The Ordinary Skincare Essentials

The Ordinary by Deciem is a skincare brand that has literally taken over the skincare world in the past year or so. They offer, for the most part, single ingredient, highly concentrated products for a minimal cost.

Even after reading rave reviews, I have to admit I was sceptical at the beginning. How could something so cheap be so good?! I have been testing the range out and have narrowed down my top three picks from the brand. These are also products I think will work on a wide range of skin types. Hopefully you will find something you will benefit from .

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is the stand out product for me. The majority of skin types, even oily, suffer from dehydration. This is a lack of water as opposed to a lack of oil and even if we drink tonnes of water, the environment in which we live and work can dehydrate our skin, particularly in the colder months. Hylauronic Acid can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in moisture. This is super as it means the skin can retain this moisture.

However, the key when choosing a Hylauronic Acid product is how well it will penetrate the skin. This is down to the size of the molecules. Some products can state that they contain the ingredient but it is no use to the skin if the molecules cannot penetrate. The Ordinary claim that their product will penetrate into multi levels of the skin, providing hydration not only to the surface layer of the skin. B5 is added to this product for extra surface hydration.

Anyone that has used this product can see instant results as the skin looks more hydrated and more youthful after only using this for a short time.  It also feels very cooling and soothing when applied.

At only €6.80 for 30ml you cannot beat this. It has a very watery consistency so I would suggest using this directly after cleansing and toning. I pat this on to my face instead of rubbing it. I feel it works best that way. You can purchase this here.

100% Plant Derived Squalane. I used Rose Hip oil for a long time and when I seen The Ordinary had different types of oils I had to do my research. It turns out that Rose Hip is actually quiet an “unstable” oil which as a result means it has a very short shelf life and potentially can become ineffective within a few months of opening. I discovered that Squalane was a stable oil and also was really great for hydrating the skin and also preventing on-going loss of hydration. Like Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane is naturally found in the skin and depletes with age.

This is another reason I decided to opt for this. I find products that are naturally part of the skins make up are more effective and penetrate better into the skin. There is no scientific facts (that I can find) to back this up but I have found this to be the case, at least with my own skin.  This is only €7.20 for a 30ml bottle and available here.

I always tend to apply oils as the very last step in your skincare routine. Mainly because I feel that if I apply a cream on top that the cream will not be able to break through the oil and into my skin as the oil will act as a barrier. I often apply a cream and then an oil at night for extra benefits. I also find oils to be perfect for use in a night time facial massage. Trust me, massage works wonders for the skin.

Lactic Acid 5% + 2% HA is my final favourite for today. This is basically an AHA (Alpha Hydroxyl Acid) which gently exfoliates the skin to reveal fresher, more even skin. This is best applied at night, before creams and oils but after water based products (such as Hylauronic Acid). This formulation in particular contains Tasmanian Pepperberry which helps reduce sensitivity which can often be associated with AHA’s. I can honestly say I have had no issues with sensitive skin or adverse reaction to this product. This is available in a 10% formulation too which is stronger but to start I wanted to try a less intense treatment. My results so far are really positive and I am chuffed I added this to my collection. This is available here and costs €6.50.

So, what have you tried from The Ordinary Skincare range and what do you recommend?

Overall, I rate The Ordinary skincare at 4 out of 5 based on these three products. They all fit nicely into my skincare while adding some obvious benefits to my skin.

You can also buy The Ordinary products from Cloud10beauty , LookFantastic , FeelUnique and TrendBeauty.

Don’t forget to rate the range below and leave a comment to let me know what you thought of the products.

If you are looking for more from The Ordinary check out my “Priming with The Ordinary” post.

Anita XXX