The Ordinary is officially the world’s most popular skincare brand, according to a Lookfantastic study.
Lookfantastic’s Skinfluencer Index found that the Deciem owned brand has a global yearly search volume of 37,060,000.
That’s a sh*t tonne of searches.
They are so famed because of their winning combination of affordability + effectiveness. Before them, no other brand had been able to accomplish both things.
Why is The Ordinary so cheap?
The reason why they could? Founder, Brandon Truaxe, realised that all you need is the active ingredient.
An active ingredient is essentially the part/ingredient of the product that is responsible for providing the effect on skin that is advertised on the bottle. It’s the most important part of a product.
He knew it would be cheaper to just bottle the active part of the formulation and sell it.
This is not to say more complicated formulations don’t work well, it’s just easier and more cost efficient to use The Ordinary.
What are the best products from The Ordinary?
I’ve tried many products from the brand over my years running this website and in honour of them reaching such a huge milestone, here are my top ten picks.
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
I cannot recommend this mask enough. It’s is SO affordable and is useful for every skin type. It’s strong and exfoliates the skin beautifully.
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
This is worth every penny and is a solid alternative to the more expensive Pixi Glow Tonic. In fact, I compared the two right here.
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (30 mL)
This was either the first or second HA serum I’d ever used. This in combination with glycolic acid transformed my skin. This is a product for everyone because regardless of your skin type or skin concerns, your skin needs hydration. This is a quick and easy way to give it.
Retinol 0.5% in Squalane (30mL)
If you want to try retinol but are scared of any adverse effects that cause irritation, this is for you. Additionally, retinol products tend to be quite expensive making this product perfect for onboarding a retinol.
The Ordinary’s Niacinamide Powder
This one I haven’t tried however, I know of many people who love this one because it gives you the power to customise your own skincare. Then again, isn’t that what The Ordinary is about? It’s hard to customise your own skincare, but if you’re a skincare aficionado and want to try, this is a great option!
Salicylic Acid 2% Masque (50 mL)
Chemical exfolation is huge at the moment but many people struggle because they have sensitive skin. CE can be incredibly irritating for this people, but that doesn’t mean those with sensitive skin want to miss out on chemical exfoliation. This is where this mask comes in to play.
It gently exfoliate’s away pore-clogging debris and reduce inflammation – making it an excellent companion for congested, blemish-prone skin types.
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Niacinamide is a hugely popular ingredient at the moment. To find out what it is click here but if you already know and want to ascertain its benefits, start here.
The reason The Ordinary works is because it gives everyone a starting point, to try products and see if it works for them without spending a tonne. See if niacinamide works for you by trying this high strength formula.
Buffet
Buffet is for those of you who really want to target anti-aging (although I dislike that term, I do know that it is a priority for many).
The Ordinary states it is best not to use this with direct acids, LAA (L-Ascorbic Acid) and ELAA (Ethylated Ascorbic Acid).
100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil
100% cold pressed oils are not my favourite thing to put on my skin but this is different. The texture is beautifully light and airy, not heavy. Also, it’s not a rip off – it’s worth the cost. The only other product that has left my skin so hydrated, is Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate.
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
This is for those of you who want to step up your retinol game. This product is said to achieve better reduction in signs of ageing than retinol without irritation.
It does this with a sustained-delivery form of pure retinol in a protective capsule system which supports both the delivery and the effect of Granactive Retinoid™.
