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Competing with legacy names like Estée Lauder and celebrity-backed corporations like The Outset, it’s hard for attractive brands to stand out. But with its minimalist branding and affordable prices, The Ordinary temporarily has one of the most popular skincare corporations, racking up more than 2. 8 billion insights through #theordinary on TikTok.
But since The Ordinary sells more than 50 skincare products with intimidating clinical words like “glycolic acid” or “squalane” in names, we sought to narrow down the list a bit. So I asked Insider editors and reporters which products from The Ordinary were their favorites (and reviewed our archive of previous reviews) to locate five winners.
From a successful lightening serum to a deep exfoliation, here are five products from The Ordinary that Insider writers and editors love.
AHA Exfoliating Solution 30% BHA 2%, $9. 50
“AHA 30% BHA 2% Scrub Solution is a 10-minute facial exfoliation that uses 30% AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) and 2% BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) to fight blemishes and make skin texture smoother and more radiant. It’s blood red, like a vampire face.
I washed my semi-sensitive combination skin with a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil, then dried it. Make sure your face is completely dry before applying the formula and avoid open abrasions, if you have them.
After washing it off, my pale mix skin stays red for about 15 minutes. After that, my complexion becomes noticeably smoother, smoother and firmer. The next day, my complexion is also a little more even and superficial scars from beyond acne a little less. severe.
With prolonged use, my complexion becomes smoother and more even, and I think my pores look a little smaller now. “- Mara Leighton, Senior Digital Culture Journalist
“I discovered The Ordinary AHA/BHA Scrub when I was looking for a chemical exfoliant that was gentle on my delicate skin while cutting my old face. use it for a few minutes the first time, then accumulate it for 5-10 minutes; Otherwise, it may sting or burn your face. Also, make sure you don’t use any other facial products that might react with it previously (I learned this the hard way by employing a retinol the night before. . . ouch).
But if you use it conscientiously several times a week, you will be rewarded with a soft and smooth skin in which the serums sink. Plus, you can scare your friends and your circle of family by hunting like a blood-covered monster, so it’s fun. “– Leah Rosenbaum, Health Editor
2% Granactive Retinoid Emulsion, $11. 70
“My friends advised me and my boyfriend as a starter retinol because it’s not too strong, nor expensive. We use it every night and have never experienced retinoid-related redness or inflammation. Judging by the changes in my own skin, my spouse looks firmer and brighter since incorporating it into his routine. ” — Julia Pugachevsky, Senior Health Reporter
100% plant-based squalane, $10
“I am a lazy woman who prefers a blank skincare regimen with just a few products. This squalane oil is best for my oily and dry skin blend. Every night, I apply a few drops to my skin after a hyaluronic acid treatment. Serum to trap moisture. It’s not sticky or greasy on my face, and when I wake up, my skin is shiny and smooth.
On days when my skin is very dry, I also use it in the morning, before applying sunscreen. The smooth texture makes it a product to apply in layers. “- Julia Naftulin, senior health journalist
Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1%, $10. 80
“I have been using The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% serum twice a day for up to a year and have noticed wonderful innovations in the dull and yellowish complexion of my skin, significant relief in redness (I have incredibly delicate skin that is easily irritated), less oily pores, fewer visible wrinkles around the eyes and very gentle relief in hyperpigmentation. The texture of the serum itself is super smooth and dries to the max instantly. To use it, be sure to apply the product directly with the dropper. on your face. Because it absorbs so quickly, hitting it on your hands and then your face will cause the skin on your hands to absorb most of the serum and waste it. Those who use vitamin C products deserve to avoid using this serum as Niacinamide has a negative effect on the integrity of vitamin C. However, niacinamide can be combined with retinol and in fact, it can even help prepare the skin so that it does not experience the discomfort usually related to retinol. — Chase McPeak, freelance writer
100% organic cold-pressed borage seed oil, $4. 70
“From a very young age, I have suffered from bouts of eczema on my face and body that are almost impossible for them to calm down without a prescription cream. This exclusive and resilient biological oil has absolutely replaced the game for me, keeping my skin dry. Even the coldest winters.
It has a characteristic grassy smell that’s a bit unpleasant at first, but doesn’t persist once you rub it. I can’t recommend it enough to other people with dry skin. “- Maiya Pascouche, history of the manufacturer