1%
Lactic Acid 5% + HA
Who it’s for:
- Best for dry skin
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for acne and blemishes
What it does:
- Very gently exfoliates skin
- Improves skin texture
- Reduces pigmentation
- Helps skin retain moisture
Do not use with:
Other acids, Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide, Peptides, Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, Vitamin C, EUK 134 0.1%
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for acne and blemishes
- Good for removing milia
What it does:
- Peeling exfoliation
- Improves texture
- Brightens skin
- Minimises fine lines
Do not use with:
Other acids, Alpha Arbutin, Niacinamide, Peptides, Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, Vitamin C, EUK 134 0.1%
The Ordinary Retinol Serums
The retinoid and retinol serums from The Ordinary should only be used in your evening routine, as the sunlight in the daytime can break down retinol and make it ineffective.
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
Who it’s for:
- For oily and combination skin
- Good for acne
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
What it does:
- Gentle retinoid serum
- Anti ageing benefits
- Reduces pigmentation
- Improves appearance of lines and wrinkles
Do not use with:
Other Retinol/Retinoids, Acids or Vitamin C
Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane
Who it’s for:
- Ok for sensitive skin
- Good for acne
What it does:
- Gentle retinoid serum
- Anti ageing benefits
- Reduces pigmentation
- Improves appearance of lines and wrinkles
Do not use with:
Other Retinol/Retinoids
Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
Who it’s for:
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for acne
What it does:
- Gentle, but slightly stronger retinoid serum
- Anti ageing benefits
- Reduces pigmentation
- Improves appearance of lines and wrinkles
Do not use with:
Other Retinol/Retinoids
Retinol 0.2% in Squalane
Who it’s for:
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for acne
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Improves appearance of lines and wrinkles
- Reduces pigmentation
- Refines pores
- Use sparingly to avoid irritation
Do not use with:
Other Retinol/Retinoids
Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
Who it’s for:
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for acne
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Improves appearance of lines and wrinkles
- Reduces pigmentation
- Refines pores
- Use sparingly to avoid irritation
Do not use with:
Other Retinol/Retinoids
Retinol 1% in Squalane
Who it’s for:
- Those experienced with Retinol – this is the strongest serum
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for acne
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Improves appearance of lines and wrinkles
- Reduces pigmentation
- Refines pores
- Use sparingly to avoid irritation
Do not use with:
Other Retinol/Retinoids
My Favourite The Ordinary Serums
My favourite products from The Ordinary are some of the most popular ingredient products from the brand; the niacinamide serum and the alpha arbutin serum.
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Who it’s for:
- Best for oily and combination skin
- Not suitable for dry skin
- Good for acne and blemishes
What it does:
- Refines pores
- Reduces sebum
- Tackles blemishes and congestion
- Reduces redness
- Improves moisture retention
Do not use with:
Acids, Vitamin C, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution or Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%
Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Reduces pigmentation
- Improves brightness
- Lightens age spots and scars
Do not use with:
Acids (except Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution), Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%
The Ordinary Vitamin C Serums
Vitamin C serums can be used day or night, but shouldn’t be used with some active ingredients, such as glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid, retinol and niacinamide. As these ingredients are typically used in the evening routine, it is sometimes
Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%
Who it’s for:
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
What it does:
- Reduces pigmentation
- Anti ageing benefits
- Evens skin tone
- Anti oxidant
Do not use with:
- Acids, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Peptides, Alpha Arbutin, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution or EUK 134 0.1%
- Be careful using with Retinol
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
- Water-based serum – good for oily skin
What it does:
- Brightens skin
- Reduces pigmentation
- Anti ageing benefits
- Evens skin tone
Do not use with:
Acids (except Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution)
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F
Who it’s for:
- Best for dry skin
- Not suitable for oily skin
What it does:
- Brightens skin
- Reduces pigmentation
- Anti ageing benefits
- Evens skin tone
- Anti oxidant
Do not use with:
Good with all!
Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Reduces pigmentation
- Anti ageing benefits
- Evens skin tone
- Anti oxidant
Do not use with:
- Niacinamide, Peptides, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Vitamin C or EUK 134 0.1%
- Be careful using with Acids
The Ordinary Peptide Serums
The Ordinary Peptide serums offer anti-ageing benefits, as peptides are amino acids that can firm skin, making it look younger.
“Buffet”
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Reduces redness
- Moisturising
Do not use with:
Acids, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution or Vitamin C
“Buffet” + Copper Peptides 1%
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Reduces redness
- Moisturising
- Evens skin tone
- Prevents blemishes
Do not use with:
Acids, Pycnogenol 5%, Resveratrol, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution, Vitamin C or EUK 134 0.1%
Argireline Solution 10%
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Moisturising
Do not use with:
Acids, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution or Vitamin C
Matrixyl 10% + HA
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Moisturising
- Improves appearance of wrinkles
Do not use with:
Acids, Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution or Vitamin C
The Ordinary Antioxidant Serums
Antioxidant serums from The Ordinary provide antioxidant protection for your skin. Antioxidants protect our cells from damage from free radicals, which are molecules triggered by pollution and UV rays.
EUK 134 0.1%
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Anti oxidant properties
- Reduces redness
Do not use with:
Acids, pure Vitamin C, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid, Resveratrol or Copper Peptides
Pycnogenol 5%
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Anti ageing benefits
- Anti oxidant properties
- Hydrates
- Reduces Redness
- Reduces Pigmentation
Do not use with:
EUK 134 0.1% or Copper Peptides
Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%
Who it’s for:
- Suitable for all skin types
What it does:
- Potent anti oxidant to protect skin
- Anti ageing benefits
- Evens skin tone
Do not use with:
EUK 134 0.1% or Copper Peptides
The Ordinary Hydrating Serums
These serums from The Ordinary aim to hydrate the skin, making it look plumper.
Amino Acids + B5
Who it’s for:
- Good for dehydrated skin
What it does:
- Hydrating
- Anti ageing
- Improves elasticity
Do not use with:
Good with everything!
Marine Hyaluronics
Who it’s for:
- Good for dehydrated skin
What it does:
- Hydrating
- Plumping
Do not use with:
Good with everything!
Still Confused By The Ordinary?
Use Cheryl’s Extraordinary Skin With The Ordinary course to discover how these serums can fit into the rest of your skincare routine, which ones you should pick for your skin issues, and what order you should use them.
