Decoding the Ordinary...

 Even if you are brand new to skincare, you have most likely heard of The Ordinary. One of the first skincare companies to approach skincare from a scientific approach and less marketing-oriented, The Ordinary believed in empowering customers to gain knowledge around skincare ingredients and routines but they also priced their products incredibly low. There are other subsidiaries with different formulation and higher price points but the Ordinary quickly gained traction with simply, transparent ingredients, clinical packaging and helpful routines. It was my first foray into cherry-picking products to customize my own routine. Below are the items that worked...and what didn't:

The Good

Argireline Solution

This was huge at erasing wrinkles around my eyes and eyebrows. It could have also been an issue with hydration but I noticed when I stopped using this, my wrinkles were deeper and more noticeable. I will continue to use this as a spot treatment, especially for my tech neck!

Retinol

This is a fabulous introduction to retinol. I do prefer the Inkey List's retinol but if you are interested, this is not a bad way to go!

Reseveratol + Ferulic Acid

Gotta love antioxidants and I knew the famed Skinceuticals had ferulic acid since it plays so well with Vitamin C. I used it along with my Vitamin C serum and it was a bit oily but I was able to use that to my advantage. When used before my high frequency wand, it allowed the device to glide effortlessly over my face.

The Bad

Caffeine Solution

I tried to like this...I really did. I have dark circles and wanted a product that would help. The texture was tacky and didn't really do much but the worst part was that there was an odd crust that developed around the lip of the bottle where old product dried. This was kinda gross and along with the fact that I did not see any improvement...I ended up finishing but not repurchasing this one.

Multi-Peptide Hair Serum

This can only be applied to clean hair and if you apply too much you get greasy roots...meaning you are going to need another wash day the next day. I am not sure if it actually made a difference since I was using multiple hair products to help with my thinning hair. I did not notice any difference when I stopped using it so this will not be a repurchase.

& The Ugly

Niacinimide 2%

Ugh, this did not play well with my skin. I had small bumps and congestion all on my forehead and cheeks. Within a few days of stopping this product, my skin cleared up and I knew this bottle was going in to the back reaches of my bathroom closet. But that's the beauty of the Ordinary...when the price is so low, you can be a bit more adventurous in trying new things.

Vitamin C Suspension + HA Spheres

Eww...I could not get over the weird, gritty texture of this vitamin C lotion. I really this was probably due to the hylaronic acid spheres but I found myself skipping vitamin C entirely to avoid having to touch this. I definitely prefer vitamin C in a serum form.

So, if you are just starting out, The Ordinary is fabulous when trying to make heads or tails of what to add to your skincare routine. However, I found that I eventually outgrew this line and was looking for either more elegant formulations or more effective products, even if it meant paying a bit more. However, it is all thanks to the Ordinary that I was able to find ingredients that I liked and learned more about how they play together.