The Ordinary takes a straightforward approach to skin care that keeps costs low and intrigue high. It’s one of those brands that’s always going viral thanks to its accessibility and effective formulas. It pretty much has a product for every skin concern: wrinkles, blemishes, dull skin, pigmentation, general anti-aging … the list goes on. With its $35-and-under price point, it’s easy to hop on The Ordinary bandwagon, but because it gets so much hype on the internet and retail reviews are now often incentivized, some skepticism is fair.
To find out how great the products actually are, I tested 15 of the brand’s bestsellers over the course of a month. Now I’m here to share which products are worth giving a try, which to skip and how they best work in a skin care routine.
I found it easy to incorporate this daily face wash into my routine. It gently removes surface-level makeup and dirt without stripping the skin, and it has a non-foaming formula that has a slightly slippery feel due to squalane taking the top billing in the ingredients list.
“Squalane is an oil and is featured in skin care products because of its
ability to moisturize skin, its antioxidant properties and its similarity to
sebum, the skin’s natural oil,” Dr. Brendan Camp, a double board-certified dermatologist at MCDS Dermatology in New York, says. Personally, squalane is one of my favorite noncomedogenic skin care oils. It doesn’t clog pores, it’s an effective emollient (it softens the skin) and it has antioxidant properties that protect against free radical damage.
However, because squalane is an oil, some online reviewers note that the cleanser leaves the feeling of a film on their skin. Since I’ve been dealing with dry winter skin, this did not bother me — every extra bit of moisture helps! — and the filmlike feeling was negligible with thorough rinsing.
What I liked about it: With squalane as its primary ingredient, this face wash really focuses on hydrating the skin and providing a gentle cleanse. Besides its gentle formula, the standard-size bottle is a generous 5 ounces, which should last a while.
What I didn’t like about it: While the bottle says it’s a cleanser and makeup remover, some traces of my waterproof mascara were still smudged under my eyes after using the Squalane Cleanser alone. I recommend using micellar water, cleansing oil or a cleansing balm to completely wash off makeup before going in with the Squalane Cleanser for the most effective cleanse.
From top to toe, this multipurpose exfoliant softens and refines. I’ve used it on my face, feet and armpits to nix dead and dull skin, restore smoothness and even my skin tone. It was especially helpful in transforming my dry, cracked feet. Plus, I’ve also had success using it to brighten my underarms and even help control my body odor.
Remember, glycolic acid is a gentle AHA, so this is a product you’ll want to use consistently to see results. As someone who’s tried a bunch of chemical exfoliants, I find that this is a beginner-friendly option.
What I liked about it: When using this toner consistently, it made a visible difference in my skin’s tone and texture. It also hasn’t disappointed in its many other applications.
What I didn’t like about it: This product isn’t a quick fix. You have to use it regularly to see results — but it’s worth it.
For an alternative to exfoliating acids, this mild exfoliating toner uses fermentation to garner similar skin benefits. Because it’s made for sensitive skin types, the formula also adds in moisturization with squalane. It’s a mild option that you can use twice a day to maintain your skin’s tone and texture.
However, for a more corrective exfoliation, I would opt for the stronger Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner formula.
I’ve tested a hyaluronic acid serum that costs $325 for the same size bottle as The Ordinary’s $10 option, and I would enthusiastically recommend the budget option over the luxury product. Hyaluronic acid typically won’t deliver any life-changing skin transformations, so it’s perfectly fine to save your money for heavy-hitting products like a quality retinol or an anti-aging treatment.
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to the skin, so it’s great for boosting hydration and even for a subtle plumping effect. According to Camp, “Hyaluronic acid is an example of a glycosaminoglycan, a large sugar molecule that exists naturally in the skin. Hyaluronic acid is able to attract and retain moisture within the skin, which can help it appear plump and youthful, and lessen the appearance of fine lines.” While this effect is usually short-lived — the plumping effect is most prominent immediately after the skin absorbs the serum and then fades within a few hours — keeping the skin hydrated overall is always a plus when it comes to anti-aging.